Gestures_Around_the_World_5_Slides

1.

GESTURES
AROUND THE WORLD
PHOTO 1
PHOTO 2
When the same gesture means something different
RUSSIA • BULGARIA • ASIA
PHOTO COLLAGE — 3–4 GESTURES
Can a simple gesture cause a misunderstanding?

2.

1. NODDING AND SHAKING THE HEAD
The clearest example of opposite meanings
RUSSIA
Nod up and down = YES
Shake left and right = NO
RUSSIA — NOD = YES
BULGARIA — NOD = NO
RUSSIA — SHAKE = NO
BULGARIA — SHAKE = YES
BULGARIA
Traditionally:
Nod = NO
Shake left and right = YES
Same movement → opposite answer

3.

2. “COME HERE” — A DANGEROUS FINGER
A friendly invitation in one place can be rude in another
RUSSIA / WEST
Curling the index finger toward yourself:
“Come here.”
PALM-UP: COME HERE
PHILIPPINES: RUDE
PALM-DOWN: JAPAN
PHILIPPINES
The same palm-up gesture can be rude and may be associated with calling animals.
CLOSE-UP OF HAND
JAPAN
Palm-down beckoning is preferred.
REACTION / CULTURAL COMPARISON

4.

3. THE FINGER-TO-THE-TEMPLE GESTURE
A gesture connected with “crazy” or “madness”
RUSSIA
Finger circling or tapping the temple can mean:
“You are crazy / stupid.”
RUSSIA
JAPAN
EUROPE
JAPAN
A similar gesture can also be connected with the idea of being crazy or mad.
CLOSE-UP OF GESTURE
EUROPE
Similar “crazy” meanings exist in several European cultures.
DIFFERENT FORMS / REACTIONS

5.

4. ONE GESTURE ≠ ONE MEANING
Culture changes the meaning of body language
RUSSIA
BULGARIA
PHILIPPINES
Nod = YES • Shake = NO
Nod = NO • Shake = YES
Palm-up beckoning = RUDE
Finger beckon = COME HERE
Temple gesture = CRAZY
Traditional convention
Often associated with calling animals
GESTURE 1
THE MAIN RULE
GESTURE 2
GESTURE 3
GESTURE 4
Think before you gesture!
Your body language speaks — but not every culture speaks the same language.