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(共26张PPT)
Unit 5
Gestures in Intercultural Communication
Gestures are non-vocal bodily movements intended to express meanings. Gestures can be emblems or symbols (“V” for victory), illustrators (police officer’s hand held up to stop traffic), regulators (glancing at your watch to signal that you are in a hurry), or affect displays (one’s face turns red with embarrassment).
They may be presented with the hands, arms or body, and also include movements of the head, face and eyes, such as winking, nodding, or rolling one’s eyes.
We use gestures daily, almost instinctively, from beckoning to a waiter, or punctuating a business presentation with visual signals, to airport ground attendants guiding an airline pilot into the jet way. In a very general sense, we all use gestures to reinforce an idea or to help describe something.
When we say “That’s an English book”, at the same time we are pointing to the book. If someone asks us the way to the library, we point to the right, adding a little more clear and concrete information about it.
People in Angola have to wink their eyes to welcome distinguished guests, which is quite different from other countries. Other examples include the OK-sign. It may be understood as symbolizing the number zero, or being worthless. It may also be seen as symbol of being obscene.
A frequently mentioned case is:
Nixon, past president of the United States, once paid a visit to Brazil. While he was disembarking the plane, he made a gesture of “OK”, which angered and insulted the Brazilians.
The American gesture of “OK” is considered obscene in Brazil. In the end, Nixon formally apologized to the Brazilians.
Interpretations of gestures are culture bound. As many movements are carried out at a subconscious or at least low-awareness level, they always carry a significant risk of being misinterpreted in an intercultural communication situation.
Unfortunately, the sheer variety and complexity of gesture makes it impossible to find an easy solution. Quaint “Do’s and Don’ts” can never solve the complicated problems alone. For instance, Russian people are said to have extraordinary splendid traditions and customs, and bold and unconstrained characters, but their gesture is characterized only by using one hand (usually the right hand), and the other keeping fixed, and moving only slightly when necessary.
Now, we shift to the discussion about gesture. The same gestures with different meanings encoded in different cultures are presented in this part for the sake of comparison.
The thumbs-up sign: In Britain, the thumb-up gesture means “good, great”. It is also used for hitch-hiking, asking for a free ride. This gesture signals approval in China, the U. S. and Russia as in Britain. But in Persian culture, it is highly offensive.
In the U.K., Australia and New Zealand, it has the meaning of sign rider or an insult sign to people, with a sharp bent thumb. In Greece, thumbs-up means “get out”. In China it is a way to show praise, referring to “good” or “first-rate”.
In Nigeria, people use this gesture to greet guests. In Japan, this means “men” or “your father”, in the U.S., it means “progressing smoothly”.
The V sign: the V sign is a signal for victory in the United States and many other countries. In the hippie era of the 1960s in America it was a “peace sign”.
It also signals the number “two” in China and many other countries. But in England and South Arica, it has a crude connotation when used with the palm in, i.e. the V sign done with your palm facing yourself and thrust upward.
The single finger beckon: the beckoning gesture, fingers upturned, palm facing the body, is used by people in the United States and Britain for summoning someone (e.g. a waiter) to “Come here”.
In Yugoslavia and Malaysia it is only used for beckoning animals. The gesture for beckoning in China is quite different. The hand is extended toward the person, palm open and facing down, with all fingers crooked in a beckoning motion.
The vertical gesture: It is a positive connotation associated with the University of Texas Longhorn football team. This gesture has an insulting connotation in Italy, but in Brazil and Venezuela, it is a sign for good luck.
This symbol has various meanings in the U. S. subculture, including serving as a satanic cult recognition sigh signifying the devil’s horns. The symbol should be used only when you are sure the other person understands its intended meanings.
The good luck sign: You do this to wish someone good luck.
This gesture is basically peculiar to Anglo-American cultures. Germans wish others good luck by making two fists with thumbs inside and pounding on an imaginary table. To wish someone good luck in Portugal, one would place the thumb between the index and the third finger.
The “Six” sign: In China, we signal six by folding three fingers of the hand against the palm, leaving the thumb and the little finger sticking straight up and out.
But in Australia, the same gesture means “time to drink up”.
The circle sign made by the thumb and forefinger: In the U.S., Brazil and Arab, people consider this as a symbol of peace, contempt, and the devil’s eyes, respectively. In China, it means agreement, synonymous with “good”.
In France, many people take it as a “zero”, or “low-quality goods”, even “poor” or “worthless”. In the Netherlands, this indicates that it is now “well under way” or “something delicate”. In Japan, and South Korea, it turns out to be the sign for “money”.
The sign with the little finger stretching upward: In China, it means “small” or “the worst”, when showing contempt. In Japan, it means “women”, “people”, “girls” or “lover”. In the United States, it means “weak men” or “bet”.
In Thailand and Saudi Arabia, if one’s little finger is stretched to another, it means “friend”. In India, this gesture means “I want to go to the toilet”.
Shaking head: In most countries it is accepted as disagreement, but in Bulgaria and some parts of India, they regard it as agreement.
The sign of putting the palm flat under the neck. In English-speaking countries, this gesture means “I am full”, while in China it denotes “to be beheaded”.
The eyelid-pull: Pulling down the lower lid of your eye with one finger is usually used to indicate alertness. In France, England, and Greece, it means much the same as “You can’t fool me!” and in Spain and Italy it is also related to being alert.
Shoulder shrug: In Italy it signals that you don’t know or care about something. In America, it signals a reluctance to agree. In France, it means something is ridiculous.
Arms folded: A sign of boredom or disapproval in the United States. In Finland, it is a sign of arrogance.
Hands in pocket(s): Everywhere in Europe it is rude to talk with your hands in your pocket. It is something only a guilty child would do. In Japan and China, it is rude in stand with your hands thrust into your pockets.
Hands on hips: In Mexico, it signals hostility. In Malaysia, it shows anger, in the U.S. impatience and in Argentina, it indicates a challenge.
Nose blowing: The Chinese and Japanese find blowing your nose in public extremely rude. In France, sneezing in public is ok, but blowing your nose in public is the height of bad upbringing.
So the world opposite meanings in different cultures. A perfectly proper gesture in one country may be considered unspeakably rude in another.
Notes
beckon
reinforce
obscene
disembark
insult
quaint
unconstrained
用头或手的动作）召唤，示意
强调
加强
淫秽的，下流的
下飞机，登陆
侮辱
做得精巧的，离奇古怪的
不受约束的
Notes
Persian
Nigeria
hippie
connotation
Yugoslavia
vertical
crooked
satanic
cult
index finger
波斯人
尼日利亚
嬉皮士
言外之意
南斯拉夫
垂直的
弯曲的，扭曲的
邪恶的，魔鬼的
祭仪
食指
Notes
synonymous
Saudi Arabia
Bulgaria
eye-lid
alertness
arrogance
sneeze
upbringing
同义的
沙特阿拉伯
保加利亚
眼睑，眼皮
戒心，警戒
傲慢，自大，自负
打喷嚏
教养，培养
Questions
1. How many categories of gesture do you know Give more examples to illustrate them
2. Do Russians have unconstrained gestures, just like their characters
3. Would you please surf the Internet for the pictures of different gestures mentioned in the passage and then role play them
4. Would you please make a table of gestures with their different interpretations in different cultures

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