Hand gestures have different meanings in different countries

By Zulfikhri Sapari

Using of hand gesture is very important in individuals daily life. It may be one of the ways to convey messages through non-verbal communication. Hand gestures containing signs or symbols that have meaningful meaning and can be understood by both parties when they are communicating.

However, one should beware with using of their hand gestures to communicate especially with people of different culture as the same symbols of hand gestures may bring different interpretation according to their own culture.

In the websites of Quizfactz.com, it is well describes about the common universal hand gestures that people use to communicate. But, in certain places with different culture, it brings different meaning. There are several hand gestures that people used to communicate.

OK- Sign

This symbol is also known by the name of ˜A-Ok. It is a word that has been introduced by NASA officer, John A. in order to indicate that their Project Mercury in 1963 had finished successfully.

In terms of their meaning, the OK-sign have different meaning in different countries. In the usual Western context, it may be referred to a sign that shows everything is alright, especially when two parties are at a distance or communicate in a place that is too noisy. In contrast, in France and Australia, this symbol refers to the number zero.

Meanwhile, the usage of this symbol in China refers to the number three. In Japan, it refers to the symbol of money, when the hand is faced upside-down. According to Finnish people who joined the Finnish Defence Forces, they will use this symbol when their services are about to complete. They show this sign to their friends who have not completed the services yet to mocking them. In many South American countries, they use this to insult others as it is calling somebody a homosexual.

Thumbs Up

It was originated from the United States before it is spread in societies. Pilots during World War II commonly used this sign to communicate with ground crew as a signal to ˜take-off. Since then, many people started to use this sign but it took different meaning in different society.

In Sardinia, this sign should be avoided as it is highly offensive during hitchhike. In European countries such as France, and Hungary, this sign symbolise the number one. Besides, it is not recommended to use this symbol in Iran and West America as this sign reflected the obscene and offensive gesture as in Iran, it refers to sex of individual male.

Shaka Sign

There are many speculations about where this sign originated from. It is said that, when Spanish immigrants visiting Hawaii for the first time, they used this sign to inform the natives that they wanted to have a ˜friendly drink entertained by the Hawaiian people. It is because the symbol looks like a symbol of drinking when the thumb is placed near the mouth.

However, in the Caribbean Islands, it is a sign to suggest sexual exchange. In China, this sign denotes as number six. Other than that, in America, it is a sign language that could be referred to surfing activities. This type of sign also represents the offering to smoke the weed when you are in Australia and New Zealand. Lastly, Shaka sign denotes the symbol of unification and friendship.

Hence, people should be aware with the differences of using the same gestures but bring a different meaning in certain culture especially when you are about to go for travel or you are about to abroad to study. Some of other cultures’ interpretation of symbols may sound ridiculous and funny to you. But, ˜learn and ˜respect are the keywords to accept the differences and then, you will be able to bear with it.***

Photo courtesy of iStock

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