Friday, March 20, 2009

Week 2: Different cultures, different gestures

For this week's journal assignment, I want you to think about different kinds of body language you use. What do your gestures mean? Tell me about one or two gestures you use everyday. What do they mean? What kind of feeling are you expressing? Are they polite gestures, or rude ones? Please write at least 50 words describing two or more gestures you use.

Here is some inspiration:

If you do this...

...what feeling are you showing?

Here are some examples of other hand gestures. These gestures have different meanings in different cultures.

This gesture means "good!" in North America...

...but it is very, very rude in most Middle Eastern and some African cultures!

This famous gesture expressed "victory" during World War II, but...

...the meaning changed with the US peace movement in the 1960s.

Be careful using this sign, though!

If you hold your hand the opposite way, like Sir Winston Churchill is doing here...

...people from the UK, Australia, or New Zealand will be offended!

16 comments:

  1. I use to gesture "good" sign.
    After test finished, becuse of my feeling very nice that I gesture thumb up. And when I praise freind, I gesture this sign. Also I use to v sign. This gesture use when take a picure.
    I love this gesture. I will continuely use this gesture.

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  2. Taht day, I took the eame.
    I got out of the home for go to school.
    By the way, My sister called me.
    and she is her fingers crosse.
    she said "I'll keep my fingers crosse."
    I was likely to took good results.
    But I took bad results.
    and yet I was happy.
    becaus my sister supported me.

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  3. I use frequently the little finger.
    The little finger has the meaning which is many. Meaning which I used is when promising.
    Except me of the many people pomised used to intension. Hangs the finger when promising uses. But the little finger has other meaning.
    Examples.. It becomes the curses is and had a bad intention meaning lover.

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  4. I use to my gesture almost every day.
    I raise a right arm several times.
    With sounds "OHHHHHHHHHHH~~~"
    Like this a steam train."POO~POO~"
    That mean is 'cheer!!'
    When I do this motion, I feel very happy.
    For example: Cheering the sports game, canceling a class, taking a high grades, finishing the homework very quickly and so on...
    When I'm very very glad, Sometimes I raised both arms.

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  5. I used to always have a few gestures.
    I make a circle using the thumb and index finger. This gesture means OK to Westerners.
    But I think gestures are shown the money. And I used gestures to ask for money to the mother.
    whenever I do this gesture, Her face is scary.

    And I also used the gestures of the arms up and wave. That mean is good and happy.
    When I receive a gift or allowance, I take gestures. Hum... Sometimes To forget the sorrow and takes gestures.

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  6. I use often a "thumbs up" sign. for example, when my little sister passed a test.
    The sign is showing respect to my sister. Also, when my friend is sing well at Noraebang. Then, I pay tribute to her as a friend.
    This sign means "Great!" in America, also.
    However, in Arab cultures, this gesture is extremely offensive.
    Occasionally, I Tap the head with the index finger. I use this sign when I say "I'm thinking." instead of talk. But, Tapping the head with the index finger in parts of south America means "I'm thinking hard,"while in Holland it means "That's crazy."
    Finally, To point a finger at someone is bad in Korea, while it's OK in Canada.

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  7. When I feel happy, my gesture is V.
    Or when I am taken a picture, I behave my finger V.
    On the other hand, this finger gesture is that I make angry. If someone behave bad finger gesture, I would feel bad. The gesture is that the middle fingure is standed.
    My habit gesture is that my hand touch forehair. When I feel shameful, I touch my hair.
    So If you find that I touch my forehair, then I would feel ashamed.

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  8. I like take a picture. I do always "v" pose.
    It gesture mean cute pose to me. haha^^v;;
    Also when i take a picture, I hide my cheek. It gesture mean pretty pose to me. haha;;;
    If i touch my hair, it mean feel uncomfortable.
    If i touch my abdomen, it gesture mean stomachache. T-T;;
    If I walk fast, i am very angry.
    Finally, i look the ground, it mean i unpainted face.kk

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  9. Sometimes , i use shameful a gesture that touchs my head instead of "i don't know". If someone used the gesture at oral test, the interviewee get plucked. Also, if freind of interviewee ask result of oral test, he would repeats the gesture.
    And, i always used to wag hand. this gesture is one of greeting. However, if this gesture behaves a senior, teacher and parents, it will be rude behavior.

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  10. I used to many gestures.
    first, I applaud frequently.
    when I feel happy,
    I use the gesture.
    Also when I feel wonderful,
    I use the gesture.
    I scratch my head over.
    This gesture means "confused..".
    for example,
    When I solve the mathematical problem,
    I use the gesture.
    I use the gesture almost every day.
    When I watch sports game,
    I gather both hands like praying.
    Well then, It is likely to gain the final victory.
    Also, the game is almost victory.
    I will use these gestures in succession.

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  11. I like 'OK' sign. An elder bought me a meal, when you say. I replied with the famous 'OK' ring gesture.
    In the United States, thumbs up means everything is OK.
    But, in Russia it's an obscene gesture. Also, in Nigeria, thumbs up means something bad.
    In France, that sign is used to express "nothing" or "zero"
    Gestures can have different meanings according to different cultures.
    Other cultures, like when you go travel to other countries need to be careful.

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  12. I have frequently use good gesture.
    this means best or the same meaning with friend.
    I like this gesture.

    And I have frequently use that Index finger and Middle finger are cross.
    this means good luck to you.
    if someone gives that gesture to me, I will feel so good.
    so I like this gesture.

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  13. I usually obscures the face.
    When I take a picture or smile
    or I give out, many uses.
    It means shame or humiliate.
    The gesture is that I don't have any confidence.
    So I have to fix the habbit.
    But a lot of shame, I still have the gesture.

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  14. I use to many gestures.
    That is one of the show ok.
    Ok I found the display is displayed.
    Make v-shaped fingers snap a picture.
    It means the promise baby finger .
    I use the gesture almost every day.
    for example,Hands shaking from side to side.
    This means greetings.

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  15. we present many gusture using finger.
    also, I use many gusture.
    when I shamed, my hand raise up my hair and face.
    sometimes I use this gusture.
    I go to home when my class finished, my arm bend in my back and my finger moved.
    a thumb spread and other finger hold.
    now, my friends apprehend my gusture.

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  16. my hand geaturs 2 finger up um........
    2nd 3rd finger up is victory
    when use this geastur forexample soccer game
    baseball victory this geatur used.
    i'm always win so this geaturs always used

    ReplyDelete