Meaning in different countries. National features of non-verbal communication: gestures in different countries of the world. Gestures with the open palm of the hand
Offensive gestures in different countries
Gesticulation is the most important part of communication, but the peculiarity lies in the fact that in different countries the same gestures can mean completely different things. Therefore, you can easily offend a person without even suspecting it.
So, 8 familiar gestures that can be misunderstood in different countries of the world.
1. Scratch your chin.
Scratching the chin from the bottom up with fingers gathered together is a rather rude gesture in France, Belgium and northern Italy. It's like showing the middle finger. Emphasis on the beard area in these countries is considered a manifestation of excessive aggression.
2. Raise your thumb
In the Middle East, in this way they are sent to where the legs grow from. Often children indulge in this gesture, for whom raising their thumb up is like sticking out their tongue.
3. Show “peace” (peace) or “victory” (victory)
Two fingers raised in the form of the letter V in England and Australia in only one form are perceived as a peace-loving sign - if at the same time the palm is turned away from itself. Otherwise, “pis” is an insult equivalent in strength to a raised middle finger. Churchill himself sinned with such a "wrong" gesture.
4. Sign "everything is ok"
Showing the gesture “everything is okay” when the tips of the thumb and forefinger are closed and the other fingers are raised does not always mean that everything is in order. So, in Turkey and Venezuela, homosexuals are identified in this way, in France it means “not worth attention” or “complete zero”, and in Brazil it is like scratching your chin in northern Italy.
5. Show "five" with splayed fingers
In Greece, such a gesture with the palm turned away from you is considered offensive. It comes from the time when criminals were led through the streets, and onlookers threw all sorts of nasty things at them with their outstretched fives.
6. Show "goat"
This gesture, shown to someone with their back in Spain or Italy, means that the spouse is cuckolding him, and the person himself is a complete loser. “Goat” in these countries has nothing to do with rock music.
7. Pass things with one hand
In China and Japan, you need to transfer items with both hands, whether it's a business card, a camera, or something else. This is a sign of respect, openness and attentiveness.
8. Cross your fingers for good luck
Indeed, crossed index and middle fingers in Europe are a symbol of good luck. But not in Vietnam, where the gesture signifies female genitalia.
Read also
For most children and parents, going to school is a familiar part of the day that does not bode well for anything interesting. However, for some children, the path to knowledge is not only thorny, but also really dangerous. Pay attention to the Chinese children living in the village of Genguan.
You can easily take this life hack into service, especially since this does not require any special tools or devices. If there is a strong unpleasant smell in the restroom, flight attendants resort to coffee.
OAG analysts have compiled a list of flights that provide air carriers with the greatest profit. British Airways' route from London Heathrow to New York's Kennedy Airport took first place in this indicator.
Remember that different nations have the same gestures have completely different meanings.
"Come here"
The calling sign with the index finger saying "come to me" is taboo in Asian countries. In the Philippines, this gesture is only appropriate for dogs and indicates that you consider the interlocutor to be lower than you. Moreover, the use of such a gesture can lead to arrest in that country.
"Goat" is loved by rock musicians, metalheads and their fans. However, you should not show it in Italy, Spain or Macedonia, especially to a man, as the gesture hints at the infidelity of the addressee's wife ("cuckold"). Among superstitious people in Western countries, the sign "goat" means the same as we have a spit over our shoulder, that is, the usual protection from the evil eye, witches and various evil spirits.
"Like"
The usual “like”, a gesture of consent and approval, often erases language barriers, and hitchhikers often vote for them on the road.
However, in Thailand it is a sign of condemnation. Although it is more childlike, like sticking out the tongue, it should be avoided. In Iran, this is an offensive gesture, the equivalent of the middle finger. In some other countries, such as Greece, such a gesture means "shut up." 
Gesture "Victory"
The gesture, which is shown with the index and middle fingers of the hand in the form of the letter V, in many countries means victory or peace. However, if the palm is facing the person, then in the UK, Ireland and Australia, the V-shaped gesture acquires an insulting gesture, which is the non-verbal equivalent of the phrase "fuck off!".
The fact is that the English archers, who intimidated the enemies in the 100-year Anglo-French War, were cut off precisely these two fingers on their right hand so that they could no longer shoot from bows. And if the archer showed undamaged fingers like that, it meant "be afraid, enemies!". The French perceived this gesture as an insult to them. 
exposed palm
The outstretched hand, which expresses a request to stop or stop, in Greece takes on a different meaning. The palms directed towards the interlocutor - the so-called "munza" - are used when they want to express extreme indignation or "send" the interlocutor. This gesture has been left over from Byzantine times, when cinder was smeared over the face of a criminal to ridicule him.
Stroking on the head
Stroking a child on the head is usually a gesture of friendliness and tenderness. However, in the Buddhist religion, the crown is the highest point of the body, that is, the place where the soul lives. Touching the top of the head is an aggressive intrusion into a person's space. This gesture should be avoided in countries where most people practice Buddhism.
"Fig"
The gesture "fig", "shish" or "fig" is used in case of refusal or disagreement. In Brazil and Portugal, this is a more benevolent gesture, a way of wishing good luck and protection from the evil eye. In Turkey, it has an aggressive and rude nature, the equivalent of which is the middle finger. Fingers folded in a fig are associated with sex in many countries. In Arab countries, kukish means a sexual insult. In France, this figure of three fingers means the same as the extended middle finger of the hand.
offer, invitation
In many countries, people do not pay attention to what hand they offer something to other people. However, in India, Sri Lanka, Africa and the Middle East, the left hand is considered "dirty". Even a left-hander should eat with his right hand, as only it is considered suitable for eating. The same goes for shaking hands and passing objects. But in Japan, it is considered polite when you give with both hands, while a gesture with one hand may suggest neglect.
Crossed fingers
In many Western countries, people cross their index and middle fingers for good luck or the evil eye. In Vietnam, this gesture is considered offensive, especially if you are looking at the other person. It is believed that the crossed fingers represent the female reproductive organs.
Middle finger
This is the most famous and recognizable indecent gesture in the whole world, which is shown when they want to send the interlocutor to hell, end the conversation or rudely refuse. In addition, this is one of the most ancient gestures, which was used by the ancient Greeks and Romans, as well as by monkeys. In Asian countries, however, the middle finger is sometimes used to indicate something.
Gesture OK
Thumb and forefinger ring meaning "everything is alright!" or "OK", in French means "zero" or "worthless". In Greece and Turkey, this gesture is considered a hint of homosexuality. And in some countries of the Middle East, for example, in Kuwait, it means the evil eye.
Other gestures in different countries
In Argentina, keeping your hands in your pockets is considered indecent, in Japan it is not recommended to tighten your belt in public - this means the beginning of hara-kiri. Bulgarians, Greeks and Turks, when they say "Yes", shake their heads from side to side, but for us it means "No". By touching the century with a finger, in Italy they express benevolence, in Spain, with the help of this gesture, they express their doubt about the veracity of what was said, and the Frenchman makes it clear to the person with such a gesture that he talks too much. When an Englishman wants to teach someone a lesson, he raises two fingers folded together, and in the USA this gesture means a single whole, a team. 
Here are the most popular examples of gestures, the meaning of which is better to know in advance. Otherwise, problems in communication with foreigners cannot be avoided.
Gesture "All OK"
In Russia, the USA, Australia, Great Britain and Canada, this gesture is perceived positively and implies that everything is in order, in France it expresses negative emotions and means that the subject of conversation is not worth any attention. In Brazil, this is how they show the fifth point, and in Turkey and Greece they use this gesture if they want to talk about a person's non-traditional orientation.
Chin scratching
In our country, touching the chin does not have a negative connotation, but only indicates that the person is thinking about something. But the French, Belgians and residents of Northern Italy drive their fingers together along the chin from the bottom up when they are extremely aggressive.
thumb up
A hand with a thumbs up in the USA, Russia, Great Britain is a sign of approval or some kind of positive emotional reaction: “class”, “great”. But in Greece, in this way they are asked to be silent. This gesture acquires even sharper meaning in the countries of the Middle East: in this way, in a rude form, you can be sent to hell.
protruding tongue
When you are among children, you are unlikely to take your tongue hanging out as an insult. But you should be very careful with this, for example, in Australia: when they see your tongue, they will get into a fight with you. But in Latin America, you are more likely to have to deal with the interlocutor: Hispanics use such a gesture to call someone a coward. In Tibet, on the contrary, the language speaks of the extreme benevolence and peaceful intentions of the passerby.
Raised palm
The most popular gesture, which many associate with Italy, in this country means the degree of emotional state and the mute exclamation "What do you want?". In Egypt, in this way they say: “I will be in a minute,” and in Israel they ask to slow down in a conversation or dispute, they say, “just a minute.”
Peace or victory
The meaning of this gesture in most countries is clearly perceived positively, but with a certain position of the hand. If you show the V sign with your palm turned away from you, the world is provided for you, but if you turn your palm towards yourself, you risk offending a person. There is a medieval legend about the origin of the gesture during the Hundred Years War. So the English and Welsh archers teased the French, as if saying "Fear, enemies!".
Beckoning gesture with index finger
If in Australia, Europe or the USA you beckon someone with your finger, they will understand you unambiguously, perceiving this gesture as a beckoning one. But in Asia, this is a sign of a strong insult. In the Philippines, you can even go to jail for it: there they call animals or an interlocutor who is not respected with a finger.
It would seem that sign language is universal, it can be used anywhere to express your emotions or thoughts without words. However, experienced travelers before the trip must study which gestures are acceptable to use in a particular country, and which ones are better to refrain from. Today we will tell you about it.
Abroad, one must gesticulate carefully, otherwise comic and tragic situations may arise. For example, in the countries of the Middle East, you cannot give anything to a person with your left hand, it is considered unclean, by doing this you cause a serious insult to the local resident. In response, you will at least be rude!
But let us leave alone the mysterious East. Let's move on to the British and Americans. Residents of the UK are very restrained in gestures, they prefer not to use them at all, considering active body movements to be theatrical, pretense. Isn't that why they are considered so prim? Americans are more open, active and gesticulate as much as we are. What gestures in Great Britain and America are different from ours?
Features of non-verbal communication of Americans and British
distance between interlocutors. Paradoxically, the British welcome the average distance between speakers - 50-60 cm, while progressive Americans prefer to approach no closer than 90 cm. According to one version, the distance between interlocutors depends on ... the size of the country. The inhabitants of the island states are located in a small area, and therefore allow a small distance between the interlocutors.
If you stayed in the same room with an unfamiliar American He will definitely talk to you. Do not refuse to talk, otherwise you will insult him. The British, on the contrary, consider it quite normal not to communicate with a person who is in the same room with you. Hence the following difference arises.
If an American wants to be alone, he will close in a separate room. The Englishman will consider this behavior strange, because in order to be alone, it is enough for him simply not to talk to anyone.
Eyebrow lifting. The Germans are very fond of such a gesture, they express their admiration for them with someone's words. Residents of the UK take such a movement with hostility: for them, this is an expression of a skeptical attitude towards any idea.
When we want to let the interlocutor understand that we are listening to him, we nod our heads. The English instead just blink, while they won't look you straight in the eye.
We think everyone knows the fact: foreigners smile a lot more than our compatriots. Moreover, this is a feature of their culture, and not ostentatious politeness.
Winston Churchill loved to show the V sign. Whether he accidentally changed the position of his hand, or did it on purpose, history is silent ... Everyone knows gesture with the middle and index fingers raised up and slightly apart. Many people know that it means the letter V - victory (victory). But keep in mind a little nuance: if you show it with your palm away from you, it really means victory, approval in the style of "we will win, everything is fine." If you turned your palm towards yourself, then you inflicted a terrible insult on your interlocutor. It is believed that the gesture appeared during the battle of Agincourt. The English archers thus showed that they had kept the fingers necessary for archery intact (if the French had taken them prisoner, they would have immediately cut off these fingers). However, there is a diametrically opposite opinion: a sign with the palm towards oneself is victory, with the palm away from oneself - an insult. Perhaps the fact is that Winston Churchill actively used this gesture, but did not follow the position of the palm. Hence, two different opinions have arisen.
Thumb raised up. One of the most popular gestures. It seems that in all countries it means the same thing. No, it all depends on how exactly you make this gesture. If an American SHARPLY throws a finger up, this means an obscene expression. In Greece, by the way, such a movement in all cases expresses the wish to “shut up” in a very rude form. Therefore, we recommend using this sign with great care.
When a resident of the UK meets you for the first time or, on the contrary, says goodbye to you, he will definitely shake your hand. At all other meetings, the British do without handshakes, kisses and hugs, they consider it superfluous. Americans, on the other hand, will shake your hand every time they appear, they can give you a friendly pat on the shoulder or a hug, depending on the situation.
If you tap your index finger on your nose, the British will regard this gesture as a call to keep something secret, conspiracy. The Italians thus warn of danger, and the merry Dutch report that someone is drunk.
If a middle and index fingers folded together and raised up, the American shows you that you and him are a great team, good friends, "do not spill water." If such a gesture is made by a resident of the UK, he tells us: "Well, wait, I'll get to you."
If we twist your finger at the temple, then we want to show that a person is talking some kind of nonsense, stupidity. The British hint with such a gesture: "Think for yourself, do not listen to someone else's opinion." And the people of Holland use this gesture to show that someone is witty.
Some people confuse the rocker "goat" with the "I love you" gesture. To tell an American "I love you", you need to clench your hand into a fist, and then stick out your little finger, thumb and forefinger. In the classic "goat", the thumb presses the middle and ring fingers to the palm.
A warm smile is the universal language of kindness. If we count something, then we bend our fingers to the fist. Such a gesture will seem ridiculous to the inhabitants of America, because they count by bending the fingers from the fist.
We have listed the most common differences in the gestures of the British, Americans and our compatriots. Otherwise, the language of non-verbal communication is similar to ours. It's okay if you forget about the meaning of this or that gesture and find yourself in an awkward situation, here the most pleasant and unambiguous sign will help you out - a sincere smile.
"The main thing in human communication is the understanding of the meaning, which is often found not in the text, that is, not in the meanings, but in the subtext. In human communication, we are used to this. The meaning is sought not only in words, but in actions, facial expressions, in reservations, slips of the tongue, in an involuntary pose and gestures.
V. Zinchenko
The manner of behavior of people of different nationalities is by no means the same. Not all types of communication are based on speech. Paralinguistic means of communication are often underestimated - gestures, facial expressions, eye movements, handshakes, voice level, etc. using verbal.
We always recognize a person who wants to contact us - we recognize him by his posture, which can be called the posture of addressing, by the expression of "questioning" eyes, by some hand movements. All these signals were given to us non-verbally (non-verbally), but we understand them well and take the position of the listener ourselves - we slow down the movement, we stop if we are going somewhere, we have an expression of attention on our face, readiness to accept the question or request of another. It is clear that direct contact communication is carried out not only with the help of speech, but also with the help of non-verbal means of communication - gestures, facial expressions, voice, intonation modulations of speech, etc.
When we travel, we try to learn as much as possible about our destination. We look through weather reports, news about the political situation, we take a phrasebook with us, but even when we are prepared, we are confused when our gestures are misinterpreted. Many gestures are understood worldwide, but not all. Gestures are also culturally determined. The same gestures in different nations can have different meanings.
For example, in New Guinea, they point to an object with their eyes, not with their hands. Tibetans express their approval by sticking out their tongues. In Austria, stroking an imaginary head means that the news someone is reporting is already out of date. The Austrian wish for good luck consists of hitting an imaginary table with the fist.
The Germans, in order to wish good luck, remove their finger in the palm of their hand or also beat on an imaginary table. Bulgarians, Albanians and Turks shake their heads from side to side when saying “yes” and nod when they say “no”.
In Greece and Sardinia, you should not use the “thumbs up” gesture on the road asking for a ride: it will be perceived as a symbol that the person has eaten, “filled his belly”.
In Spain, a raised thumb indicates support for the Basque separatist movement, pulling back the lower eyelid with the index finger conveys a warning to someone to be on their guard; the same gesture is used in Italy. In Sicily, "ring" means "nothing", a pinch of the cheek expresses "excellent".
In Holland, stroking the cheek with thumb and forefinger means someone is sick. Thumb sucking means that someone is lying or at least delusional; rubbing the back of the nose says that someone is too stingy. In order to express the opinion that someone is acting like a lunatic, the Dutch tap their forehead.
In Portugal, the fig serves as a security mark; when they touch the earlobe, they express approval. In Malta, "horns" are used as a protective sign.
Russians, when counting, bend their fingers into a fist, starting with the little finger. Americans and some Europeans do the exact opposite: they unbend their fingers clenched into a fist, starting with the thumb.
The meaning of the gesture called "Ring" - the connection of the thumb and forefinger, representing the letter "O" or otherwise meaning "ok" - in English-speaking countries is perceived unequivocally as an approving, positive gesture. At the same time, in France it is an expression of negative emotions, and in Brazil it is generally considered vulgar. In different cultures, it is interpreted differently - from admiration to a serious insult (they say, you are an absolute zero). Another common gesture is the thumb sticking up. It can be applied in different ways. So for hitchhikers all over the world, it serves to stop passing vehicles, raising his hand in front of him, it will mean “Everything is fine”, pulling his hand up, pointing his thumb over his shoulder, means an expression unacceptable for translation. So it is mainly used in Europe. In Muslim countries, this gesture is indecent, and in Saudi Arabia, having made rotational movements with your thumb up, you say "roll out of here."
Often the non-verbal communicative manifestations of the inhabitants of the Middle East do not coincide with the norms that are familiar to us. A gesture that resembles a “scraper” movement with the palm of the right hand away from the interlocutor at shoulder level is often understood by Russians in a diametrically opposite sense - “leave, goodbye.” Another common example of misunderstanding arises from the fact that it is customary among Arabs to extend their hand to the interlocutor with the palm up after a successful joke. The second participant in the conversation should hit her with his palm as a sign that he liked the joke. Not to do this is to offend the interlocutor. Some Arabic gestures do not have an equivalent in Russian verbal communication. These include gestures: “wait”, “slow down” (fingers folded into a pinch move along the body, from the shoulder, down), an interrogative gesture “what? why? what's the matter?" (rotational movement of the right hand at shoulder level, while the fingers are half-bent).
In many states, including China and Japan, when meeting people, it is customary to give the last name first. In Japan, the name is practically not used, even in informal meetings, and the official bow is a necessary ritual when meeting. In Lapland, when greeting each other, they rub their noses. Europeans, saying goodbye, wave their palm, raising it up and moving their fingers. The American will perceive this gesture as a call to "come here." Saying goodbye, the Americans hold their palm horizontally, only slightly lifting it, as if patting someone on the head or on the shoulder. When parting, Russians usually wave their hands not back and forth, but from side to side, however, a Latin American would take this as a gesture of invitation. And the inhabitants of the Andaman Islands, in parting, bring the palm of a friend to their lips and gently blow on it.
There are several extravagant gestures, for example, in Tibet, a passer-by will show you his tongue - do not be upset. This will mean - "I'm not plotting against you. Stay calm!". But to follow his example, being in Europe is not worth it - it is not safe for the wallet, given the cost of a lawyer, and maybe health. In India, the image of a snake's tongue with a finger means that "You are a liar!" In order to express a sign of admiration, the inhabitants of Spain and Mexico will put three fingers together, press them to their lips and reproduce the sound of a kiss.
Foreigners, once in Russia, are perplexed by the fact that Russian people smile a little. And vice versa, we are amazed that in Europe and America everyone smiles, always and everywhere. In fact, the explanation is very simple: different cultures have different smiles, they carry different meanings. S. G. Ter-Minasova said very well about this: “In the Western world, and in the English-speaking world in particular, a smile is a tradition, a custom: to stretch your lips into the appropriate position to show that you have no aggressive intentions, you are not going to neither rob nor kill. This is a way of formally demonstrating to others one's belonging to a given culture, to a given society. The method is very pleasant, especially for representatives of those cultures in which a smile is an expression of a natural sincere disposition, sympathy, good attitude, as in Russia.”
In the Western world, a smile is at the same time a formal sign of culture, which has nothing to do with a sincere disposition towards the one you smile at, and, of course, a biological reaction to positive emotions, for Russians - only the latter. Interestingly, migrants who live in another culture for a long time gradually adopt the distance inherent in this culture.
Gestures are also classified depending on whether they replace speech or only accompany it. Each of us feels that this gesture is solemn, and this one is cheeky, this is a friendly gesture, and this is official. That is why a gesture can say so much about the speaker, about his upbringing, culture, in particular, the culture of behavior. Gestures, as is already clear, are selective in relation to one or another addressee, in relation to the entire situation of communication. There are different types of body language:
The French, Arabs, Africans, inhabitants of the Mediterranean, South and Central America own the whole variety of gestures and facial expressions, almost never used and often misinterpreted or misunderstood by representatives of other cultures.
Finns and Japanese have kept non-verbal messages to a minimum. In these cultures, gestures, pronounced facial expressions and the free expression of such feelings as fun, sadness, love, disappointment, and jubilation are avoided. A person from a more active culture will not be able to get any information from the body movements of a Finn or a Japanese, although in their culture the Finns or the Japanese are able to recognize it, because they behave in the same reserved way. They, for their part, perceive the demonstrative body language of emotional peoples as vulgar. The eyes are the most expressive part of the face.
In many cultures, interlocutors look at each other all the time when talking. This is especially noticeable in Spain, Greece, and in the Arab countries. Such close eye contact (the Finns and Japanese would consider it a violation of decency) means influence on the interlocutor and emphasizes the position and significance of the speaker's message.
The Japanese avoid eye contact for most of the conversation, looking at the speaker's neck and at their shoes or knees when speaking.
In France and Spain, it is very common to wink to express privacy. The inhabitants of these countries are more likely than the northerners to move their eyebrows to express surprise, disapproval, etc.
We would like to pay special attention to gestures in the French culture of communication. In the natural communication of native speakers of the French language, as well as other languages, a significant role is played by communicative non-speech specialized actions of a person. French psychologist François Sulger's book, The Truth About Gestures, has a number of interesting findings. It turns out that when talking, people attach only 7% significance to words, 38% to intonation, and 55% to facial expressions and gestures. Just one gesture can completely change the meaning of spoken words. Below we give examples of the gestures that accompany the French in everyday life:
Everyone knows that the French "speak" with their hands. Gesticulation is the norm, and it gets more lively the further south you go.
The French stand, as a rule, very close to each other. They smile only if there is something that deserves a smile, considering, for example, the smiles of the same Americans are false, and the Americans themselves, therefore, do not inspire confidence.
To show that they liked the food, the French may kiss their fingertips.
When talking about someone that he is crazy, they put their index finger to the temple.
And as an expression of distrust, they pull the skin under the eye with the index finger, which will mean "I don't believe you."
The French can get bored very easily, so they have plenty of ways to show boredom.
They may, for example, sweep their foreheads, tap their fingers on their cheeks, look straight ahead of them, or wiggle their fingers near their lips in a way that resembles playing an imaginary flute, all of which indicate that it's time for you to change the subject.
Never call anyone with your index finger. This is done with an open hand, the palm is turned up, and the fingers are looking at the person you want to call. To call the waiter, try to catch his eye and wave your hand slightly.
When yawning, cover your mouth with your hand. The same applies to the use of a toothpick: if necessary, turn away.
Use a handkerchief if you sneeze, and if you need to blow your nose in public, it's a good idea to turn away.
In France, it is not customary to point fingers. Show with an open hand. If you want to stop the car, then this is also done with an open hand.
In addition to the body, it is also necessary to control the voice. French children are taught not to raise their voices, and speaking loudly in public is considered bad manners. Clear and concise speech is valued, but not raising your voice or shouting. Therefore, if you are used to speaking loudly, try to control your voice.
Thus, living among people, we constantly "talk" with others by our way of life, habits, customs, rituals. Gesture and posture, facial expressions and facial expressions, intonation (significant phonation), the position of interlocutors in space relative to each other, the "language" of ubiquitous behavior - all this constitutes a vast area of non-verbal communication, such an "additive" to language, which often expresses even more than itself. language.