Recently, I've been considering studying abroad and remembered how I had heard about different signs meaning different things in other countries. Never in mind did I think that our daily nonverbal communications can be so offensive in other places! So if you're planning on traveling abroad I suggest you look up that countries cultures and language. Below I left some signs that we use on the daily and their "normal" translations in other countries.
- Thumbs up
- While in the USA it means okay in Australia and other places it means "up yours" or "sit on it"
- Crossed Arms
- Crossing your arms seems so comfortable that you couldn't imagine that in Finland it's considered a huge sign of arrogance. Yikes, talk about crossing your wires!
- Nodding/Shaking your head
- We were raised to know that shaking your head left to right means no and nodding your head means yes, you might not want to do when someone asks to buy you dinner in Greece! In Greece, the signs are reversed, shaking your head means yes and nodding means no!
- Crossed Fingers
- The next time you visit Vietnam don't make this sign as a way to say good luck, it actually means something COMPLETELY different! In Vietnam it refers to a woman's genitals, AWKWARD!
- The Horn or Rock on sign
- The famous longhorn sign and rock on sign doesn't always mean you go to a good school or rock out to heavy metal. In fact, in Italy it means you're suggesting that a husband is being cheated on.
Thanks for sharing. One can find very nice business travel books with substantial information on cultural signs and practices. Here is an article that reflects some of the ones you mention too: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/travel_news/article-3000521/Handy-infographic-explains-hand-gestures-world.html
ReplyDeleteVery interesting post. Thanks for sharing.
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