Hand gestures vary in meaning according to cultures due to historical, social, and contextual differences specific to each society, which influence the perception and interpretation of gestures. Therefore, gestures can take on different meanings depending on the cultural context in which they are used.
The gestures of the hands depend greatly on the cultural context in which they emerged. Depending on the societies, certain gestures have developed closely associated with daily functions such as hunting, fishing, or trade. Other gestures stem from the organization of the social group itself: gestures for greeting, signs to express respect to higher-ranking members in a hierarchy, or conversely, to show dominance. Peoples who have evolved in noisy environments or those that require silence (such as during hunting or certain ceremonies) often adopt a wide variety of signs to compensate for the absence of speech. In short, the variety is primarily linked to differences in context and social and natural environments, with each culture deploying unique gestures adapted to its own daily life.
Social norms clearly define which gestures are acceptable or inappropriate depending on the context, altering their interpretation. For example, giving a thumbs up may be considered very positive in Europe or North America, but highly insulting in some regions of the Middle East. Similarly, making the OK sign (thumb and index finger in a circle) conveys a sense of satisfaction in France or England, but in Brazil, you risk offending your interlocutor. Essentially, the meaning of a gesture directly depends on what a society collectively decides to attribute to it. These informal conventions are learned from childhood, often without us even realizing it. It is only upon encountering another culture that you realize what seemed obvious to you is not understood the same way everywhere else.
Gestures do not come out of nowhere: certain movements are defined over the centuries and are deeply rooted in the cultural history of a group. For example, the military salute comes from a European medieval tradition where raising one's visor peacefully showed one's face to the other person. The gesture of the thumbs up, which today means approval in many cultures, was used in the ancient Roman arena to decide the fate of a defeated gladiator (and, as an ironic historical detail: some believe that the thumbs up actually meant death rather than life!). Another case is the "V" gesture for victory popularized during World War II by Winston Churchill, which became a universal symbol of peace and then positive approval among later generations. In short, gestures inherited from turbulent historical periods eventually become ingrained in collective memory, often changing meaning or context over time.
The meaning of the same gesture can change completely from one region to another. For example, making a circle with the thumb and index finger (OK gesture) is perceived positively in North America, but in Brazil or Turkey, it can be taken as an insult or an obscenity. The thumbs up (thumbs up), which generally means "great" or "well done" here, has an insulting or crude connotation in Iran, Afghanistan, or even Greece. When inviting someone to come closer, many Westerners use the index finger curled towards themselves, but in Southeast Asia, this gesture is reserved for animals, so doing it to a person is considered very disrespectful. In Mediterranean countries like Italy or Greece, waving hands energetically while speaking is quite normal and even spontaneous, whereas it may seem aggressive or exaggerated to Scandinavians or Northeast Asians. These regional differences in gestures can easily lead to misunderstandings, or even social tensions, when traveling or interacting with people from different cultures.
Frequent cultural exchanges, through tourism or immigration, modify the gestures we use in our daily lives. Through constant exposure to the gestures of others, we sometimes adopt or adapt certain movements. For example, the thumbs up, originally a typically Western gesture, is now understood and used all around the globe thanks to the Internet and international media. Conversely, some gestures may disappear or change radically as they are deemed rude or inappropriate elsewhere. These regular contacts gradually transform our ways of communicating, creating a kind of "global body language" where certain gestures are better tolerated and more understandable, even far from home.
The hand sign "V" generally symbolizes peace or victory in several Western cultures, but when presented with the palm facing oneself in the UK, Australia, or Ireland, its meaning becomes provocative and disrespectful.
In Japan, pointing at a person is considered impolite. Instead, the Japanese often prefer to indicate a direction or a person with an open hand or a discreet gesture with their eyes.
In India and other South Asian countries, it is common to use the whole hand rather than just one finger to invite someone to come over. In contrast, using only one finger might be perceived as authoritative or disrespectful.
In some Arab countries, shaking or moving the finger to indicate "no" is commonly used to express refusal or a warning, but in some Western countries, the same gesture can be interpreted as infantilizing or pejorative.
Understanding cultural differences in the use of gestures helps prevent misunderstandings, misinterpretations, and protects against embarrassing situations. It also facilitates better intercultural communication and demonstrates genuine respect for local customs.
Very few hand gestures are truly universal. For example, the gesture of forming a circle with the thumb and index finger can mean 'OK' in the United States, but it corresponds to a serious insult in some regions of South America, particularly in Brazil.
Intercultural interactions, particularly due to globalized media, frequent travel, and trade exchanges, tend to harmonize or transform the meanings of gestures. Some gestures that were previously specific to one culture are gradually becoming universal, while others change or lose their original meaning.
In an intercultural professional context, it is advisable to adopt a neutral posture, avoid ambiguous or unfamiliar gestures, and to inform oneself in advance about the body language accepted by one's interlocutors. Observing the gestures used by others and seeking advice or clarifications beforehand are also recommended approaches.
Some hand gestures, such as a thumbs-up or the peace sign with the palm facing inward, can be interpreted as insulting or rude in specific cultures. It is helpful to understand the cultural context before making these gestures, especially when traveling or in an international professional setting.
No one has answered this quiz yet, be the first!' :-)
Question 1/5
