I made a comment on an earlier blog about my trip to Japan and the woman yelling because I insulted her by making eye contact. Well I decided to look up a few more gestures that can be marked offensive. We have to be careful when you are in a culture different from our own. You can really insult on accident just by doing everyday things. If you are planning on going anywhere out of the country, I would suggest doing some detailed research about the country you are visiting. Not only about gestures, but just the culture in general. There can be many things you need to know about a country before you go!
Thumbs up sign-
In America usually means good job or “OK”
In Australia, if you move it up and down, it is a huge insult
“OK” sign ( pointer and thumb in a circle with other fingers sticking up)
In America it means “OK”
In Turkey, it means someone is homosexual
In Germany it is an insult
In Australia it means zero
The peace sign
In America it means the number two or peace
In Ireland it means “f” you. (also means this in the U K)
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I must say that I am very jealous that you had the chance to travel to Japan. I want to live in Japan after I'm done with doing whatever I'm doing in life, but now I'm just getting off subject about hand gestures.
ReplyDeleteNow what I'm about to talk about does not really focus on a gesture, but on a word "fag" that was used when I traveled to Europe. I remember when I traveled to Europe I was a cigarette smoker. When I asked a stranger for one there he said the word "fag". I took this as a insult and got very upset with the gentleman. After explaining to me that they called cigarettes "fags" everything was cool again. I knew that cigarettes had a different name in Europe, but I just completely forgot. But it's all good now.
I had no idea that thumbs up didn't mean the same thing everywhere. And the peace simble is the same thing I guess, Winston Churchill used to use it in order to pronounce victory. This is also the same kind of thing in Greece, a person van have an entire conversation in greece and only one person will be talking. with a series of nods and winks and frowns as well as many more things that i can't remember. In Greece it is almost the same as flipping someone the bird if you hold up the palm of your hand at them, and the bottom of your feet would mean not just to you but F--- your entire family.
ReplyDeleteCulture difference can be a huge deal in different part of the world. I thought the thumbs up sign were common in all countries and it was understandable that it meant good. I went to College in Thailand for a year after my high school and I learned that in Thai culture touching Thai people’s head can be very offensive and they get really mad if anyone touches their heads. I believe in Asia there are many different rules about certain gestures in each country. Some of the things that may be common among us can be portrayed differently in another culture which is why we have to be careful not to insult the hosting country in any way. And I believe in respecting other cultures when your anywhere.
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