ACTIVITY 1Are gestures universal?

YOUR INTERPRETATION

• For each of the displayed gestures, identify your initial reaction by selecting one of the following symbols: to signify a positive interpretation

to signify a neutral interpretation

to signify a negative interpretation

1 23 5

4

4

SLOVENE INTERPRETATION

• For each of the displayed gestures, discuss with your classmate how it is usually interpreted in the Slovene context. Use the same symbols: to signify a positive interpretation

to signify a neutral interpretation

to signify a negative interpretation

1

Germany

Iran

Australia

2

the UK

the USA

France

3

Italy

Dominican Republic

Finland

4

Greece

France

New Zealand

4

France

Turkey

the UK

5

Other Gestures

The handshake gesture

Kenya Turkey Morocco

The crazy gesture

Italy JapanBrazil

The Yes/No gestures

India Bulgaria Greece

Pointing

PhilippinesIndonesiaJapan

Come here / Go away

Koreathe UK Australia

# MEANING COUNTRY

1 The handshake comprises a brief palm touch.

2 Multiple gestures indicate “Crazy”.

3 Two gestures indicate “Yes”.

4 The lips are used to indicate direction.

5 The “Come here” gesture mimics the direction of desired motion.

DID YOU UNDERSTAND?

In ______ communication, not only what you say is important, but also your use of ______. Indeed, a given ______ in one speaker's culture could be a serious ______in another's culture because its ______is not ______.

DID YOU UNDERSTAND?

In cross-cultural communication, not only what you say is important, but also your use of NVC. Indeed, a given gesture in one speaker's culture could be a serious insult in another's culture because its interpretation is not universal.