The Ultimate Body Language Book

Emblems or “quotable gestures” are those gestures that are culturally specific which can be used as
replacement for words. That is, the gestures have a direct verbal translation. Obviously these gestures
will mean different things in different settings and can range from complimentary to offensive. Studies
show us that people lower in socioeconomic status gesticulate, which is the action of using gestures
while talking, more often than those with higher status. Usually this is tied directly to education, and
those who have a higher level of schooling also have a larger vocabulary so instead of using gestures to
express themselves, they use words instead.
The middle finger is an obvious gesture to Westerners and so too is the peace sign (or V-sign) which
can also mean victory. However, George Bush senior was famously ridiculed for “flipping” the V-sign
as he was met with Australian onlookers. In their culture the same gesture is considered an insult. The
V-sign where the palm faces outward has long been an gesture meant to insult but not just in Australia,
also in England and the rest of the United Kingdom, Ireland and parts of France.