The Ultimate Body Language Book

shape with the remaining fingers flared out. In Western cultures this means that things are “A-OK” but
in Russia or Turkey, it describes a sexual insult, specifically identifying an orifice. These select few
emblems illustrate the importance of cultural context when it comes to gesturing. Since the signals have
a direct verbal translation that varies from region to region, it is paramount when one travels, to make
note of these differences to avoid a potentially damaging misunderstanding.
Chapter 3 – Cultural Differences
Some More Examples Of Emblems
The “C” gesture: Used in Mexico to signal a desire to interrupt the speaker or in North America used
by television producers to indicate the need to break for a commercial. It’s origins stem from a Mexican
television presenter Raul Velasco in the program Siempre en Domingo (meaning “Always on Sunday”).
It was first used behind the scenes, but because Velasco, the host, used it on camera, it spread across the
main population and to some extend across the rest of Latin America.
The benediction gesture: Done by raising the right hand with the ring and little finger touching the
palm and the index and middle pointed upwards. It was used in Ancient Roman times during speaking
by emperors to symbolize a charm or blessing. In Sicily it declares that someone is dead.
Payment gestures: In America the payment gesture is performed by placing the index finger and thumb
together then doing a writing motion in the air as if to sign the name on the bill. In Egypt, a request for
the bill is signaled by holding the left hand out palm up and tapping the left hand palm down against
the left wrist. In Thailand payment is indicated by making a circling gesture in the air whereas in the
Philippines one draws rectangles in the air.
Thumbs up: Performed by rolling the fingers together against the palm then extending the thumb up. It
has different meaning across the world. To Europeans, it means “one”, to Australians performed with a
upward motion it is a rude gesture, saying “sit on this”, in Greece it is thrust forward and is equally
rude, and carries equally sexual insults in Africa, Southern Europe and the Middle East, while in Japan
in means “man” and “five”. While the meaning of the thumbs up gesture has been shown to have
changed over time, it was first postulated to have had a Roman origin through a 19th century painting
by artist Jean-Léon Gérôme where a triumphant gladiator stands over a fallen enemy seeking a
“thumbs-up” or “thumbs-down” demanding a verdict, to kill or not. However, author of Manwatching
Desmond Morris claims that the true ‘spare him’ signal was actually made by tucking the thumb inside
the fist.
Fig sign: The fig sign is made by first making a fist then thrusting the thumb up between the middle
and index finger until it pokes through slightly. It can also be done by putting the thumb through the
ring and middle finger. This gesture can mean everything from a good luck charm and fertility as in
ancient Rome to an obscene gesture which is the case for Greece, Indonesia, Turkey, Cyprus and
Russia. Where it is an insult, it is the equivalent of “screw you” where the thumb represents the clitoris.
The sexual connotations dates back to ancient Rome and is referred to in Dante’s Inferno as a curse
against God followed up with the “fig” gesture. Today, Americans will use this gesture to symbolize the
taking of a child’s nose, as in “I got your nose”, with the thumb in this instance representing the nose.
The little finger: Performed by raising just the little finger upward with the remaining fingers clenched
into a fist. In Bali it means “bad”, in Japan “woman”, South America “thin”, France “you can’t fool
me!” and Mediterranean “small penis”.