COMMUNICATION THROUGH GESTURES

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

We would like to express our deep gratitude towards all the people who have helped us in our project.

We take the opportunity to thank our respected Principal, Dr.V.Kattchi, our co-ordinator, Miss. Rumina Rai and Ms.Renu Norial, for showing confidence in us and assigning such a challenging project. We are indeed thankful to them for their valuable guidance, help, encouragement and time to time assistance during the progress of the project work. Our special thanks to our Prof.Ms.Renu Naurial, for her expert advice and practical knowledge for our project work.

Last but not the least, we cannot forget the assistance, rendered to us, by the other staff members of our institution and also our parents, who have directly – indirectly, helped us in our project work

Contents

Introduction

Introduction to Gestures

Studies of gesture

Social significance

Using one hand

Itching Under The Chin Bang bang Beckoning sign Benediction and blessing Blah-blah Check, please Clenched fist Clinton thumb Crossed fingers Cuckoo sign Fig sign Finger Snap Hook 'em Horns Horns Knocking on wood Middle finger Money sign OK Pointing Moutza (Palm of hand) Salute Shaka

Similar gestures "Thanks!" Salute Three middle fingers Thumbs up, thumbs down Tsk-tsk V sign

Vulcan salute Wanker Wave

Using two hands

Air quotes "Gills" Time-out

Hand with body gestures

Bent elbow Biting one's thumb Biting one's hand Bowing, kneeling, kowtowing Choking sign Crossing oneself Cutthroat Drinking sign Hand over heart Loser My eye Nonsense Nose thumbing Touched / screw loose "Wiping" one's forehead

Conclusion

Introduction

People can not live without each other, we are social beings. As soon as we are in contact with others we are communicating. For this we can make use of spoken and written language. In these ways we make the content of a message clear to each other. However we can also communicate without words. This kind of communication tells us something about the relationship between people. Often this is more important than getting the content of the message across. The communication about this non spoken communication, which tells us something about the relationship between people, is called Meta-Communication. Communicating about communication!

Nonverbal communication (NVC) is usually understood as the process of sending and receiving wordless messages. Such messages can be communicated through gesture; body language or posture; facial expression and eye gaze; object communication such as clothing, hairstyles or even architecture; symbols and graphics; prosodic features of speech such as intonation and stress and other paralinguistic features of speech such as voice quality, emotion and speaking style.

While much nonverbal communication is based on arbitrary symbols which differ from culture to culture, a large proportion is also to some extent iconic and may be universally understood. Paul Ekman's influential 1960s studies of facial expression determined that expressions of anger, disgust, fear, joy, sadness and surprise are universal.

The first scientific study of nonverbal communication was Charles Darwin's book The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals (1872). He argued that all mammals show emotion reliably in their faces. Studies now range across a number of fields, including kinesics, linguistics, semiotics and social psychology.

Scholars in this field usually use a strict sense of the term "verbal", meaning "of or concerned with words," and do not use "verbal communication" as a synonym for oral or spoken communication. Thus, sign languages and writing are generally understood as forms of verbal communication, as both make use of words — although like speech, both may contain paralinguistic elements and often occur alongside nonverbal messages. Nonverbal communication can occur through any sensory channel — sight, sound, smell, touch or taste. Nonverbal communication is also distinguished from unconscious communication, which may be verbal or non-verbal.

Introduction to Gestures

A gesture is a form of non-verbal communication made with a part of the body, used instead of or in combination with verbal communication. The language of gesture is rich in ways for individuals to express a variety of feelings and thoughts, from contempt and hostility to approval and affection. Most people use gestures and body language in addition to words when they speak; some ethnic groups and languages use them more than others do, and the amount of such gesturing that is considered culturally acceptable varies from one location to the next.

Although some gestures, such as the ubiquitous act of pointing, differ little from one place to another, most gestures do not have invariable or universal meanings, having specific connotations only in certain cultures. Different types of gestures are distinguished. The most famous types of gestures are the so-called emblems or quotable gestures. These are culture-specific gestures that can be used as replacement for words. Communities have repertoires of such gestures. A single emblematic gesture can have very different significance in different cultural contexts, ranging from complimentary to highly offensive.

Another type of gestures are the ones we use when we speak. These gestures are closely coordinated with speech. The meaningful part of the gesture is temporally synchronised with the co-expressive words. For example, a gesture that depicts the act of throwing will be synchronous with the word 'threw' in the utterance "and then he threw the ball right into the window." Other gestures like the so-called beat gestures are used in conjunction with speech, keeping time with the rhythm of speech and to emphasize certain words or phrases. These types of gestures are integrally connected to speech and thought processes.

Studies of gesture

The first full-length study of gesture was published by John Bulwer in 1644. Bulwer analyzed dozens of gestures, and provided a guide on how to use gestures to increase eloquence and clarity for public speaking. Today, one of the most prominent researchers in the field of gesture research is Adam Kendon. He has investigated many aspects of gestures, including their role in communication, conventionalization of gesture, integration of gesture and speech, and the evolution of language. Other prominent researchers in this field include Susan Goldin-Meadow and David McNeill

Social significance

Vitarka mudra, Tarim Basin, 9th century.

Gestures play a major role in many aspects of human life. Many animals, including humans, use gestures to initiate a mating ritual. This may include elaborate dances and other movements.

Religious and spiritual gestures are also common, such as the Christian sign of the cross. In Hinduism and Buddhism, a mudra (Sanskrit, literally "seal") is a symbolic gesture made with the hand or fingers. Each mudra has a specific meaning, playing a central role in Hindu and Buddhist iconography. An example is the Vitarka mudra, the gesture of discussion and transmission of Buddhist teaching. It is done by joining the tips of the thumb and the index together, while keeping the other fingers straight.

Using One HandItching Under The Chin

This in Italian culture and Italian American culture represents "Screw You!" This is done by keeping your dominant hand straight, and then placing it under your chin. Finally, 'throwing out' your dominant hand

so the person your doing it to can see the back of your hand. It can actually be done by either hand though.

Bang bang

This gesture mimes a handgun.

The "bang bang" gesture is performed by raising the fist with the index finger and thumb extended. The index finger points at the recipient. The thumb is then brought down on top of the fingers. This imitation of the action of a revolver pistol is often meant to represent a handgun in children's games. It may also be used menacingly to mean "I'm gonna kill you", or simply as a playful greeting. The middle finger is often also extended to widen the "barrel".

Also, if the thumb and middle finger are used to click, and the thumb the pointed upwards to form the gun, this can also be interpreted as a greeting.

Beckoning sign

Index finger sticking out of the clenched fist, palm facing the gesturer. The finger moves repeatedly towards the gesturer (in a hook) as to draw something nearer. It has the general meaning of "come here", although it is normally seen as condescending or anyway impolite. It is sometimes performed with the four fingers, with the entire hand, or even with the arm, depending on how far the recipient of the sign is.

When performed with the index finger, it may have a mild sexual connotation depending on the circumstance.

In Japan there is a similar gesture, but the four fingers are used, the palm faces the recipient and the hand is at head's height.

Benediction and blessing

Benediction gesture, on a coin of Emperor Constantine.

The benediction gesture is a raised right hand with the ring and pinky fingers touching the palm, while the middle and index fingers remain raised. Taken from Ancient Roman icongraphy for speaking (an example is the Augustus of Prima Porta where the emperor Augustus assumes the pose of an orator in addressing his troops), it is used as a simple charm or blessing amongst many modern Pagans, and has a vast array of uses. Perhaps the most common and/or noteworthy use of the gesture is while tracing an invisible "air pentagram" before someone during certain Wiccan rituals such as the Great Rite performed during Beltane and Drawing Down the Moon on the Esbats. One might also use the gesture to trace invisible pentagrams or other sigils over items to be blessed or empowered, such as holy water, ritual wine, ritual ale, or the Sacred Herb. The two extended fingers are used to point (except when an athame, wand, or sword is used).

A similar sign, called the benediction gesture, is used by the Christian clergy to perform blessings with the sign of the cross; however Christians keep the thumb raised - the three raised fingers (index, middle, and thumb) are frequently allegorically interpreted as representing the three Persons of the Holy Trinity. It was shown by representations of Jesus as Christ Pantocrator.

Blah-blah

The fingers are kept straight and together in a horizontal fashion while the thumb is held out straight. The fingers and thumb then snap together repeatedly to suggest a mouth talking. It is used to indicate contempt for a person talking for an excessive period of time about nothing the gesturer feels is important.

Check, please

This gesture, understood by waiters around the world to mean that a dinner patron wishes to pay the bill and depart, is executed by touching the index finger and thumb together and "writing" a wavy line in the air, as if to sign one's name. An alternate gesture with the same meaning is made by holding touching the index finger and thumb together and drawing a checkmark (✓) in the air. In Japan, the symbol to request a check is often made by crossing the two hands together in the shape of a T, which might be considered a sign for a time out in the United States. In Egypt, the le ft hand is held palm-out and the right, palm-down, is tapped against the left wrist to request the check. In Thailand, one makes a circling gesture with the thumb and fingers pinched together- as if you are holding and imaginary pencil and making imaginary scribbles on a piece of paper. Sometimes the opposite palm is used as the 'paper'. In the Philippines, one outlines a rectangle in the air using the thumb and forefinger of both hands.

Clenched fist

A raised, clenched fist is used as a gesture of defiance by a number of groups. It is usually considered to be hostile, yet without any sexual, scatological, or notionally offensive connotations. It is especially associated with Communists and with other nationalist or ethnic revolutionary or would-be revolutionary movements, and with the Black Power movements of the

1960s in the United States. It is the custom to make this gesture while singing The Internationale, the Marxist anthem. A clenched fist raised quickly up and down and then punched in some direction also signifies a military call for a heavy weapons team to close on the gesturer or to move or open fire in the direction indicated by the punch.

Clinton thumb

The gesture dubbed the "Clinton thumb" after its most famous user, Bill Clinton, is used by politicians to provide emphasis in speeches without pointing the finger. This gesture has the thumb leaning against the thumbside portion of the index finger, which is part of a closed fist. It does not exhibit the

anger of the clenched fist or pointing finger, and so is thought to be less threatening. This gesture was likely adopted by Clinton from John F. Kennedy, who can be seen using it in many speeches during his political career.

Crossed fingers

A gesture made by crossing the index and middle fingers such that the middle finger overlaps and intertwines the index finger, which can be used to signify one's hope that something should succeed (compare to the phrase "Keep your fingers crossed."). According to OldSuperstitions.com, this stems from the superstition that "Bad luck is trapped at the point where the two fingers meet so when we cross our fingers, we stop the bad luck from escaping and allow our wishes to come true.".

However, if placed behind one's back, the gesture takes on an entirely different meaning: it is then normally used to indicate that the user secretly wishes for something contrary to what is being stated or going on, or that a lie is being told. This usage is often seen in dramatic terms.

Cuckoo sign

A gesture made by closing ones fist, extending the index finger, and circling it around ones ear for several seconds. This gesture is used indicate that someone is speaking nonsense or is crazy (more colloquially, this is described as being cuckoo). The "cuckoo" sign is well-known in the United States.

Fig sign

The "fig sign" is a gesture made with the hand and fingers curled and the thumb thrust between the middle and index fingers, or, rarely, the middle and ring fingers, forming the fist so that the thumb partly pokes out. In some areas of the world, the gesture is considered a good luck charm, in others it is considered an obscene gesture, and in still others it is used in the "I've got your nose!" child's game. This gesture is also the letter "T" in the American Sign Language alphabet. In International Sign, which otherwise uses

the same manual alphabet, "T" has been modified to avoid possible offense.

In ancient Rome, this gesture was called the mano fico, and was a fertility and good luck charm designed to ward off evil. Although this usage has survived in Brazil, where carved images of hands in this gesture are used in good luck talismans, in many other cultures, such as Indonesia, Turkey and Russia, the sign has come to have an insulting meaning roughly equivalent to "screw you", based on the thumb being seen as representing a clitoris or sexual intercourse. In modern Italian, the gesture is called the mano fica, taken to mean "fig hand", as the Italian word for "fig" is fico (ficus in Latin). The obscene connotations of the gesture may partly originate from the fact that a similar Italian word, fica, is a slang term referring to the vulva. This sexual connotation may date back to ancient Roman times; some Roman amulets combine a phallus and a mano fico gesture.

The gesture is also used in a trick played by adults and parents, with the intention of convincing their child that his or her nose has been ripped off. Someone, usually an adult, grabs at the child's nose and forms the fig sign, exclaiming, "I've got your nose, I've got your nose!" The thumb is supposed to be the child's removed nose.

Many neopagans use this gesture as a symbol of the mother goddess to help adherents identify one another. In this context, it is referred to as the "Sign of the Goddess". Its counterpart is the corna sign.

Finger Snap

One of several gestures familiar to modern people primarily through old animated cartoons, this gesture generally expresses a confident "screw you!" in the face of an adversary. The gesturer holds one hand out, palm up, in the direction of his antagonist and snaps his thumb and middle finger, generally accompanied by a high-nosed, "snooty" facial expression and followed by crossing the arms.

In some countries, particularly Great Britain, snapping the fingers is used to signify remembering or failing to remember. Snapping the fingers repeatedly at a constant rate is commonly used to signify that the person has forgotten something and is trying to recall it. This is often done with the fingers snapped close to the temple, as though literally 'jogging the memory,' and is associated with the phrase 'it's on the tip of my tongue.' A single snap, sometimes emphasised by an arced swing of the arm, is used when someone is reminded of something by another person, particularly if it is a job or a chore they have forgotten to do. Some people also snap their fingers to catch the attention of others. This is informal - some people may find it rude or even threatening, as it is common for the gesturer to snap his fingers very close to the other's face. In some cases, this may be interpreted as a face-threatening act or a sign of contempt.

Hook 'em Horns

George W. Bush gives the Hook 'em Horns salute to the Texas Longhorns marching band at his second inauguration.

In college sports in the United States, The "Hook 'em Horns" (or simply "Hook 'em") sign is associated with fans of the Texas Longhorns. The gesture is an imitation of the head of a Texas Longhorn, which serves as the school mascot. It was created in 1955 by a UT cheerleader and is one of the most famous hand symbols in US college sports.

Students, faculty, and alumni of the University of Texas are often seen to display this hand sign during sporting events, commencements, and other special occasions. They will often include the spoken or written phrase in conversations or writings, especially as a closing.

The Hook 'em Horns symbol is the same physically as the mano cornuto gesture. They both have their origins in the imitation of a type of livestock, the Longhorn on the one hand and a goat on the other, though their meanings are very different.

However, a warning to all Texas Longhorn fans abroad: in Italy this salute, accompanied by a twisting of the wrist gesture, is considered an insult . It implies that the recipient's wife has been sleeping around. A group of American revelers were arrested in Rome (1985) after parading outside the Vatican liberally displaying the "Hook 'em Horns" after a major victory by the Texas Longhorns. The Pope was reported to be unimpressed by the Americans' behaviour

Horns

Many neopagans use it as a symbol of the horned god to identify each other; in this context it is referred to as the "Sign of the Horned God". Its counterpart is the fig sign, above.

Some say that it is meant to ward off — or to bestow — the evil eye. It is also a representation of the Devil by some Satanists. The gesture's

origin is believed to be an imitation of the shape of a goats head, which has many associations with the concept of Satan in Christianity Satan's Goat

It has a variety of other meanings as well, depending on culture and area. In some places, it is a sexual insult, charging a man with being a victim of cuckoldry (this insult is most common in Italy and is also used in Brazil). Perhaps because of its occult significance, it is used as a salute by fans of heavy metal music. If one reverses the extended fingers, one gets the "inverted heavy metal salute" which can be given as a reply to a heavy metal salute.

Knocking on wood

This signifies the neutralization of a jinxing brought on by either mentioning a hoped-for or feared result. The knuckles are rapped on a nearby piece of wood (or, jokingly, someone's head). Usually this is only valid if done on bare (i.e. unpainted) wood. One possible reason for the tradition could have been from an animist culture who believed that the knocking would release spirits to protect them. It has also been said to stem from a belief that any nearby evil spirits who overhear somebody speaking of good fortune which has come his way may send some bad luck to offset it; knocking on wood was thought to keep the spirits from hearing. It is also known as "tapping wood" or "touching wood".

In Italy, one knocks on iron with the hand in the corna horns position.

Middle finger

16

"The finger" is a very common offensive hand gesture.

"The finger" is a gesture consisting of a fist with the middle finger extended. It appears to be universally understood as "fuck you" due to its resemblance to the penis. It is certainly thousands of years old, being referred to in Ancient Roman literature as the digitus infamis or digitus impudicus. Performing this gesture is also called "flipping the bird" in countries where "the finger" is used. In other regions, "flipping the bird" refers to the raising of the middle and index finger with the back of the hand directed at the recipient. It can also mean "Victor" (see V Sign, below) in some countries, which is not to be mistaken for the "Peace" gesture, which is done with the palm facing the recipient of the gesture, but in Britain and some other countries it is an offensive gesture, equivalent to "the finger".

Comedian Dane Cook parodied the gesture with his "Super Finger" gesture, which consists of raising the middle finger, ring finger, and thumb on the same hand while lowering (or curling) the pointer and pinky finger. It is meant to be a more "powerful" version of "the finger".

Another Lovecraftian sign is the "Sign of Koth", which consists of fully extending the index finger, middle finger, ring finger, and pinky, while the thumb is tucked against the flat of the hand.

Money sign

The thumb rubs repeatedly over the tip of the index finger and middle fingers. The ring finger and pinky touch the palm. This gesture is meant to resemble the act of rubbing two coins together and has a general meaning of "money", or

"expensive".

OK

This is the touching of the index and middle finger (or just index finger) with the thumb (forming a rough circle) with the raising of the remaining fingers. In the United States and most of Europe, it means "OK" and is inoffensive. The OK sign is used extensively in scuba diving. It can also mean "0," or "money," in Japan. However, in Germany, it is often seen on the Autobahn, as a silent way of calling someone an "Asshole" (with the

fingers extended horizontally). Similar vulgar meanings are found in other countries, but usually you have to turn the 'Ring' upside down (supinated to show the ring in front) like this example from Brazil. It is then a sexual or scatological gesture referring to the anus.

Pointing

The typical pointing with the index finger is a universal gesture. There are many other ways to point, for example with the hand, a head nod or an eye gaze. In many cases pointing at a person is considered rude. A more polite way of pointing to a person would be to to direct the hand in their

direction, as if holding a plate. You may point towards yourself to draw attention, and this behavior is seen commonly in monkeys.

Moutza (Palm of hand)

In most places, a palm raised towards somebody means "stop".

In Greece, "moutza" the palm of the hand thrust towards somebody with the fingers splayed is an offensive gesture equivalent to giving the finger.

Salute

Modern military salute

There are many forms of salute gestures, most of which are used to denote respect or obedience for an authority. A common military hand salute consists of raising the right hand, held flat, to the right eyebrow. Scouting organizations use related salutes. The armies of various countries adopt slightly different forms of salute: in the United States, the military salute places the hand directed outward over the eyebrow, like a visor; in the United Kingdom armed forces, the hand is brought to the forehead palm outward in military and air force contexts, whereas the naval salute is as in the US forces - the US

forces derived their saluting habits from the Royal Navy.

One of the most infamous forms of salute is the "Hitler salute", which is performed by extending the whole right arm, palm outstretched and facing down, upwards into the air at approximately a 45 degree angle from the ground. This gesture is associated with Nazism and its leader, Adolf Hitler, as well as with Germany during World War II. It is occasionally performed to mock someone or something for perceived authoritarianism or bigotry. This gesture was based on the Roman salute, and it was in that capacity that it was revived by Benito Mussolini's Fascist party.

In some countries, mostly in Europe, it is forbidden by law to perform this gesture, although this does not deter Neo-Nazis and white supremacists from using the gesture in public rallies. Even in other countries, it is generally considered taboo to use the gesture, and this partly caused the United States to abandon the similar Bellamy salute used when reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, in favor of the current hand-on-heart gesture.

Shaka

The "shaka" sign is a common greeting in beach and surfer culture.

The "shaka" sign is a common greeting gesture often associated with Hawaii, California, and beach and surfer culture in general. It consists of extending the thumb and pinky finger while keeping the three middle fingers curled, and is often described colloquially as the "hang loose" gesture. It is similar to American Sign Language letter "Y", where a fist is also made with only the thumb and pinky extended. The sign is often followed by waving as a greeting or acknowledgement. It can be used when driving as a signal of thanks to other drivers (for example, someone who stopped to let another driver onto the road from a driveway).

Similar gestures

A variant of the "shaka" sign is the "call me," which mimes someone using a phone. It has the pinky finger and thumb outstretched, but then also holds it up to the ear, to signify a telephone. This gesture is a common way to silently tell someone to call him or her, such as to continue a conversation in private.

In Britain and Northern Europe the symbol is used as a signal for owners of older model Volkswagen vans when passing on roads. The silhouette of the hand reveals a "W"-shaped outline along the top of the hand standing for Volkswagen.

In Spain and Italy, if the thumb points to the mouth, it means "drinking", since it is similar the shape of a porrón vessel. This is also true of the United States and Portugal.

In some countries, if the thumb points to the mouth, it can also represent marijuana usage, in particular the use of a bong. This is usually accompanied by a sucking noise.

In China, it is also the sign for the number six.

It is also used by FC Barcelona player Ronaldinho as part of his goal celebration.

"Thanks!" Salute

Another gesture familiar from vintage cartoons, this is performed by sweeping an opened hand from near one's brow toward the person being addressed, and expresses gratitude. It is adapted from American Sign Language.

Three middle fingers

Gestures consisting of fully extending the index, middle, and ring fingers with the thumb and pinky tucked together under the palm have had a variety of meanings over the years.

The gesture was also used by Bosnian Croats as a victory sign, representing the Christian Trinity, during the Bosnian War. To Chaotes practicing Lovecraftian magick, this gesture is known as the "Sign of the Elders." With the palm facing outwards, the fingers closed (without gaps), the right hand's fingertips to the same-side temple, it is used by the Boy scouts as their identifying salute.

In the United States, when the back of the hand faces outwards, this gesture is often used as a euphemism for "the finger." It is used especially when a jocular effect is desired.

Thumbs up, thumbs down

Hand with thumb up

A closed fist held with the thumb extended upward or downward is a gesture of approval or disapproval respectively. These gestures have become metaphors in English: "My boss gave my proposal the thumbs-up" means that the boss approved the proposal, regardless of whether the gesture was made — indeed, the gesture itself is unlikely in a business setting.

The source of the gesture is obscure. Though a favourite of Hollywood 'swords and sandals' epics, where the "thumbs down" symbol means that the loser in a gladiatorial combat should be put to death, recent research suggests the meanings of the symbols have changed over the years. In 1997, Professor Anthony Philip Corbeill of the University of Kansas concluded that the thumbs up actually meant "Kill him," basing his assertion on a study of hundreds of ancient artworks. Thus, the "thumbs up" was an approval of the gladiator's request to kill his vanquished foe rather than a vote to allow the defeated to remain alive. Corbeill wrote that a closed fist with a wraparound thumb was the indication for a gladiator's life to be spared.

In Latin, the "thumbs up" gesture is called pollice recto, "thumbs down" is pollice verso. It is not certain that the contemporary or rather the modern gestures are identical to the gestures performed in ancient Rome. The current version was popularized by a widely reproduced academic painting by the 19th century artist Jean-Léon Gérôme, whose Pollice Verso depicts a triumphant gladiator standing over a fallen foe, looking up into the bleachers for the verdict of the crowd.

Now a days, these gestures are associated with movie reviews, having been popularized by Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert in their televised reviews — the thumb up meaning a positive opinion of a film; the thumb down meaning a negative one. Same is its use back home in India. One or two thumbs up, often held over the head, may also be used by athletes in celebration of a victory.

Hitchhikers traditionally use a thumbs up gesture to solicit rides from oncoming vehicles, although in this presentation the arm is generally outstretched with the palm and closed fingers facing the motorist.

Thumbs up and thumbs down are extensively used in scuba diving as commands to ascend or descend.

Tsk-tsk

Palm towards the recipient, all fingers closed except for the index, which alternates from left to right, like a metronome. In English-speaking countries it has a disapproving meaning and can be accompanied by a "tsk-tsk" sound.

In Italy it simply means "no", and does not have any patronizing connotation.

V sign

Richard Nixon gives the V-sign one last time after resigning from the presidency.

The "V sign" is made by lifting the middle and index finger with the palm of the hand facing the recipient (and the remaining fingers clenched). It was associated with the catchphrase "V" for Victory in World War II. In the 1960s, it came to be known as the "peace sign," the gestural equivalent of the peace symbol. It was associated with British prime minister Winston Churchill during World War II, and later, with U.S. president Richard Nixon. It is also the sign for the letter V in American Sign Language.

In the UK, Australia, and some other countries, reversing the V sign so that the back of the hand facing the recipient is seen as the equivalent of giving the finger.

Vulcan salute

The Vulcan salute consists of a raised hand, palm outward, fingers extended, with the index and middle finger kept close together, and the ring and pinky finger close together, with a "V" shaped space between them, and the thumb sticking out alone.

This gesture is associated with the phrase "Live long and prosper", and derives from Star Trek, where it is used as a salute by fictional humanoid species the Vulcans.

It was introduced by Leonard Nimoy in his character of Mr. Spock and is drawn directly from the benedictory gesture made with both hands by a Kohen (priest in Judaism, a descendant of Aaron) during the Priestly Blessing (Hebrew: Birkat Kohanim). The Kohanim recite a blessing while performing this "gesture" and the other congregants respond with Amens.

This gesture is also known as the "Spocker" in allusion to the Shocker.

Wanker

Wanker

A loose fist (with all fingers forming a cylindrical shape) is made, and shaken up and down (or sometimes, back and forth) at the wrist.

The gesture is imitative of the motions of male masturbation. Its meaning is equivalent to the word wanker or implies something is of little importance. If directed to a person or group, who are not

necessarily present, it is considered a display of contempt toward them.

The name for this gesture is described by speakers of American English as a Britishism.

The Overhand Portuguese Wanker Gesture

In Portugal they use the wanker gesture but with the palm facing the ground thereby implying that the person is masturbating someone else rather than themselves. As such this has homosexual or promiscuous implications when directed at someone instead of the milder suggestion that they enjoy self-gratification.

Wave

A wave is a gesture in which the hand is raised and moved back and forth, as a greeting or sign of departure. The orientation of the hand varies by culture and situation. In many cultures, the palm is oriented toward the recipient of the wave.

In Chinese culture, orienting the hand palm-down and waving it up and down signifies "come here", rather than a greeting.

Using two hands

Air quotes

This phrase refers to using one's fingers to make virtual quotation marks in the air when speaking.

"Gills"

This gesture involves holding the backs of the wrists against the jawline (with elbows outstretched) and then waggling one's fingers. The gesture is often accompanied by a feminine-voiced "Ooooo!" which rises and falls in intonation. It is used when one would

normally say (sarcastically) "well aren't you clever?", or to imply that someone is acting too posh for their station. It is peculiar to Scotland owing to its use in Scottish TV sketch show ‘Chewin the Fat’.

Time-out

The "time-out" gesture — a "T" formed with the hands, with one hand with flat palm placed perpendicular to the other hand with flat palm, roughly in the center — originates in American sports. It was, and is, used where a brief pause in play is called for, such as to make substitutions. In basketball, the gesture is used to indicate that a player or coach is guilty of a technical foul.

Hand with body gestures

Bent elbow

Elbow gesture by Władysław Kozakiewicz

This is performed in two parts: first, the right hand is placed in the elbow crook of the left arm. The left arm is then raised (fist clenched) at the victim in a smooth and continuous motion. This gesture is associated with Italians and is considered a more theatrical and physically exuberant version of The Finger, and may even be combined with the finger. In Italian it is known as the gesto dell'ombrello, meaning literally "the umbrella gesture." It is typically used in two different situations: 1) to answer "no way!" in an extremely emphatical (and quite vulgar) way; 2) after a triumph against some unfair enemy, with a sense of revenge. The gesture is frequently made stronger by crying "toh!" or "tiè!", both meaning "take this!", at the precise moment the hand touches the crook of the elbow.

This gesture is also in use in France as bras d'honneur (arm of honour), where it is usually understood as va te faire foutre, still meaning "fuck off." In Spain and Portugal, it is a corte de mangas ("sleeve cut") or a manguito (a cover formerly worn by public services bureaucratic workers on the arms to protect one's sleeves from ink splatters)

respectively and is done with the left hand on the right elbow, without the continuous motion. In Portugal, the iconic fictional character Zé Povinho, created by Bordalo Pinheiro, is usually depicted performing this gesture.

The gesture above has long been known in Slavic countries in the above senses plus "fuck you", without any standard name. In Poland its name has been standardized to "Kozakiewicz's gesture", after Polish pole vault jumper Władysław Kozakiewicz, who had shown this gesture to the Russian public during the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow, see "Władysław Kozakiewicz" for details.

Biting one's thumb

Biting one's thumb was an old rude British gesture. It is comparable to "the Finger" in modern terms. In William Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet, Sampson bites his thumb at the Montagues (Act 1, Scene 1).

An equivalent gesture still persists in Italy.

Biting one's hand

In Sicily, biting one's flat hand or fist is a powerful threat.

Bowing, kneeling, kowtowing

A bow is a gesture of respect involving lowering the head, usually performed by a social inferior to a social superior. Various cultures have different degrees or ways of performing the bow; China and Japan are particularly associated with elaborate and formal bowing. Bowing is also done by many groups as a ritual associated with prayer. In the Western world, women curtsey rather than bow. Kneeling and "kowtowing" are more extreme or elaborate forms of self-abasement before a social superior.

Choking sign

The standard gesture to indicate that one is choking is to hold the throat as if strangling oneself. This is recognized as a request for immediate first aid for choking. It is promoted as a way to prevent onlookers from confusing the victim's distress with some other problem, such as a heart attack, when the person cannot speak. The gesture is sometimes used metaphorically to refer to someone or something "choking" in the slang sense of failing at something while under pressure, for instance at an athletic event.

Crossing oneself

The "sign of the Cross" is the use of the right hand to touch the forehead, chest, left shoulder, and right shoulder, consecutively. It represents the Christian cross. (Roman Catholics crossing themselves touch the forehead, chest, left shoulder, then right shoulder; Byzantine (Eastern) Catholics and Eastern Orthodox Christians touch the right shoulder before the left, with the thumb and first two fingers joined — symbolizing the Trinity — and the tips of the last two fingers touching the palm, symbolizing the dual nature of Christ in one being. )

This gesture is used by Catholics, Orthodox Christians, and some other Christian groups in prayers, to perform blessings, and as a salute before entering a church or similar place of religious significance. It is also used in various kinds of Christian folk religion to avert evil or bad luck.

Cutthroat

This gesture is performed by drawing the hand, or a finger or two, across the throat. It represents slitting the throat with a knife, and means that the gesturer or someone else is metaphorically being killed. It is rarely if ever used literally to refer to death, though it is occasionally used as a theatrical threat ("I'm going to kill you"). In these contexts, it is sometimes accompanied by a harsh "kkkkkch" sound.

This gesture can also mean to "cut," "stop," or to discontinue a particular action. It can also be used to indicate something has ended or a previous process has concluded. Scuba divers use this gesture with the palm swept across the throat to indicate that they have run out of air. Airport ground personnel also use this gesture to indicate a

variety of things (due to the loud environment), such as baggage offload has completed or the last of the passengers have disembarked. In this context, it can be understood the mean: "That's it."

Drinking sign

In UK, the gesture for drinking (used for example as an invitation to "go down the pub") is made by putting the back of the thumb just below the lower lip, while the other fingers are close together as if holding an imaginary pint of beer, tipping it repeatedly. In other countries, the shaka sign is used in a similar way, as described above. In Russia, reference to drinking ('wanna go for a drink?') can be done with a few nice gestures. The nicest one is pointing to, or lightly tapping on a spot to the side of the throat, under the chin. The history of it is that there was once a guy with a stamp at that spot who could drink for free on the czar's orders. First they gave him a notice to show at bars, but he was such a drunk that he always lost it. Now he only needed to point at the stamp to get a drink.

Hand over heart

This gesture involves placing one's right hand, palm outstretched and facing in, over one's heart. Male hat or cap wearers typically remove their hats and hold them in this hand. In some cultures, it is used as a gesture of respect towards flags or during singing of a national anthem. In the United States, it is also performed as a part of the rituals of the Pledge of Allegiance. It can also be used to indicate sincerity, shock, or hurt.

Loser

This gesture is performed by raising the index finger and thumb of your right hand perpendicular to each other so that they form the letter "L". It is then placed onto one's forehead. It signifies that the person that this gesture is directed to is a loser.

My eye

Eye

In France and parts of Europe it is common to point your index finger at your eye and even pull the skin under the eye lightly down to emphasize the presenting of the eye. The gesture displays disbelief.

In Japan, tugging at the eye, often accompanied by sticking out one's tongue, is used as a childishly offensive gesture, or to indicate boredom.

In Italy, Brazil and all Spanish-speaking nations it means "watch out" and is used for warning or threatening.

Nonsense

Performed by waving the palm of your hand in front of your face, it may be used to tell the other person that an idea he or she had was nonsense.

In Portugal, this gesture usually means the person being referred to missed an extremely obvious detail.

Nose thumbing

For this gesture, also known as "cocking a snoot", "giving the five-finger salute", "cocking a snook", or Queen Anne's Fan the thumb is placed on the tip of the nose, with the remaining fingers of the hand extended and waggled freely. This gesture can be ended with a dramatic flicking of the thumb away from the end of the nose and towards the recipient. It is used in (gentle) mockery of someone. It dates back to at least the 18th century and is probably much older.

To add emphasis, the gesture can be made using both hands, connecting them by touching the little finger of the first hand with the thumb of the second, and waggling the remaining seven fingers. It is frequently accompanied by blowing a raspberry, or by sticking out the tongue.

Touched / screw loose

Tapping one's index finger against the head indicates that a person or an idea being discussed is insane or "touched in the head". A similar, more elaborate gesture uses a circling motion of the finger at the temple or side of the head. This signifies that the person is "mixed up" or "has a screw loose". In Germany, tapping or pointing to the temple is used as an insult, often with the accompanying phrase "du hast einen Vogel." While this literally means "You have a bird," it is idiomatic for saying that you are insane. Also, in Indonesia, drawing a line across the forehead with the side of the right index finger denotes a similar meaning.

A variant of this one is the suicide. Make a gun with your hand and pretend to shoot point blank at your own temple. It It can be accompanied with sticking out the tongue or a shooting sound for full effect, and often implies that the speaker is a "complete idiot".

In Japan, a variation of this is knocking on the temple with the knuckle of the index finger. This is usually used in reference to the signer; "I'm such an idiot!"

"Wiping" one's forehead

The act of wiping one's own forehead, regardless of whether sweat has actually formed there, is a sign indicating many things such as "That was close" or "What a relief".

Conclusion

Without gestures, our world would be static and colorless. The social anthropologist Edward T. Hall claims 60 percent of all our communication is nonverbal. As the global village continues to shrink and cultures collide, it is essential for all of us to become more sensitive, more aware, and more observant to the myriad motions, gestures, and body language that surround us each day. And as many of us cross over cultural borders, it would be fitting for us to respect, learn, and understand more about the effective, yet powerful "silent language" of gestures.