Online Language Review

Article by Laura Jean Karr

Published on Aug 15, 2008 Cultural body language differences are an important aspect of non-verbal communication. What can be seen in one culture as a compliment is often taken as an insult in another culture. In this article we are going to look at a brief sampling of mistranslated body language.

As a general rule, body language is believed to comprise up to 90% of our total communication. Studying certain patterns of movement allows us to communicate non-verbally within our own cultural groups. It is important to understand that one culture set of acceptable body language gestures or movements may not be translated with the same meaning in a differing culture. For example a handshake can denote a greeting and respect in one culture but that may not be the case in another culture where a handshake maybe taken as an insult. Body language is in fact the most mistranslated form of human communication in our world today and that is solely based on simple cultural differences.&Here, we are going to take a look at the most common mistranslated cultural body language differences in order to help you become more comfortable the next time you visit another country.

Shaking Hands

In America, the cultural gesture of shaking hands upon greeting is considered the norm when doing a person-to-person introduction. In fact in America, to refuse a handshake is considered a very rude gesture. In Saudi Arabia, you can shake a man’s hand after meeting him but you cannot shake a woman’s hand at all in greeting. Under the Sharia Laws, it is immoral for a woman to greet any man in public other than her husband. So, to keep yourself and someone else out of trouble in Saudi Arabia, leave the handshake gesture alone unless a man extends his hand to you first.

A-OK

The OK hand gesture in America and England, is quite popular and considered a general gesture that denotes an agreement of sentiment. This gesture in Brazil however is the equivalent of using your middle finger as a gesture here in America. The OK hand gesture is also taken as an insult in most Latin American countries, Austria and France.

Thumbs-Up

The Thumbs Up gesture can be the equivalent to the OK gesture and is widely used within America and England. Once again, though in a large amount of cultures around the globe giving a Thumbs Up gesture is a very large insult. According to Joel Sherzer, a linguistic anthropologist, using the Thumbs Up gesture anywhere in the America’s excluding the United States is a horrible idea. Using this gesture can be denoted as a sexual insult and be seen as in correlation with the middle finger meaning.

The above is just a small sampling of what simple body language gestures can be interpreted as in different cultures. If you do intend to travel abroad the best course of action is to take the time to understand the culture of the country you are going to. You may also want to keep your body language in check, to avoid offending anyone until you get the chance to observe their culture better. Human consideration can be the best body language tool you have.