Unique Way of Communication and Strange Gestures

Gesture is one way of communicating by sending and receiving wordless or visual messages from the sender and the receiver, through sign language, body language, facial expressions, eye contact, and lip reading (commonly used by the deaf person) and gestures, which includes the hand movements, face or other parts of the body. Most non-verbal gestures can express display of affections or display of interaction received by a person through finger-pointing, eye-gazing, and verbal or non-verbal communication. Most gestures differs from other cultural and social settings of a country. Gestures differs from sign language.

1) Okay hand gesture

An Okay or ok is made by connecting the thumb and forefinger in a circle form, a signal for okay or approve, and commonly used in diving signal. The okay hand gesture is an offensive sign for the South American and southern European.

Thumbs- Up

A thumbs-up or thumbs-down, is a hand gesture or signal which is commonly used for approval or okay sign. The thumbs-down is a sign of turning-down or disapproval from a person. In an Ancient Roman gladiatorial fight thumbs up means to spare the gladiator or thumbs-down means death for the defeated gladiator. The thumbs-up hand gestures is not acceptable in the Middle East country,this is an interpretation of an insult or an interpretation of saying “its up to you”, and same meaning of expressing disapproval in parts of West Africa, South America, Sardinia and in Iran, this gesture is an offensive to morality and decency (equivalent to western hand gestures using middle finger). In Italy, Germany, Greece and Hungary, it indicates number one and okay. In Russia and Finland, means “awesome“, good or well-done. In Australian Sign Language or Auslan, it means which means terrific or good. In America Sign Language or Ameslan, if the thumbs-up hand gesture is done and wiggled left and right, it means number ten, when held steadily and push toward other person it means “yourself” and if it is “lifted up” by the other palm it means “asking help”. In Japanese Sign Language or Nihon Shuwa, the thumbs-up means indicates male gender and the pinkie finger indicates female gender. In India,the thumbs-up gesture may be accepted, but can have negative gestures in Indian cultures, especially when it is wagged from side to side, in a revers pendulum movement, it means will not work” or disagree, and the most acceptable hand gesture of Okay sign is the popular soda logo in India “Thums Up”.

Western Hitchhikers, used the thumbs-up hand gesture sign to solicit a ride from vehicles passing their way and destinations.

Thumbs-Down Hand Gesture

Thumbs-down hand gesture means disapproved or turned-down or denied.

2)  Shaka Hand gesture sign

Shaka hand gesture sign is a common greetings among the surfers and also a Hawaiian custom of holding the flower necklace (lei) to place over the visitor’s head on the as an Aloha spirit greetings. It is also known as sign of communication of saying “all right, cool, and smooth”. In Florida and the East Coast of Brazil, Shaka sign means “hang-loose”. In some states, Shaka sign also means, “hello, goodbye, till next time, or take care. When you use Shaka hand gesture, with your pinkie finger at the mouth and the thumb at the ear, it means “I will call you over the phone or please call me”. But if the thumb is at the mouth and the pinkie finger points towards the sky with the head tilted back, it refers to “drinking”. In the Caribbean , commonly in the Lesser Antilles Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao, if the thumb faced yourself and the pinkie finger facing in front (or pointing to a person) it means “sex with that person”. In China the Shaka sign is the symbol of number six.

3) Shocker Hand Gesture

The shocker hand gesture is an obscene sign with a sexual connotation with the ring and thumb finger bent down, and demonstrating  of inserting the index and middle finger into a vagina and the pinkie finger into the anus.

Pitchfork Hand Gesture

Arizona State University’s hand gesture used as symbol for Arizona State Sun Devil Team, with Sparky, Arizona Sun Devil Mascot carrying Pitchfork.

Sic ‘em Bears hand gesture

The Sic ‘Em Bears hand gesture by raising one hand and curl the fingers as bear claws, a hand sign as support to the Baylor University athletes.

4) Fig Hand Gesture  (Dulya) and other Obscene Gestures

In some countries, the Fig sign gesture is a symbol of good luck charm; but an obscene hand gestures in France, Russia, Serbia, Turkey and some parts in Greece. Although, in ancient Greece it is a sign of good luck charm and fertility. In American sign language it is a sign of letter T.

The Finger Hand Gesture

The “finger” is an obscene hand gesture sometimes called flipping someone off, the bird or giving finger to someone, which means, fuck off, fuck you, screw off, or back off! In Ancient Greece, it is called “katapugon (male) or Katapugaina (female), and used in comedy as an insult and means “submit penetration to the anus.

Bras d’honneur Gesture

The Bras d’honneur gesture is an obscene gesture by elbow bent, with the opposite hand grasping the elbow which is similar to the finger gestures. In the United States, it is sometimes called “the arm” gesture or “Italian salute”. In Brazil it is called “banana”, in Mexico “mentada de madre”, in Catalan “fer botiffara”, in Spain and Portugal “corte de manga”, in Poland “kozakiewicz’s” gesture, in Croatia “bosanti grb (The Bosnian-Coat-of-arms).

Mooning Gesture

Mooning is the gesture of lowering pants and underwear exposing their bare buttocks which some considered an indecent exposure. But in literal meaning, this gesture is an obscene act which expressed their  protests, provocation, disrespect or expression of contempt and derision.

5)  Dap Greeting hand gesture

The Dap gesture greeting is a friendly form of handshake most common in western cultures. It is also referred to as the “first bump gesture”.

Fist Bump

The First Bump gesture is a symbol of respect and similar to High Five and Handshake gestures, and also can be a part of Dap gesture.

Elbow-Bump Greeting Gesture

The elbow bump gesture is an informal greeting gesture, but during the Avian and swine flu outbreak the health officers used the “rubbing elbow” or elbow-bump as greeting gestures as to prevent spreading the virus from direct contact to any person.

High Five Gesture

The High-five gesture is an act of celebration or also similar to handshake, by raising one hand and slap the palm of the other person.

6) Hand Shake Gesture

The “handshake” gesture between two people and act of greeting ritual, and grasping each other hands, and moved up and down.

7)  Salute Hand Gesture

The salute is a gesture of sign of respect commonly used in the military forces.

Two Finger Salute

Three Finger Salute

Scout Salute

United Macedonia Salute

Zogist Salute in Albania

Bellamy Salute gesture

Nazi Salute

Vulkan Salute

Roman Salute

8)  Talk to the Hand Gesture

Talk-to-the-Hand gesture, means “No one listening”, a sarcastic and obnoxious gesture when someone will not listen to you.

Moutza Hand Gesture

The Moutza hand gesture in Greece which they extend the five fingers in front of the person they want to insult. Moutza is a traditional insult hand gesture among the Greeks.

9) ILY Sign or I Love You hand gesture

The ILY hand gesture is an informal way of saying “I love you” to a person, especially for the deaf and mute people. It also signify the letters “I, L and Y” in American Sign Language.

Horn Sign Gesture

The “Sign of the Horn” is a hand gesture commonly used by rockers performing concert, especially the heavy metal music. Though in many areas in the Mediterranean countries, the sigh of the horn has a vulgar meaning and have various meaning in different cultures.

Hook ‘em Horns Hand Gesture

The Hook ‘em Horns gesture is a symbol used by the University of Texas of Austin for cheering and greeting their teams. This gesture is used as slogan of the university.

10) Loser Hand gesture

 

The “Loser” gesture is an insulting act, where the thumb is extended and the forefinger pointing upward, that resembles letter L.

11) Pointing Finger Hand Gesture

The Index Finger or Pointing finger, is a gesture often used pointing to a person in an arguments or pointing at a person in a crowd. The pointing finger also represents “letter d” in the American Sign Language alphabet.

12) Waving Hand Gesture

Waving or wave of the hand gesture, is an act of greeting and saying “hello” or bid farewell and say bye bye or goodbye. It is also a hand gesture used by a person who acknowledges his or her presence in the meeting area.

Beckoning Hand Gesture

Beckoning hand gesture is an act of informal calling of a person to come nearer to him or her.

V Sign Hand Gesture

The V sign gesture is a hand gesture of victory in most western countries, Peace sign hand gesture of the hippies in the 1960s and act of cuteness in Asia like in China, Japan, South Korea, Thailand and Taiwan. The V sign gesture if pa;, facing the face is an insult and an offensive gesture, especially in the United Kingdom.

Hand Raised gesture

The raised fist is a salute or logo commonly used by the leftist activists.

13)  Knock On Wood Hand Gesture

The knock-on-wood hand gesture, is used when someone speak of “unfortunate event”, and knock-on-wood gesture is done to “prevent the misfortune” and will not occur.

Crossed Finger Hand Gesture

The crossed finger is a hand gesture of crossing the index finger with the middle finger as to nullify a promise and a wish of good luck.

The Sign of the Cross gesture is commonly used by Christian Catholics as sign of respect before entering a church, begin with a prayer and sometimes used as an expression of fear upon hearing a sad and scary news.

14) Genuflect and Kneeling Gestures, a sign of Respect

Kneeling Gestures

15) Clasp of the Hand Gestures

Clasp-Hand Gesture as Greetings in some country

16)  Air Kiss Gesture and Cheek to Cheek Kiss

The air kiss, commonly called the “flying kiss”, is a sociable gesture commonly used by celebrities or an individual during departure, arrival or gathering. Some air kiss is accompanied by “mwah” sound.

The Cheek to cheek greeting gesture is a sociable way of greeting a friend. On the Middle East this is the common greetings among Islamic greetings. In the Philippines, it is known as “beso beso” ( a Spanish term of Kiss).

The Eskimo kiss is the nose to nose gesture and traditional greetings among the Eskimos.

Curtsey Gesture

17) Mudra Hand Gestures in India

18) Japanese Hand Gestures

19) Various Hand Gestures

20) Sign Language and Sign Numbers

American Sign Language Hand Gestures