Gesture with two fingers index and middle. What does two fingers mean

Few understand the power they have in their hands. There are times when own hands can save or literally betray, and all this happens without your conscious participation. Of course, if you don't know how hand language works.

A person who speaks a language non-verbal communication, has a lot of advantages over his counterpart, and is able to hear not only what the interlocutor is talking about, but also understand what he is thinking about, or what he is not talking about. But let's talk about everything in order.

Today, many of the hand-showing symbols are internationally spelled and are equally understood by New Zealand Maori and African Masai. Why did it happen?

Why do the military put their hand to the head to greet, or to praise a person, we raise the thumb up, and to insult - the middle one? The answers to these questions came to us from the past. Let's analyze the history of some of these gestures in more detail.

Thumb up. Shows that everything is fine, and you are doing well. This movement came to us from antiquity. The Roman public, during gladiator fights, signaled in this way that for the diligence and diligence shown by the defeated slave during the battle, he could save his life. A lowered thumb did not bode well for the unfortunate warrior. Since then, it has become customary: the thumb points to the sky - you are at a height, to the ground - you are a bit of a loser;
The greeting of the military when addressing the chief or when raising the flag, by offering an open palm to the head, is borrowed from medieval knights. Those old times, to show the purity of their thoughts, the warriors, at a meeting, raised their visor, thereby demonstrating the friendliness of their plans. Another version of the origin of this sign is associated with more early periods human history. In ancient times, given in order to show that only the sun is higher than their ruler, when meeting with the autocrat, they covered their eyes with their hands, thereby demonstrating humility. Over time, the form of the gesture has changed slightly, but the content has remained unchanged. People in uniform show their respect and commitment to the authorities or the state symbol by raising their hands to their heads;
A hand extended at a meeting, or a handshake. The origin of this greeting is explained quite simply. In ancient times, an outstretched hand, without weapons, symbolized your peace plans and respect;
Raised middle finger. There are at least two explanations for this obscene gesture. According to one version, the ancient Greeks showed this symbol to those with whom they would like to perform actions, the meaning of which reflects what we mean by demonstrating this gesture today. Another option goes back to the beginning of the 15th century, when, during the Franco-English battle of Azincourt, French soldiers cut off the middle fingers of a captured English archer so that they could not shoot at them later. Naturally, those of the English, whom the vile Frenchmen could not catch, showed them their middle fingers from a safe distance, thereby showing their disdain and courage. Why didn't the French just kill the prisoners? The question remains open;
The so-called goat. A symbol that distinguishes true "metalheads" from the people around them. In one version, it is said that the sign originated among the ancient Vikings, and symbolized the Scandinavian rune that protects its owner from the evil eye. According to another version, this is the “springing” of Soviet prisoners, who, in order not to go to work, simply cut their tendons, and the hand took this shape spontaneously. Today, this symbol of coolness says that the person demonstrating it is a principled "thief in law", and he will not collect popcorn scattered in the cinema;
The well-known American OK. There may be variations in this gesture depending on the part of the world in which you are. In some nations, it symbolizes that your affairs are in in perfect order, for others it means that you are a “complete zero”, and for some it shows problems with the large intestine. According to one of the most plausible versions, this sign was borrowed from the non-verbal language of the native American inhabitants - the Indians, who thus showed their fellow tribesmen that there were no problems.

Some hand gestures and their meaning

Each gesture has its own interesting and multifaceted history, however, it's time to talk about their meaning and the practical use of this knowledge in everyday life.

open palm

In most cultures open hand associated with honesty. Therefore, if you want to make people believe that you are telling the truth, it is not recommended to present your arguments with your hands clenched in fists.

At such moments, it is better to open your palms to show that you are not hiding anything.

On the other hand, be alert when someone says important things to you with their hands in their pockets or hidden behind their backs. Hidden palms do not make phrases more believable, even if they are correct. With a high degree of probability, it can be argued that your interlocutor is lying or hiding some important information from you.

Palm position up and down

The way you use your hands when communicating with others can greatly affect how they perceive your words and yourself. Ask a simple question with your palms up and people will think you're asking for a favor.

On the one hand, they will not be bothered by your request, but on the other hand, they will not feel threatened or pressured by you. If you ask this question with your palms facing down, it will be more like a requirement that must be met.

It can not only set the tone for any business or political meeting, but also influence its results. When two equal interlocutors shake hands, their palms remain in a vertical position.

But if the palm of one person is facing upwards when shaking hands, this can be perceived as a symbolic surrender, and denote the superiority of another person.

When talking, your interlocutor holds his hands behind his back and makes meaningless movements with them - he is not interested in you, you should stop the meaningless conversation, or move on to another topic.

What is the meaning of finger gestures

No less revelation can be gleaned from the position of the fingers on our hands. Let's give some examples.

There is a fine line between a hand gesture and a finger gesture, but we will talk about those cases in which the movement of the fingers is an independent signal.

Some finger gestures are unintentional, and by their position one can unmistakably read in which emotional state there is a person, or about his attitude to the topic of conversation.

finger on the mouth - they lie to you;
when talking, the index finger involuntarily points towards the other person - clear sign dominance;
index finger up - you should be wary of such a person, since the gesture is often used by parents in relation to a negligent child;
fingers are straight and tightly pressed to each other - the person has made a firm decision to achieve his goal and he does not care about sentiment;
fingers squeeze the wrist or palm of the other hand - the interlocutor is furious, trying to restrain his emotions;
fingers are clenched into a fist from time to time - a clear sign of a hidden threat.

What about deaf people?

Many gestures, unconsciously used in communication, are reflected in the alphabet for the deaf and dumb.

The sign languages of the deaf and dumb belong to independent languages, which consist of combinations of hand and finger movements in combination with facial expressions, the position of the mouth, lips and body.

It is a mistake to assume that sign languages for the deaf and dumb were invented by hearing people in order to convey information to the non-hearing. In fact, these languages develop quite independently.

Moreover, in one country there may be several sign languages that do not grammatically coincide with the verbal languages of this country.

As practice shows, in the absence of the ability to use sound language as a means of communication, people instinctively begin to use gestures for this. The main means of communication for this are hands and fingers.

At the same time, deaf people have a lot of gestures, the meaning of which can be understood by an unprepared person. For example, the word “peace” in the language of the deaf and dumb will look like hands clasping each other located in front of the chest, “love” is a palm raised to the lips in the form of an air kiss, and “house” is palms folded in a triangle in the form of a gable roof.

Youth hand gestures and their meaning

Our children also use sign language for their communication, and the variety of these non-verbal signs is constantly enriched by the emergence of new ones. Here are a few examples of such youth gestures, with the help of which teenagers can easily understand each other, and people of the older generation, and even middle-aged people, will remain in the dark.

Time and scientific and technological progress dictate their conditions, and this fully applies to our gestures.

More recently, a hand folded in the shape of an English L did not mean anything, but today it is a loser, a sign that you are a loser.

An extended middle finger pointing to the side can mean that you are being sent, at the same time it can be interpreted as an invitation to sex.

With fingers folded in the form of a heart, everything is simple: "I love you." But the “horned goat” with the thumb laid aside means simple sympathy.

English V performed by a teenager with turned to you back side palms can mean both two "Cola", and serve as the equivalent of the middle finger in the UK. And such a familiar sign as OK, but upside down, and shown at waist level or below, is a frank invitation to sex.

Thanks to the specific versatility with the help of the tongue of the hands and several widely used English words you can chat with a foreigner who happened to meet on a busy street. Of course, the supply contract gas equipment you won’t be able to conclude with him, but you can easily explain how to get to the nearest metro station or stadium.

Differences in the interpretation of familiar gestures in different countries

Do not rush to apply your wide knowledge of sign language when you are abroad. Some common symbols may have opposite meanings in different parts of the world. Let's look at the examples again.

If you're in France, the worldwide OK turns into a big fat zero. And in Turkey, with such a gesture, you will signal that your interlocutor is gay - not a very pleasant statement in a country where the majority of people are Muslims;
A thumbs-up and an outstretched forefinger means loser in teenage sign language, and in China this symbol represents the number eight;
A thumbs up in Europe and America says: “Everything is cool”, and in Iran, Afghanistan and Greece this obscene gesture will be read: “I ..., you ..., and all your relatives ...”, you understand;
The crossed index and middle fingers protect Europeans from the evil eye, and in Vietnam, such a figure denotes the female genital organ;
The stretched forward five stops all over the world, and, as it were, says: “Wait,” and in Greece it literally translates as “Eat shit.”

If, as the proverb says, silence is golden, then continuing the associative series, in some countries, the absence of gestures is a diamond.

The gestures and their interpretation that you have read are not limited to the examples given. The purpose of our article is to popularize, interest and direct. Perhaps our theses will help solve small problems. life problems. Or maybe not small.

Some more additional information about the most popular gestures is in the next video.

In most cases, a person supplements his speech with gestures. Often we make movements involuntarily, that is, without thinking about their meaning. In addition, with the help of gestures, you can find out information of interest from foreign citizen, for example, while traveling. In the article, we will look at what popular finger gestures mean.

Gesture Meanings

Victoria

The V-shaped gesture is shown with the index and middle fingers. The sign means "peace" and "victory". However, in a number of states (Great Britain, Ireland, Australia) the gesture is offensive if the palm is turned towards the person.

Muntz

Gesture in the form of an outstretched hand. Usually means a request to stop.

In Greece, this gesture is considered offensive.

OK

A gesture in the form of a ring, which is formed by connecting the index and thumb means "all right".

In the capital of Italy, the sign means "worthless". And in Japan, the gesture means "money".

thumb up and down

A thumbs up signifies agreement and approval. Often the sign is used while hitchhiking to catch a car.

In Thailand, this gesture is a sign of condemnation. And in Iran, a raised thumb is considered an offensive gesture.

If the thumb is pointing down, then this sign has the meaning of disapproval.

Forefinger

The index finger is used for this or that gesture depending on the situation. For example, if you put your finger on your lips, then the sign will have the meaning "silence".

If the finger is raised up, then this means "attention" or "stop".

If the interlocutor shakes his index finger from side to side, then he does not agree with what was said. A slightly tilted shaking finger is used when teaching (for example, when children are scolded).

If you twist your finger at the temple, it means to recognize the interlocutor as "crazy".

Middle finger

The sticking out middle finger is an offensive gesture in many countries. The sign can be replaced with a less crude fig.

Fig

Or, in another way, a fist is a gesture in the form of a fist, where the thumb is inserted between the index and middle fingers. It is used in cases of disagreement with the interlocutor. It also means "refusal".

Another sign is often used as a "protection" from the evil eye.

IN South America the gesture is considered friendly and is used to wish good luck.

Crossing fingers

In many countries, crossing the index and middle fingers is used to bring good luck.

in Vietnam given sign has an offensive meaning.

Goat

A popular sign among rock musicians, which looks like a raised index finger and little finger.

In Russia, small children are entertained with this gesture, associating the sign with the "horned goat".

However, in some European countries, including America, the sign means "cuckold".

In Colombia, this sign is shown if they want to wish good luck.

Shaka

Type of gesture - raised thumb and little finger. Often the gesture means "handset" and is shown if a person asks to call him.

In Hawaii, the gesture is a sign of greeting. And among drug addicts, the sign means "to smoke."

Spire

The gesture looks like joined fingertips. It is used by confident people. Usually the sign is used by people who are more inclined to speak than to gesticulate.

Often the speaker places the spire with his fingers up, and the listener, on the contrary, down.

Closed thumb and forefinger

This gesture is used when it is necessary to draw attention to something. The sign often complements speech. The narrator at this moment wants the listener to understand the essence of his words.

Rubbing your thumb on the tips of others

In this case, the gesture means "money".

Sometimes the sign is used when trying to remember some event or word. If the result is positive, the sign is replaced by a click.

Numerical designation

Speaking of V-shaped sign of the index and middle fingers, then the values here are the same set. The gesture has received the maximum distribution in the field of sports. Here it means that the player must throw the ball twice, or he broke the rule by touching the ball a couple of times.

Similarly, the referee may show three or four fingers. This position of the fingers works the same way in football, basketball, volleyball and other ball games. If the referee shouts about the offense, this can disrupt the game, where it is more convenient to get by with a whistle and the corresponding testimony.

Please shut up

Its actual use in Australia and UK, but in this case the interpretation is offensive: in a harsh form, you ask the interlocutor to shut up. A clear origin is difficult to determine today.

However, the assumption is known that this is one of the options for physical damage during a fight. Straightened and spread fingers can easily cause irreparable damage to the opponent's eyesight.

Symbol of victory and peace

In addition, the gesture is understood as a declaration of victory, in English it will be written as "victory". Made a significant contribution to this Winston Churchill. The former British Prime Minister, in order to announce the victory, placed the middle and forefinger with the letter V. If England was the winning side, they gesticulated, the palm of the military leader was directed outward.

It is worth saying that Churchill treated state acts with his own philosophy and politics was for him a real war.

It is said that this symbol could also be used among the peoples who lived in English territory. It was a century Anglo-French War. As it was known, if an archer of an English tribe was caught, then his middle and forefinger would certainly be cut off so that he could no longer pull the bowstring.

But demonstrating with such a gesture unharmed fingers the shooter frightened the enemies, as if to say: "Fear me!". In addition, France then played, and the surviving archers made fun of the losers with such a demonstration.

Therefore, when a gesture belongs to a resident of England, it is quite difficult to understand: either it symbolizes victory, or it insultingly asks to stop the conversation.

In 1960, during the development of anti-war movements in the United States, the gesture became affirmation of the world.

Wish to lose

This is a kind of opposition to the meaning that Winston Churchill gave. To the opponent of the demonstrator wish to lose. The same thing happened in the combination of the Latin letters KO, which is opposite in the interpretation of OK.

It is worth saying that such an idea has not been confirmed, since cases of demonstrating two fingers "under such a gun" were rare.

sexual humiliation

also in Foggy Albion the mark is perceived as a sexual insult. One significant difference helps to distinguish: in this case, the palm turns to the demonstrator or his face.

At the same time, you need to bring your hand to your face so that the tip of the nose is located at the very divergence of the fingers. Then the nose symbolizes the phallus, and two fingers - the genitals of a woman.

Originally a symbol came from the Arabs.

Now this feature is characteristic only of the British, the inhabitants of Europe assign the meaning of victory or peace to the sign. In England, this gesture, like the demonstration of the middle finger, is considered one of the most obscene.

The combination of fingers and nose lost its original Arabic meaning, but the gesture itself remained valid.

It is believed that English soldiers brought it from Egypt.

However, if you bring your hand to your head, it is not necessary, why spreading your fingers considered a phallic symbol remains a question. There is no exact answer, but several explanatory versions are known.

There is an opinion that during the Second World War the traditional gesture of the penis changed somewhat - the index and middle fingers were shown together, and the rest were bent. To say so step up the insult. Then the combination was replaced by breeding straight fingers.

The second theory talks about the combination of sexual and threatening insult.

This term has other meanings, see Victoria. Victoria by Winston Churchill

Victoria(character U+270C ✌ "victory hand" in Unicode) is a common gesture meaning victory or peace. Shown with the index and middle fingers of the hand pointing up in the form latin letter"V".

In the UK and Australia, this sign takes on an offensive meaning if the brush is turned with its back to the person to whom the gesture is addressed.

"Anti-French" version

There is a "medieval" urban legend about the origin of the "Victoria" gesture. According to this version, during the Hundred summer war the captured English and Welsh archers, who intimidated the French, were cut off precisely these two fingers on right hand so that they could no longer use their bows. The archers, knowing this, teased the French before the battle, showing them intact fingers - "Fear, enemies!"

However, this version is not confirmed by historical sources. In that war, it was generally not customary to take ordinary soldiers prisoner, they were killed. Presumably, this story is a so-called urban legend, and it was invented quite recently, not earlier than the 1980s.

Finger gestures and their meaning

Pay attention to the interlocutor during the conversation. How often does he gesticulate, thus accompanying his speech? How emotional is he? What actions do the fingers slip?

Many people resort to using their hands during a conversation to give their speech a more vivid emotional coloring. Sometimes, with the help of finger gestures, you can understand what mood a person is in or what he really wants to convey to the interlocutor.

But for deaf and dumb people, hand gestures are the main method of interaction with the outside world, as well as with each other. Therefore, having learned the designation of each gesture, you can easily communicate with such people.

Finger gestures and their meaning, photos with their image will be discussed further.

What are the most used gestures

Every day, millions of people communicate using spoken language, hands and fingers.

In everyday conversation, finger gestures are often used, and their meaning is clear to everyone. The most common:

thumb pointing up or down;
two fingers forming the letter V;
raised index finger;
gesture - middle finger;
gesture "ok";
goat sign;
shaka;
rubbing the thumb.

These finger symbols are the most popular. But what is the meaning of each of them?

thumb up/down

Perhaps this finger gesture is the most common. A "thumbs up" is a symbol of approval for something. When a person likes something, he will certainly raise his finger up, as if to say: “This is super!”

The downward thumb gesture has the opposite meaning of the above sign. When a person does not like something, he shows his dissatisfaction by putting his thumb down.

The “thumbs up” sign is also used in another version: it is used by “voters” on the road to stop a passing car.

This finger gesture is applicable in different countries, and its meaning can be very different. For example, among Australian residents, a raised thumb carries an insult with sexual overtones. The Greeks use it during quarrels for mutual insults.

Fingers forming a V

The index and middle fingers, forming the letter V, are also a fairly common gesticulation option. It symbolizes victory, since V is short for the word "victory". These finger gestures are common in many countries, and their meaning in Russia also does not change.

The ancestor of this hand movement was the English President Winston Churchill. At the end of the Second World War, he expressed with two fingers an undeniable victory over fascism.

These finger gestures and their meaning are somewhat different in a number of European countries. V, shown with an open palm, denotes victory, and with the back of the hand, the number 2.

Raised index finger

The index finger up is also a finger gesture. And their meaning is interpreted based on the name "indicative". Raising a finger, as a rule, is to show something, only the meaning can change depending on the situation.

A finger pointing in the direction of something specific acts as a pointer.
At the time of the conversation, a raised finger can signal: “Attention!”
The index finger swaying from side to side indicates a ban. The same gesture applies to children as a moral.
The sign of silence is the index finger attached to the lips.

The index finger up, finger gestures and their meaning were especially common centuries ago among government officials during the adoption of important government decisions.

Fingers folded in a ring, or "OK"

The OK gesture originated in the United States and was used to confirm that all is well. Over time, this finger gesture and its meaning migrated to other countries. But in the Land of the Rising Sun, fingers folded into a ring symbolize money.

Gesture "Goat"

This gesture is familiar to rock lovers. At rock concerts, inside a subculture, and also to demonstrate their love for this musical direction, people bend all fingers except the little finger and index finger.

However, this symbol in ancient times was used to scare away all kinds of evil spirits. Children are also entertained with this gesture, since it precedes tickling. In some European countries and Latin America the sign "goat" denotes cuckolds, which is an insult.

Shaka

This symbol is expressed as a straightened little finger and thumb, and it is endowed with many meanings. The most common is " phone call”, that is, in this way they express a request or statement: “Call!”

Another option is to express a desire to drink. When folded fingers are brought to the mouth and at the same time throw the head back. In the "silent" alphabet in Asian countries, this is the designation of the number 6, and in the Russian - the letter U.

Rubbing your thumb with the rest

When a person mentions money in his conversation, he accompanies his speech by rubbing his thumb on the rest. This gesture is familiar to almost everyone, so one has only to perform it, as it becomes clear what is at stake.

The second designation is the moment of remembering, that is, when a person has forgotten something and is trying to remember, he performs such gestures.

Latin in sign language

The Latin alphabet in finger sign language, the meaning of which is the same for most countries, is as follows.

The alphabet, as well as numerical designations, will not cause difficulty, and studying them will help in the ease of communicating with people with hearing impairments.

In addition to the work of the hands, such communication is accompanied by facial expressions, the use of the mouth, the application of fingers to the lips, and, if necessary, the use of body turns. These finger gestures and their meaning in different countries are the same, therefore they are considered international.

Three fingers raised

Large, index and middle fingers raised up. In the simplest interpretation, this sign denotes the number or quantity 3. This gesture with the fingers and their meanings in Russia is performed a little differently: instead of the thumb, they raise the ring finger.

In its original version, this symbol is used in Germany, where the count on the hand begins with the thumb. Although this gesture was originally used in countries Medieval Europe as an accompaniment to an oral oath of allegiance to the motherland. Therefore, in some cases, it is a symbol of victory.

Raised palm

In most countries, a raised palm indicates a stop signal. This use of it is used in the course of a conversation to stop the interlocutor.

The second designation is "greeting" or "farewell", when the palm is raised up for a short time. But among the peoples of Greece, this is an insulting gesture, after which conflict will immediately follow.

Connecting the fingertips of both hands

When the interlocutor puts his fingertips together, you can immediately understand that he is full of calmness and confidence in himself and his knowledge. Such people are stingy with emotions and are very balanced.

The gesture also marks the moment of reflection and decision. In this interpretation, it was used several hundred years ago at judicial meetings.

Crossed index and middle fingers

In many Western countries, fingers are crossed for good luck. In Russia, this gesture corresponds to two designations: for good luck and as a cancellation of one's words. When a person makes any promise that he is not going to keep or his speech is unreliable, then he keeps his fingers crossed behind his back in order to "relieve himself of all responsibility" for what he said.

But in the Vatican, showing this gesture to the interlocutor, a person insults him, because in this country such a plexus of fingers means female genital organs.

Inviting gesture with index finger

On the territory of Russia, as well as in many European and Western countries, someone is called by a stretched forward and curving index finger, but it is considered a "slang" symbol and is not used in cultural communication. In Asian countries, this gesture is prohibited. In the Philippines, dogs are called in this way, so its use in relation to a person is humiliating and insulting.

kukish

Such a sign in different countries is interpreted in its own way. So, among the inhabitants of Russia, this is an expression of refusal, and in a rude form. And for the Brazilians - on the contrary, a symbol of goodwill, who wish good health and good luck. Therefore, in this country it is used quite often.

Middle finger

This gesture in most civilized countries is obscene, offensive. It symbolizes the male genital organs, and in this designation the middle finger was used back in the days of the ancient Romans.

Fist

When all the fingers on one or both hands are pressed to the palm, that is, clenched into a fist, this indicates a person's hostile mood.

The emergence of finger gestures

Use of fingers during colloquial speech or separately from it began its existence many centuries ago, even at the time of the formation of civilization. Especially often gestures were involved in religions.

Among Christians, finger movements, folding them into various plexuses were used during the reading of prayers, worship.

In Muslims, each phalanx of the fingers, as well as the palm, is endowed with a letter of the alphabet.

In France, when various secret societies were organized, members of these societies communicated using finger and hand gestures. Moreover, the gestures were known only to them and were secret.

In Chinese medicine, with the help of fingers, the whole body was treated by pressing on special points. Therefore, in Asian countries, hands are also a symbol of health, and gesticulation with their help of offensive signs is prohibited.

Over time, the use of fingers as a way of communicating became ingrained in public life and began to be supplemented with new symbols, to change its meaning. Now most people use this method of communication, sometimes unconsciously, expressing their emotional outburst.

For people with handicapped it is the only way to interact with the outside world. Therefore, finger gestures cannot be ignored in communication.

Gesture

Gesture(from lat. gestus- movement of the body) - some action or movement of the human body or part of it, which has a certain meaning or meaning, that is, it is a sign or symbol.

Gesture classification

There are three main types of gestures:

flirting gestures;
lying gestures;
gestures of aggression.

Lie gestures or distrust is rubbing the eyelid or ear, scratching the neck, pulling back the collar, a hand covering the mouth. To disguise the last gesture, the liar may fake a cough or scratch his nose. Open palms mean: "I tell the truth." Hands in pockets are a sign of a secretive person. Boredom is expressed in the fact that a person props up his head with his hand.

Aggression gestures- hands clenched into fists and rested on the sides. Demonstration thumbs means: "I'm in charge" or "everything is in order." Hands back or the gesture of a policeman means: "I'm not afraid of you." Arms crossed on the chest mean protection. A hunched back means an inferiority complex. Sitting astride a chair with the back of the chair in front signifies protection. A V-shaped sign with fingers, when the hand is turned with the palm towards the interlocutor, has an offensive meaning - “shut up”. When the hand is turned to the interlocutor with the back side - “victory”. A long gaze in places of deprivation of liberty, combined with narrow pupils ("snake" look) means anger.

flirting gestures in women, this is a gait from the hip, a demonstration of an open palm, dilated pupils (eyes "whirlpools"), which mean excitement, a long gaze for more than 10 seconds. A woman begins to “clean her feathers” - preening herself in front of a mirror in front of a man, straightening her hair, painting her lips. A defiant flirting gesture for men is the thumbs for the slots in the pockets or for the belt, it means: “I am a man. I rule over you." A man can also “clean feathers” - shake off non-existent dust particles, straighten his tie.

Not only animals, but also humans have their own security zones and the territories he is ready to defend. A person has four zones:

Intimate zone (from 15 to 46 cm). Only relatives and close friends can enter this zone;
Personal zone (from 46 cm to 1.2 meters). This distance separates us in the evenings of rest;
Social zone (from 1.2 meters to 3.6 meters). At such a distance we keep ourselves from strangers;
Public area (more than 3.6 meters). At this distance from the audience it is most convenient to stand during a public speech.

In order not to cause aggression of the interlocutor, you need to keep your distance. The dimensions of the personal space zone are determined by national traditions, for example, the Japanese are accustomed to overcrowding and have a smaller personal zone than the Americans, so in the case of a conversation between a Japanese and an American, the Japanese will constantly approach the American at an unacceptable distance for the American, as if they were dancing. Police investigators often use special methods based on penetrating the criminal's intimate area during interrogation in order to break the resistance of this criminal. The aggressiveness of the crowd is a consequence of the crowding of people in the crowd. The inevitable crowding of people in transport, elevators and so on leads to the invasion of each other's intimate zones. There are a number of unwritten rules of Western man in these conditions:

No one is allowed to talk, not even acquaintances;
It is not recommended to look directly at others;
The face should be completely impassive - no emotion;
It is recommended to read a newspaper or a book;
Movement must be restrained;
In the elevator you need to look at the floor sign.

Mirroring or repeating the interlocutor's gestures means agreeing with the interlocutor's opinion. This technique can be used in order to achieve mutual understanding with your leader. The turn of the body and legs during the conversation shows the direction of the real interest of your interlocutor, for example, towards an attractive woman, or towards the exit from the room, in these cases you need to end the conversation on time. The location of the interlocutors at the table says a lot. Friends sit across the corner of the table in case of casual conversation. Close friends or co-authors sit next to the table. Rivals sit opposite each other at the table. People who do not want to interact sit opposite each other on the diagonal of the table.

Handshake

Shaking hands is a relic of a primitive society, when people held out their hands with palms forward when they met to show their unarmedness. Exist different types handshakes:

An authoritative handshake with the palm facing down.
A submissive handshake with the palm up is the "beggar's hand".
Equal handshake, when both hands after a symbolic struggle remain in a vertical position.
Handshake with two hands - "glove" - often used politicians and means honesty.
A handshake with a crunch of fingers means impudence.
The shoulder pat handshake can only be used by your big friend.
Weak handshake, when touching a cold and clammy hand resembles an unpleasant touch to dead fish, means that the owner of such a hand has a weak character and is easily amenable to pressure.
The village greeting is done at the maximum distance. Rural residents have a large personal space - up to 9 meters - and prefer not to shake hands, but to wave at a distance or lean towards a handshake and extend their hand.

Gesticulation

Gesticulation (sign language) is a way of non-verbal communication. Body language is rich in ways people express a wide variety of emotions and meanings, such as insults, hostility, friendliness, or approval towards others. Most people use gestures and body language in addition to words when speaking. Many gestures are used by people subconsciously. It is believed that some ethnic groups use gestures more than others, and the culturally acceptable amount of gestures varies from one place to another. For example, the same gesture in Germany or Scandinavian countries can be expressed with just a slight movement of the hand, while in Italy or Spain the same gesture can be expressed with a sweeping movement of the whole hand.

Commonly used gestures include the action of pointing at something or someone (this is one of the few gestures whose meaning varies little between countries) and the use of hands and body in sync with speech rhythms to emphasize certain words. or phrases. Many outwardly similar gestures have different meanings in different countries. The same gesture may be harmless in one country and vulgar in another. In addition, even the same or similar gestures may differ slightly from country to country. For example, when a Russian counts something on his fingers, he, as a rule, bends his fingers inside the palm, while a typical American, on the contrary, unbends his fingers when counting.

Today, sign language training is used in the training of managers, as it allows you to understand the secret intentions of business partners. Women understand sign language better, so it is very difficult for a husband to deceive his wife.

Peoples and gestures

Yemen. City of Al Mukalla. Bargaining and discussing, the local population uses gestures.

As a rule, the further south, the more lively people gesticulate, the richer their facial expressions and body language. In Europe, Italians use the most gestures: for example, they express admiration for female beauty in no less than five ways.

Even among neighboring peoples, many gestures have the exact opposite meaning. In Bulgaria, they shake their heads in agreement, and nod - vice versa. This behavior is also characteristic of the Greeks, Romanians, Macedonians and Hindus.

In the West, fingers spread out in the form of the Latin letter V mean victory (victory). But before the Second World War, fingers spread out in the form of a Latin V, thrown up over the interlocutor, meant a call to silence. In Italy, this is an offensive allusion to adultery. In Russia, it is a “goat”, that is, an expression of a threat in a marginal environment.

Farewell occurs in different ways among different peoples: the Russians raise their hand, turning the palm away from themselves and bend it back and forth. In Italy, they do the same, but at the same time they turn their palm towards themselves. The British very slowly move their palms from side to side, and expressive Latin Americans, saying goodbye (as well as greeting), hug and slap each other on the back.

Residents of Malta, as a sign of denial, touch their chin with their fingertips, turning the brush forward. The Japanese in this case shake their palms from side to side, and the Arabs throw their heads back.

The Frenchman, finding any idea stupid, knocks himself on the head, and the German slaps his forehead with his palm. The Englishman shows with the same gesture that he is pleased with himself. When a Dutchman, knocking himself on the forehead, stretches his index finger up, this means that he appreciated the intelligence of the interlocutor. But if the finger is pointing to the side, then this means that the interlocutor "is not all at home."

To warn that information is secret, Russians and Germans put a finger to their lips, the British to their nose, and in Italy the same gesture serves as a warning of danger.

In English-speaking countries, a ring of thumb and forefinger means "everything is in order." However, in Japan, this gesture means a request to lend money, in Brazil - sexual desire, and in France - a distrustful attitude towards the words of the interlocutor. In Turkey and Greece, this gesture can be perceived as a hint of the interlocutor's homosexuality.

A thumbs up, which for many peoples is a sign of approval, the Arabs can take painfully. The Japanese do not welcome handshakes, let alone pats on the shoulder; for them, touching an interlocutor during a conversation is an unacceptable liberty.

In Portugal, a gesture in the form of two index fingers is tantamount to the insult "horny" and means that the interlocutor is cheating on his wife. This gesture is seen as a strong insult, in particular, he served as the reason for the resignation in July 2009 of the Minister of Economy of Portugal, Manuel Pinho. During the debate in the Parliament of Portugal, the Minister showed the "horns" to his opponent from Communist Party. The insulting gesture caused indignation among parliamentarians, as a result, the minister had to resign, and the prime minister made a public apology for his former colleague.

Gesture Gallery

Thumb

Middle finger
sign of the cross

Handshake
Military salute
Roman salute

Applause

kneeling

Elbow gesture

Research

Allan Pease on body language

The purpose of studying the issue of sign language is to learn to understand the relationship between people who are expressed in this language, you need to learn to see when your interlocutor is lying, flirting or threatening. This skill can be useful in business, teaching, intimate relationships, and anywhere. Sign language research began with Charles Darwin's book "The Expression of Emotions in Humans and Animals." Words are used to convey information, while gestures are used to discuss interpersonal relationships. Sign language is inherited by people from their animal ancestors, so a person does not need to be taught to communicate in this language. We make gestures involuntarily, so it is impossible to lie in sign language. You can learn some simple gestures to deceive the interlocutor, but other small involuntary gestures can give you away.

In 1968, North Korean troops captured the American intelligence ship Pueblo and began to force the sailors to work for Korean propaganda. American sailors noticed that in some Korean films about the West, the gesture of the upraised middle finger was not censored. Convinced that the North Koreans simply did not know its meaning, the sailors began to show middle fingers in all the photographs, explaining that this gesture means wishing good luck to the Hawaiians.
A folded palm in the Arab countries means a sexual insult, in Portugal and Brazil it is a gesture of protection, and in Germany it is an invitation to a prostitute.
Twisting the index finger to the temple in Italy means an eccentric person, in Argentina it serves as an invitation to the phone, and in Peru it means "I think."
The “OK” gesture in France, Belgium and Latin America is an insult (“zero”, “insignificance”), in Brazil it indicates irritation and rage, and in Greece it denotes a homosexual.
The notion that ancient Roman spectators at the Colosseum chose life or death for the vanquished by pointing their thumbs up or down is erroneous. It arose after the appearance of the painting "Pollice Verso" by the artist Jean-Leon Gerome, who incorrectly translated the Latin text. In fact, a thumb bent in any direction (up or down) meant death for the vanquished, symbolizing a drawn sword. To bestow life, the audience showed a clenched fist, alluding to the sword hidden in the scabbard.

Connoisseurs of England! Why is the "V" gesture with the palm facing oneself considered obscene?

Ilya potter

Found 3 versions:
1) In England, the sign V (Victory) is considered offensive if it is made not with the palm outward, but with the palm to the face. Apparently, the British adopted this gesture from the Arabs, who lift the tip of the nose with two fingers, imitating movements
2) After the 100 year war between England and France, such a gesture V was very popular among the English Archers. This gesture means Victory. The French considered this gesture offensive to themselves. The French cut off these 2 fingers to the captured British and they could not practice their profession
The personal friendship between Eisenhower and Churchill continued until the death of the latter. Eisenhower visited his terminally ill friend in the hospital in 1963. He, despite feeling unwell, warmly welcomed the ex-president. They sat silently holding hands. When the American left, Churchill showed him a farewell gesture with his hand. It was a "V" sign.
Churchill went down in history as a major political and military figure, writer, artist, publicist, brilliant orator and polemicist, Nobel laureate in literature. His aphorisms were widely distributed around the world, his famous gesture "V" - "Victory" - became a symbol of victory. The author cites a number of his well-aimed statements: “Study history, the secrets of the power of the state lie in history”, or “Politics is the same war. Only in war they can kill only once, but in politics repeatedly.
V shaped finger sign
This sign is very popular in the UK and Australia and has an offensive connotation. During World War II, Winston Churchill popularized this sign to indicate victory, but for this, the hand is turned back to the speaker. If, with this gesture, the hand is turned with the palm towards the speaker, then the gesture acquires the offensive meaning "shut up". In most European countries, however, the V gesture means “victory” anyway, so if an Englishman wants to tell a European to shut up with this gesture, he will be perplexed what kind of victory the Englishman meant. In many countries, this sign also means the number "2".
These examples show how misunderstandings can lead to misinterpretations of gestures that do not take into account national characteristics speaker. Therefore, before drawing any conclusions about the meaning of certain gestures and body language, it is necessary to take into account the nationality of the interlocutor.
http://www.zhestov.net/zhesty/66.htm
3) The index and middle fingers are raised up, spread out in the form of the Latin letter "V". What does this gesture mean? Here opinions differ. Some interpret it as "we are for peace", others - as "we will win". This ambiguity is not accidental. The fact is that this sign arose during the Second World War. It was a reference to the word "victory" - "victory". The gesture, introduced into fashion by Winston Churchill, soon spread to all Western countries. anti-Hitler coalition. But in the 1960s in the United States, it underwent a rebirth among participants in the anti-war movement and began to mean "we are for peace."

Olga b

V - Figurative Sign with Fingers. This sign is very popular in the UK and Australia and has an offensive connotation. During World War II, Winston Churchill popularized the "V" sign for victory, but for this designation, the hand is turned back to the speaker. If, with this gesture, the hand is turned with the palm towards the speaker, then the gesture acquires an offensive meaning - "shut up."

"V" (Victoria)
From historical sources known that during Hundred Years War The French cut off two fingers of the captive archers, with which they pulled the string of the bow. And the happy owners of a complete set of fingers teased their enemies by showing “V” with their hand turned palm towards themselves. The French considered this gesture offensive to themselves. So until now, this sign is considered indecent in England, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand ... For example, on April 3, 2009, Barry Ferguson and Alan McGregor were expelled from the Scottish football team for demonstrating Victoria. Ferguson was also stripped of his Rangers captaincy.
During the Second World War, Winston Churchill decided to use this sign to indicate victory (for this, the hand must be turned back to the speaker).
A remarkable case is when Eisenhower visited his sick friend Churchill in the hospital in 1963. He, despite feeling unwell, warmly welcomed the ex-president, and when the American left, Churchill showed him a farewell gesture with his hand. It was a "V" sign.

"Shaka"
"Shaka" (eng. Shaka) - a greeting gesture in the form of a protruding thumb and little finger and pressed to the palm of the index, middle and ring fingers. The brush, at the same time, is turned with the fingers up and the back side to the object of greeting. A common greeting in Hawaii, as well as among surfers, skydivers, etc.
"Shaka" near the ear in the whole more or less civilized world means "Let's call", "I'll call" or "Call me".

"OK"
The “OK” gesture, familiar to us from American films, is far from being perceived as positive everywhere.
Interesting trial took place a couple of years ago in Berlin. A certain driver allegedly insulted the policeman by showing him a simple gesture from the car: the thumb and forefinger of the hand, closed in a ring (they say, everything is in order, Herr policeman). But the German law enforcement officer was offended and sued (they say, Herr driver “called” him with this gesture complete zero). The judge, having rummaged through the relevant literature and asked psychologists, came to the conclusion that both meanings of this signal are accepted in Germany, and how to understand it is your private business. The driver was acquitted.
Experts in the field of semiotics (the science of the meaning of signs) could tell that this gesture is at least 2500 years old. In Greece he also had double meaning but both were positive. First, it was a symbol of love, the image of kissing lips. Secondly, praise to the speaker for an accurate statement or a subtle aphorism (two fingers, closed with tips, as if taking some small and elusive object). Offensive interpretations appeared much later.
In Japan, this gesture means money, and in Brazil, it can be given in the face.

"Goat", "Horns"
This gesture is also interpreted in different ways.
In superstitious Central Europe during the Middle Ages, he was a protection from the evil eye (like our muzzle in your pocket). The "goat" was mentioned by Bram Stoker in "Dracula", Alexander Green in the story "The Loquacious Brownie".
Ronnie James Dio of Black Sabbath made the same gesture as Churchill of V; now, at concerts of various musical subcultures, “horns” are a sign of approval for the performer.
Church of Satan founder Anton LaVey (pictured above) grafted a "goat" into his parishioners as a hallmark of his faith. After LaVey's death, his daughter erected a monument to him with a "goat".
By the way, showing a Frenchman such a gesture, you will call him a cuckold.
In the Russian language of the deaf and dumb, this gesture means the letter "Y".
The same "horns" plus protruding thumb = ILY, "I Love Uou"

"Lux"
In America, England, Australia and New Zealand, people vote on the roads with a thumbs up.
A fist with a thumbs up in Europe is a sign of approval, but among Muslims this gesture is considered indecent. Rotational movements with the thumb up indicate in Saudi Arabia"get out from here". For Brazilians, this gesture is equivalent to the American "OK".

peace/peace
Just the idea is to show inside palms forward (but it seems uncool to them, probably).
It's funny that in the UK this popular gesture means twat and I use it in a similar way to the middle finger.

The thumb gesture most often means a person's attitude to what is said or done. If the thumb is raised up, then this gesture can be deciphered: “Super!”, “Oh, I approve of it!”, “Cool idea!”. And the finger is down back side situations: “I’m not happy with you”, “It’s unpleasant for me”, “Fu”, etc. However, the thumb gesture is also used for other purposes. So, for example, if you want to stop a vehicle on the road, you can give a thumbs up. The driver will decipher it as a vote and a desire for a long trip, hitchhiking. A thumb raised sharply upwards will be understood by an Australian or Englishman as a sexual insult. But in Greece, this quick gesture means: “Fuck you!”. And the Arabs associate the raised thumb with a phallic symbol.
When counting, the thumb is used in different ways: the Italians consider the thumb as a unit, while the Australians, the British, Russians and others use the index finger for the unit, and the thumb will be the fifth.
The thumb can be used in various positions of the body and denote power and dominance. Gesture of superiority and power.

Index finger gesture

The index finger speaks for itself, it points to something or someone. The index finger gesture is ambiguous and depends on words, movements and body position. The index finger attached to the lips means "quietly." If it is vertically raised up, it means "stop!", "Attention!". If at the same time shake your finger to the sides, this gesture will mean refusal. A slightly tilted finger forward and swinging up and down means a threat or a lesson. If the index finger is twisted at the temple, then they consider you a fool. The hand raised up with the index finger says: “Attention, I want to say something!”. There is one hidden position of the index finger: if a person speaks and his gaze is directed in one direction, and the index finger in the other, while it is slightly bent, then the person is telling a lie.

Middle finger gesture

The gesture of the middle finger raised up, with the thumb sticking out or pressed into a fist is considered offensive. The extended middle finger is a phallic symbol, meaning: "Fuck off!". In Russia and China, the gesture is considered very rude, instead they use a figurine, meaning: "you will not get anything." In America, the gesture "fuck" is considered abusive, but is used more often, meaning: "Fuck you!".

Two finger gesture or "V" sign

The two-finger gesture or the V sign is common in English-speaking countries. So in the UK, Australia and New Zealand, this finger gesture would mean a sexual insult. In most European countries, as well as in Russia, this gesture means Victory. For the first time, Winston Churchill used the “V” gesture during World War II, but his palm was turned towards him and meant victory. So there was a division into the negative and positive significance of this gesture. However, in European countries the value of victory is determined with an open palm. And the palm turned towards itself will mean the number 2. Using the two-finger gesture, it is necessary to remember the culture and traditions existing in the country. The Englishman, having decided to insult the Russian, will put him in bewilderment.

three finger gesture

Three fingers can be used in different combinations, most often this number is three. In different countries, the number three is shown in different ways. For example, the Germans, since they start counting with the thumb, show the thumb, index and middle fingers. Russians and Americans will show three fingers, starting with the index.
In some countries, especially in the Second world war, the Germans raised three fingers up during the oath, greeting their commander in chief. The history of this gesture goes back to ancient times, when warriors took an oath, greeting each other with this gesture. Today, in some countries, this gesture is used as a symbol of victory.