Body Language in

Different Cultures

Kayla B.

&

Kevin Daly

Body Language

Body language: "Nonverbal, usually

unconscious, cofaskfjsakdjfmmunication

through the use of postures, gestures, facial

expressions". -Dictionary.com

Different signals and non verbal gestures mean

different things in different cultures

1. Nodding the head means...

●YES in most cultures

●NO in some parts of Greece,

Yugoslavia, Bulgaria and Turkey

2. Eye Contact

●ENCOURAGED in America, Canada, and

Europe

●CONSIDERED RUDE in most Asian countries

and Africa

3. Closing your eyes means...

●BORED OR SLEEPY in America

●"IM LISTENING & CONCENTRATING" in

Japan, Thailand, China

4. OKAY Signal means... (thumb and

pointer finger)

●FINE OR OKAY in most cultures

●ZERO OR WORTHLESS in some part of

europe

5. Making a V with your pointed and

middle finger means...

●PEACE OR VICTORY in most part of the world

●If the back of your hand is faced outward it

means UP YOURS in England and Australia

6. Thumbs Up means...

●OKAY, GOOD JOB OR FINE in most cultures

●UP YOURS in Australia

●FIVE in Japan

●ONE in Germany

Does Anyone Have

Any Questions?

References

Brockenbroug, M. (n.d.). Body Language Around the World. Retrieved June 16,

2010, from http://www.proz.com/forum/linguistics/

19320-body_language_around_the_world.html

Dictionary.com, LLC. Copyright © 2011. (n.d.). Body Language . Retrieved June

16, 2011, from http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/body+language

Rugsaken, K. (n.d.). BODY SPEAKS: THE IMPORTANCE OF BODY LANGUAGE .

Retrieved June 16, 2011, from http://ww.nacada.ksu.edu/nationalconf/2005/handouts/

S184H1.PPT