I need help from someone who doesn't live in america
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In Canada, we replace the word "huh?" with "eh?" because we think it's friendlier. Saying "huh?" makes you sound like a douchebag.
We also apologize all the time. Even when it isn't our own fault.
Shaking hands= "nice to meet you" / "good to see you again" (or in past tense if at the end of a conversation)
Thumbs-up= "right-on!" / "gotcha" / "awesomesauce"
We also apologize all the time. Even when it isn't our own fault.
Shaking hands= "nice to meet you" / "good to see you again" (or in past tense if at the end of a conversation)
Thumbs-up= "right-on!" / "gotcha" / "awesomesauce"
Well I'll be the first too admit I honestly was unaware of that, history is not my strongest point obviously.carnkhan4 said:
Do you know of the true origin behind it is? I like to be as acurate as my knowledge allows.
What are some kind of gestures that your country uses? no idea.
What does shaking hands and giving a thumbs up mean in your country?
i guess shaking hands means hello or goodbye. Like you shake all the men's hands when your introduced to a group, sometimes shake womens hands.
Thumbs up= good job, yes, used to try and hitch hike places, also seen it used as ''shove it up your arse''
im from australia btw.
What does shaking hands and giving a thumbs up mean in your country?
i guess shaking hands means hello or goodbye. Like you shake all the men's hands when your introduced to a group, sometimes shake womens hands.
Thumbs up= good job, yes, used to try and hitch hike places, also seen it used as ''shove it up your arse''
im from australia btw.
it honestly doesnt matter, as long as its from another country its fine, im not one to cut corners on project but there is no set curriculum for sociology in the state of idaho so the class is pretty much garbageStammer said:
If you count with your fingers in Germany, 1 is the thumb, 2 is thumb and pointer finger etc. instead of starting with the pointer finger.
I don't know the origin, but the earliest solid evidence is archive film footage of a worker doing the V sign (and I typed a 6 instead of a 0, it should read 1900)...admittedly I got this all from an episode of Qi...Rellik San said:Well I'll be the first too admit I honestly was unaware of that, history is not my strongest point obviously.carnkhan4 said:
Do you know of the true origin behind it is? I like to be as acurate as my knowledge allows.
I'll tell yee about the Hongi, (not to be confused with Hângi which is Maori for tastiness.)
This is a hongi. [http://kristinasworld.files.wordpress.com/2008/02/hongi.jpg]
It's a traditional New Zealand Maori greeting, a friendly one which is nice. It's meant to represent the ha, or breath of life, being exchanged and intermingled. In it two people briefly press together their foreheads and noses, (that is, they press their forehead with another's forhead and their nose with another's nose, I don't think you can physically press your forehead and nose together but I encourage you to try.)
Note: It is imporant not to be overenthusiastic and end up headbutting a big maori dude like I have done on more than one occasion.
If you want more Wikipedia's got a pretty nice description.
If you come to NZ and find yourself being welcomed onto a marae this is basically how you'll be greeted, (although nowadays it also accompanies a handshake.)
You can look into the Maori haka as well, that has a number of neat gestures that all mean various things, (including a personal favourite of mine that is basically a "my dick is huge and hard" boast.)
I'm pretty sure American gestures mean the same here in NZ as they do in America though, (don't believe Flight of the Conchords, we know what flipping the bird is and use it frequently.) I can't think of any that differ anyway.
This is a hongi. [http://kristinasworld.files.wordpress.com/2008/02/hongi.jpg]
It's a traditional New Zealand Maori greeting, a friendly one which is nice. It's meant to represent the ha, or breath of life, being exchanged and intermingled. In it two people briefly press together their foreheads and noses, (that is, they press their forehead with another's forhead and their nose with another's nose, I don't think you can physically press your forehead and nose together but I encourage you to try.)
Note: It is imporant not to be overenthusiastic and end up headbutting a big maori dude like I have done on more than one occasion.
If you want more Wikipedia's got a pretty nice description.
If you come to NZ and find yourself being welcomed onto a marae this is basically how you'll be greeted, (although nowadays it also accompanies a handshake.)
You can look into the Maori haka as well, that has a number of neat gestures that all mean various things, (including a personal favourite of mine that is basically a "my dick is huge and hard" boast.)
I'm pretty sure American gestures mean the same here in NZ as they do in America though, (don't believe Flight of the Conchords, we know what flipping the bird is and use it frequently.) I can't think of any that differ anyway.
Also add to this, in my demographic (White Males, 18-25) it seems pretty common to use an upward head jerk to acknowledge someone, or something. For example when walking by someone you know. Similar to a tip of the hat but we're not classy enough to wear hats.exarkunsith said:
Nodding is yes.
Shaking head is no.
(I believe these are reversed in Belgium?)
We also use the, now defunct, O.K. symbol from diving, where an O shape is made with the thumb and forefinger and the other three fingers are fanned out.
Essentially meaning, "Fuck yeah" or "That's awesome!"
Skip to 1:50 if you have no patience
Yes it is a joke.
Yes it is a joke.
Can't think of any others atm.
Oh yeah, Middle finger raised is fuck you/fuck off etc.
Canadian here. Generally, breaking one's hockey stick deliberately is a great sign of disrespect, and constitutes grounds for a duel.
Seriously though, since so much of our culture, or at least in my county is a mixture of Scottish, English, Irish, and French, and a bunch of American thrown in, it's a great bloody mess.
Canada generally is the same as American in terms of gestures and the like, though there are a bunch of minority cultures that differ.
Seriously though, since so much of our culture, or at least in my county is a mixture of Scottish, English, Irish, and French, and a bunch of American thrown in, it's a great bloody mess.
Canada generally is the same as American in terms of gestures and the like, though there are a bunch of minority cultures that differ.
Oh yeah, in regards to the Forks (Also called the Agincourt or V earlier in the thread)
In Australia it's still rude, but not as much at the middle finger.
It's sort of a pompous, or fancy way of giving someone the finger. It seems this is reversed in the UK where the finger is the less insulting of the two.
I've also seen someone flick their hand out from under their chin, palm down, fingertips resting under chin and flick.
Apparently it's Italian.
In Australia it's still rude, but not as much at the middle finger.
It's sort of a pompous, or fancy way of giving someone the finger. It seems this is reversed in the UK where the finger is the less insulting of the two.
I've also seen someone flick their hand out from under their chin, palm down, fingertips resting under chin and flick.
Apparently it's Italian.
Canada is a pretty bad example as we use pretty much the same hand gestures as you do. Actually, most English-speaking countries aren't very good for that, you're better off asking someone from a non English-speaking country (so this site is a bad place to ask). For example I know that showing two fingers palm side towards (what we call a peace sign) means "victory" in Japan. That's just an example.
Australia reporting.
Handshake is performed when greeting someone for the first time. Always accompanied by introductions. Sometimes done when saying goodbye or wishing someone good luck. Almost never done with close friends or family. Also done at the conclusion of formal deals or agreements.
Thumbs up means "yes", "good" or "well done". Exact meaning will depend on context.
As for other gestures... well, I doubt we do anything down under that isn't done in the US, but here goes:
- Nod of the head is "yes". Shaking the head from side to side is "no".
- We sometimes nod or incline the head by way of greeting a familiar person (like, say, a workmate) or to show acknowledgment of their presence.
- We wave when greeting from a distance or to get someone's attention.
- We raise our hand when asking a question in a group environment (eg. classroom, lecture theatre, public meeting.)
- We raise out middle finger by way of insult. Technically it means, "I am going to stick my finger up your arse." But it's usually used to just mean, "fuck you".
- We shrug our shoulders to say "I don't know". Often accompanied by spreading the arms, palms upward.
- A flap of the hand, palm down, is used as a gesture of dismissal. Although it's considered rude to direct that gesture at a person.
That's all I can think of off the top of my head.
Handshake is performed when greeting someone for the first time. Always accompanied by introductions. Sometimes done when saying goodbye or wishing someone good luck. Almost never done with close friends or family. Also done at the conclusion of formal deals or agreements.
Thumbs up means "yes", "good" or "well done". Exact meaning will depend on context.
As for other gestures... well, I doubt we do anything down under that isn't done in the US, but here goes:
- Nod of the head is "yes". Shaking the head from side to side is "no".
- We sometimes nod or incline the head by way of greeting a familiar person (like, say, a workmate) or to show acknowledgment of their presence.
- We wave when greeting from a distance or to get someone's attention.
- We raise our hand when asking a question in a group environment (eg. classroom, lecture theatre, public meeting.)
- We raise out middle finger by way of insult. Technically it means, "I am going to stick my finger up your arse." But it's usually used to just mean, "fuck you".
- We shrug our shoulders to say "I don't know". Often accompanied by spreading the arms, palms upward.
- A flap of the hand, palm down, is used as a gesture of dismissal. Although it's considered rude to direct that gesture at a person.
That's all I can think of off the top of my head.
Canadian here, bear with me now.
When someone gives you the finger, it is actually a sign of love and respect. So if you go to Canada, finger as many people as possible.
Also, do not forget to waer your obligatory toque. To be caught without it, especially whilst eating poutine, is nothing short of blasphemy against Canada.
When someone gives you the finger, it is actually a sign of love and respect. So if you go to Canada, finger as many people as possible.
Also, do not forget to waer your obligatory toque. To be caught without it, especially whilst eating poutine, is nothing short of blasphemy against Canada.
In canada, it means the same thing, unless you talk to the Native Indians, or the Inuits. They may interpret differently but I've never really met any that I flipped off.
in Greece, the thumbs up can mean "up yours"
in France and many European countries, the OK sight means "zero" or "is worth nothing"
in italy throwing the horns mean a variety of things, like the "maluchia", "i corni" or telling someone that their wife is sleeping with another.
in England, the peace sign backwards (the palm facing yourself) means "up yours" and in germany it means "victory"
and also im not sure about this one, but in italy, if you touch your ear in a certain manner, it communes that you think a person is gay
EDIT: i remembered that in Bulgaria, nodding your head means "no"
in France and many European countries, the OK sight means "zero" or "is worth nothing"
in italy throwing the horns mean a variety of things, like the "maluchia", "i corni" or telling someone that their wife is sleeping with another.
in England, the peace sign backwards (the palm facing yourself) means "up yours" and in germany it means "victory"
and also im not sure about this one, but in italy, if you touch your ear in a certain manner, it communes that you think a person is gay
EDIT: i remembered that in Bulgaria, nodding your head means "no"
I've only been living in Poland for two years, but I really haven't noticed many people using gestures.
A handshake is usually/almost always given when meeting a friend and or colleague for the first time in the day.
Thumb up usually translates to "super".
A handshake is usually/almost always given when meeting a friend and or colleague for the first time in the day.
Thumb up usually translates to "super".