I need help from someone who doesn't live in america

[Kiltguy]

Hallå, Sweden here.

-In southern Sweden when you greet someone, you tilt your head backwards, the longer you been away from someone you know, the further back you tilt, accompanied by a long "Haloooooooou!"

-In northern Sweden people nod towards one another.

-Far Northern Sweden. A sharp intake of breath, means Yes, sounds like "shup"

-Stroking your hand, from your throat to your chin, palm down ending upwards in a flicking motion means: "Your not worth the scrap in my beard."

-Patting someone on the shoulder can either be a respectful gesture, or a condescending one, depending on how you deliver it.

-The Swedish word "fock" and its English relative "fuck" are very similar, spiritually. But differ in the essences, that "fock" does mean intercourse, no the Swedish word for "fuck" is (adj.) "knull" or (verb.) "knulla".

-Giving someone the middle finger is considered a rude gesture. As well as the "V", but the "V" can also mean "two", as in; "I want two of those."

-Placing your left hand in right arms fossa cubitalis, as you give the finger, but without flipping the "bird", is a way of telling someone to got to hell.

- Handshake = Hello

- Thumbs up = Good

- Shake head = No

- Nodding = yes, or right

And that's all I can think of at the moment. I'm no anthropologist, but as the world "shrinks", gestures starts to mean the same all over, eventually I suppose.

 

[Kilgengoor]

Well in Spain a thumbs up means 'alright', although not many people use it.

Aside from that, we tend to greet with two kisses when saluting a woman and shake hands when it's a guy. I personally gesture a lot when speaking, but I don't think it's a rule with Spaniards. We also use the standard meanings for shaking our head from side to side, up and down, tilting it to the side to denote 'meh', taking air though our teeth means "not sure" and we use the standard flip-off instead of the British "two fingers up". Everything's pretty standard, now that I think of it.

Hope it helps.

 

[thenoblitt]

I have a feeling your sociology experiment isn't going to work too well. Most people who are on the internet are from countries that have extremely similar gestures, especially hand-shaking and thumbs-up.

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 garbage

So why don't ya'll study the effects potatoes have on society?

That would seem much more Idah.... Idah... umm.... Idahoian? Idahoan? Denizen of Idaho?

Whatever. You get the picture.

Just because we are called the potato state doesn't mean we are all hicks and just think about potatoes, also idahoian

 

[Rellik San]

The Agincourt; So called from the British archers who used it as a taunt too the French

...ugh...I hate it when people report that myth as fact, it didn't exist as an insult before 1960...

Well I'll be the first too admit I honestly was unaware of that, history is not my strongest point obviously.

Do you know of the true origin behind it is? I like to be as acurate as my knowledge allows.

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...

In which case then, its very probable its something related too class divide. Interesting. Of course I'm not saying it definitely is, but its fun too speculate.

 

[Zykon TheLich]

Well, I imagine he's looking for examples of things like this:

In parts of Africa (can't remember which) with the thumbs up sign, the "thumb" is meant to be a penis and the "up" is up your ass, i.e. "up yours".

Holding a hand up with fingers slightly splayed (or possibly very splayed, it's been a long time) is intimating that the recipient has 5 fathers i.e. is unaware of his parentage and his mom's a dirty slut.

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...

In which case then, its very probable its something related too class divide. Interesting. Of course I'm not saying it definitely is, but its fun too speculate.

I'm kinda quoting the wrong person here but I'd be careful about taking QI as 100% true all the time. I remember a couple of times I've seen them put forth disputed theories, histories etc as fact. Usually along the lines of...new research suggests that it is possible that X may be Y reported as X=Y. Not saying that ones wrong but just a general observation on the veracity of everything they say.

 

[trollnystan]

Sweden here.

Shaking hands = greeting or goodbye, also you can "shake on it".
Thumbs up = OK, good job etc.

We basically have the same gestures as the rest of western world. Can't think of a gesture that's purely Swedish.

 

[Mad1Cow]

UK: Shaking hands means how do you do, but is mostly only held for meetings or formal gatherings...otherwise it's just weird...

Thumbs up means you're gonna get beaten. Nah I kid, thumbs up means calling a taxi or "yeah that's fine but I'm not gonna face you".

We generally nod our heads in compliance. Nod and grunt (it's meant to be "yes" not "unnh" but with all the accents we have knocking around it's just easier to use a variant of MMM-HMMM!)

My customs seem to be different to the general world however, for example I gave up saying "hello" or even "hi" for "ahoy". If something doesn't make sense I stare at it until it does or just lose interest, it's also deemed "judging" by my roomate (because he often does weird things so I stare until it makes sense but it seems more like a judging stare, I dunno). Can't think of anything else. I slap people if they do something stupid but that's mainly thanks to this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9p2R-2qKhg

 

[Albuin]

Germany:

A shake of hands either accompanies a greeting or a good-bye. It has a formal air, though. It's something you do when meeting somebody for the first time or it's something you do in the office. You don't usually greet your friends with a handshake but by raising your hand or giving them a short wave. The short wave also is something that accompanies the "Bye!".
A handshake can be used to seal a contract. It's rather old-fashioned so not everybody does it anymore or goes by it. For example: A friend of mine was organizing a party and she had to choose between to local companies that could have provided her with a sound-system. She shook hands with the first only to realize that the second one was a bit cheaper and closer to the location. She was in a predicament, because she'd already shaken hands with the first one. It is no longer obligatory to stick to the handshake-contract-thing, but you know - it lingers in the minds, still.

Thumbsup means "well done" or "keep up the good work".

We generally have very similar gestures, like the "OK" or "Understood" - the linking between the thumb and the pointing finger so that it forms somewhat of a circle while spreading the other fingers a bit.

All in all I can say that we don't have too many special gestures. Whenever we speak we're not really "lively".
If only an Italian was here... *jk*

 

[moretimethansense]

The Agincourt; So called from the British archers who used it as a taunt too the French, too perform it, you flip the peace sign 180 degrees. Where as flipping the bird has more of a "get lost" feel too it, this is more of a "fuck yourself and your entire family, I hope you die slowly of aids" style gesture.

Sorry but the "Agincourt" as you put it, has been recored as having been used since before the hundered yeats war.

In France the middle finger gesture is done with more vigour, extend the offending arm straight raising it to shoulder height, stop the bicep with your other hand and place the forearm and hand at a 90 degree angle to the now straight bicep.
The meaning remains the same however.

 

[Dapsen]

In Denmark we don't have any unusual gestures.
Or, wait a second.
You can say 'yes' without moving or opening your mouth by making a 'mmhmm' sound where the second part is in a slightly higher tone.
And 'no' by making a 'uh-uh' sound, still with your mouth closed.

A handshake is used as a respectful greeting, or to seal a deal in a way, where it is absolutely sure, that the other person will have to do as agreed.

A thumbs up can be anything from 'permission granted' to 'FUCKING AWESOME, MAN!' to just 'yeah, that's cool'.

The newer generation, (my generation, I'm 15 years old) is also doing lots of high fives and fist bumps, brofists, all that stuff.

 

[Blitzwarp]

England here, yo. Uh, common gestures...middle-finger for fuck you (haven't seen someone flick the V's for AGES), a raised hand with all fingers spread whilst driving is a thank-you for giving way to someone, a shrug of the shoulders for not knowing or not being able to help...well, jeez. I dunno, past them. o.o Zhukov's post is pretty much the same as the UK.

- Shaking hands to me is a formal gesture, suited for greeting business associates or sealing a deal with my bank manager. I've never shaken the hands of my friends.

- Thumbs-up means "everything's a-go here control!" [small]I do it a lot to my Mum when she sits watching me play with my Transformers to reassure her I haven't mentally regressed to age six.[/small]

 

[BENZOOKA]

np: Monty Python - Finland

Shaking hands means you acknowledge the person as trustworthy enough to have sex with your family members.

Giving a thumbs up means your thumbs are awfully sore and you're asking for someone to suck them.

Slapping someone on the ass after sex means "I really enjoyed our spent time together, and I'll never forget it. I might give you a call sometime, but I think I'll just go and warm up the car. By the way, did you happen to watch the weather forecast for next weekend? I hope it will be warmer than that. Oh and I hope you don't mind if I help myself with a breakfast if your too tired to get up yet."

Shaking your head in any direction might make your neck hurt or even paralyze you, if you do it excessively with too much force and have no self-preservation instinct.

Then again, we actually just have all the usual Western gestures. But there aren't any specific ways to use them, as if a middle finger stands alone somewhere, it's giving the finger. And the V sign just means two and nothing else, no matter which way it's held.

 

[Rellik San]

The Agincourt; So called from the British archers who used it as a taunt too the French, too perform it, you flip the peace sign 180 degrees. Where as flipping the bird has more of a "get lost" feel too it, this is more of a "fuck yourself and your entire family, I hope you die slowly of aids" style gesture.

Sorry but the "Agincourt" as you put it, has been recored as having been used since before the hundered yeats war.

But I already admitted I was merely using a populist origin of the world and have admitted fault on this.

Although your information seems too conflict with the other information I was fed on the origin of the gesture... Which too me at least is fairly interesting. I'll always be the first too admit a mistake on my part... however I'm always interested too learn how it was a mistake.

I.e... in this case you say it was in use before the 100 years war, however you don't make mention of if the idea of the British long bow men using it as a kind of dare is true or false. That's not too say I'm poopooing your comment, just asking if you know its true origin or not.

 

[moretimethansense]

The Agincourt; So called from the British archers who used it as a taunt too the French, too perform it, you flip the peace sign 180 degrees. Where as flipping the bird has more of a "get lost" feel too it, this is more of a "fuck yourself and your entire family, I hope you die slowly of aids" style gesture.

Sorry but the "Agincourt" as you put it, has been recored as having been used since before the hundered yeats war.

But I already admitted I was merely using a populist origin of the world and have admitted fault on this.

Although your information seems too conflict with the other information I was fed on the origin of the gesture... Which too me at least is fairly interesting. I'll always be the first too admit a mistake on my part... however I'm always interested too learn how it was a mistake.

I.e... in this case you say it was in use before the 100 years war, however you don't make mention of if the idea of the British long bow men using it as a kind of dare is true or false. That's not too say I'm poopooing your comment, just asking if you know its true origin or not.

Honestly?
No, I only know it was in use before then and that the poular reasoning behind it, that the french would cut off an archers fingers, makse no sense as they would simply execute them.

 

[necromanzer52]

Ireland here.

Shaking hands as a greeting for someone you've never met before.
Thumbs up is generally used as a greeting for people in in my circle of friends but I doubt other people use it this way.

 

[Rellik San]

Honestly?
No, I only know it was in use before then and that the poular reasoning behind it, that the french would cut off an archers fingers, makse no sense as they would simply execute them.

I don't know it would seem a fairly good form of torture.

I mean how do you break a soldier? You make sure he can't fight anymore. But I do understand where you are coming from though.

 

[moretimethansense]

Honestly?
No, I only know it was in use before then and that the poular reasoning behind it, that the french would cut off an archers fingers, makse no sense as they would simply execute them.

I don't know it would seem a fairly good form of torture.

I mean how do you break a soldier? You make sure he can't fight anymore. But I do understand where you are coming from though.

True as that may be, they can't fight if they're dead.

 

[Rellik San]

Honestly?
No, I only know it was in use before then and that the poular reasoning behind it, that the french would cut off an archers fingers, makse no sense as they would simply execute them.

I don't know it would seem a fairly good form of torture.

I mean how do you break a soldier? You make sure he can't fight anymore. But I do understand where you are coming from though.

True as that may be, they can't fight if they're dead.

But as I said its probably more a psychological thing to break Prisoners... or even better, propaganda from the British side that whomever their enemy is wants too take their ability too fight.

 

[Griffstar]

From Canada here. Heres some things we do(where I live anyway).

Speaking in a English,Irish and Scottish accent =/= Jokingly insulting somebody/trying to be funny.
Nodding of the head =/= A sign of respect, usually from people you know and strangers.