Culture Miscommunication
By Angélica Conde
As a child, I used to think that while languages can be a barrier, gestures would be universally understood in the same way. But I think we all know that this is not the case.
Through gestures, we can send a message and we must exercise caution.
🤔What are some gestures you know that have different meanings overseas?
I live in Peru and here and in other countries it is very common to raise your thumbs to convey a positive message while in Iran the same gesture is used as an insult.
Crossing your fingers in my culture is interpreted as a gesture to attract luck while in Vietnam it is an offense to the person in front of you.
There was a time when I was living in another region of my country and despite being my country there were many things about the culture that I had to learn. There, for example, refusing food is a form of offense and if you do not accept food that is invited, they will never offer you food again. You can be kind and charitable to people you know but if you give something to someone you know little it is an offense. There is a set of jargon that I understand little, it seems another language, but it´s not.
Afro-Peruvian people speak very loudly, it seems that they are yelling at you but it's their normal way of communicating.
In itself, Latinos are very affectionate but people from other cultures consider it invasive.
I have a close friend from the United States, she speaks English but my mother tongue, Spanish, too.
Latinos usually kiss the cheek to say hello to friends and people we meet, but for my friend, it's weird to kiss someone you meet for the first time. Makes sense to me.
References:
15 hand gestures that have different meanings overseas - Bright Side
Picture - Global integration
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