Gestures.
My topic for analysis is Gestures. The headline of the article, which I will talk about, is "Gestures to Avoid in Cross-Cultural Business: In Other Words, 'Keep Your Fingers to Yourself!". It was written by Gayle Cotton, the author of 'Say Anything to Anyone Anywhere: 5 Keys to Successful Cross-Cultural Communication'. You can read the whole article here:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/gayle-cotton/cross-cultural-gestures_b_3437653.html
The main purpose of this very article is to give the reader new information about gestures. The article describes different approaches to the same gestures, signs and mimic ways of expression thoughts in different countries. The author made a list of such differences. People use many of them in everyday life without any notice, they just don't pay much attention to them. Gayle Cotton wrote that our body language often conveys more than the words we use. And, at times, it can completely change. After the enumerating different combinations of fingers and their meanings, author comes to the conclusion that whatever country you visit, you should remember about its traditions and habits. And if you don’t know what the concrete gesture means, you’d better not use this sign at all in order not to offend people around. Gestures have such a profound influence on communication that it really is best to keep your fingers to yourself.
As for me, I completely agree with the author. Some mistakes in using unsuitable gestures can redound on you. I found this article very interesting and useful for everyone. Knowing of gestures is very important for people. Moreover, gestures brighten our communication, they promote better understanding as they help us to make the situation clear. If you know gestures, you almost know the main part of the different nation culture. In this article I found a lot of new information and I suppose in one day it’ll be on use!
And in the conclusion I want to ask my groupmates: Do you think it’s important to know gestures? And how often do you use them in your everyday life? Do you really pay much attention to them?
Your commentary is rather informative and it's purely written. People rarely pay their attention at the manner how they use their gestures. I relate to such kind of people. I'm extremely emotioanal person and can't imagine this world without gestures and emotions. They really brighten our lifes and help express such feelings that can't be put into words. The words have mighty powers : they can as cure as kill. The same's with gestures. Every country has its own rules in using them. So, we should pay attention on the way we use our gestures just for not hurt smb's feelings unintentionally.
ОтветитьУдалитьI don't think that I'm the person who uses gestures every time. I'm rather shy and reserved girl, and when I'm talking to somebody, I try to keep eye-contact, that is all. Such gestures as V-sigh and thumbs-up I can use when I am posing in front of a camera and it is just for fun. But, to my mind this problem is rather worth thinking, as in this article I got to know that even the most harmless gestures can be offensive to the people of another culture or country. And it comes as no surprise. We use different languages, we put on different clothes, we eat different food. All of these things are suitable for one region, and can be forbidden, unacceptable for another. The same with gestures. We should think before we do something in other country, or with foreign man, respect every single culture and traditions, be polite.
ОтветитьУдалитьЭтот комментарий был удален автором.
ОтветитьУдалитьI think, body language may be even more important than verbal communication. A person can tell lie, but his body can tell you the real point of view of this person. Gestures also help people to show their emotions, to show their attitude to some problems, themes. As for me, I use gestures every minute, because even when I don't talk to somebody my pose can tell my interlocutor, that I'm interesting in his speech or I'm bored, or I don't like the place. The same situation is when I have a conversation with somebody. The main trick in gestures is that you should try to control them, because if you wave your hands, like as you want to fly away, it will offend a person, who you talk to. Sometimes I pay much attention to people's gestures, because for me it is a kind of fun and it's very curious for me to predict, what the person really thinks about, what he really feels.
ОтветитьУдалитьI love gestures! It's my surname or middle-name :)
ОтветитьУдалитьI like your view on this topic and the authror's one.
What about my gestures, I use them everyday. They help me to express my emotions and sometimes some words. You know, they are very helpful! With their help you can, I don't know...do everything! First of all,to express your thoughts. Secondly, gestures can cheer up your friend, really! I have such experience.
Moreover, I do agree that every country has its own gestures, and they can be similar with the ones in another country, but the meanong is different. If you want to go abroad you should study the book of gestures.