03.01.08
Cross-Cultural Differences? (Disaster!)
I used to think that the whole world nods in approval and shakes head sideways in disapproval! Vell I was wrong! Even though the majority express it this way,According to Charles Darwin, author of “The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals (1872)” there are some exceptions!
Australian natives:
“don’t shake the head, but holding up the right hand, shake it by turning it half round and back again two or three times.”, A certain Native told Darwin that Abyssinians expressed the word “no” by tilting the head to the right and making a slight cluck, and “yes” by throwing the head back and raising the eyebrows instantly.
Eskimos:
Nodded for yes and “winked” for no! (LOL! We would be lost if we went up there!)
Bulgaria:
Okay this is where trouble ensues! There a nod means “no” and a head-shake means “yes”. (Imagine the catastrophe! I can’t believe my parents lived there for 3 years!)
Turks:
Their “yes” is shaking head from side to side and “no” is throwing the head back and make a slight cluck! (Yawch I got my hair cut yesterday by a Turkish woman! no wonder she kept repeatedly asking me, I remember nodding a lot 00 
Other misinterpreted gestures:
We do the Thumbs-up as a sign of approval inspired by the Romans, Sadly, zat’s a myth! It happened as a result of successive mistranslations that we think it’s how the Romans showed mercy. The real gestures were hiding the thumb in a clenched fist, signaling mercy, and if they wanted the dude torn apart they would extend their thumb in a stabbing motion.
The Thumbs-up sign is known world-wide as an “OK” gesture, but in Sardinia and Greece it means “Screw you”! (So..in your future visits to Greece inshalla, Just nod your head ^^; )
suspic said,
March 2, 2008 at 2:47 pm
I love the Italians’ “finger”. The thing with the hands, and neck/jaw.
I almost did it in Italy but was afraid..
Amethyst said,
March 2, 2008 at 4:01 pm
Lol! We should check these before we travel;p
Olórin said,
March 2, 2008 at 4:41 pm
suspic:
Good thinking..the Italians would’ve made pasta out of you and ate it for supper.
Amethyst:
LOL so true!
eshda3wa said,
March 2, 2008 at 5:51 pm
and its not just gestures!!
some words can mean one innocent thing in one language and be a total taboo word in another!!
FourMe said,
March 3, 2008 at 4:52 am
Those Eskimos are big flirts
Seems like a majority of the Kuwaiti population are descendent of the Eskimos..
I knew some gestures where misinterpreted in some cultures but didn’t know about the Turks.. I have a Turkish friend I’ll experiment on her..
zainoba said,
March 3, 2008 at 7:12 am
Love the Eskimos
Ill make sure I put my Thumb Up when Im pissed with someone in Greece
Nicole said,
March 3, 2008 at 8:45 am
Indians say “yes” and keep shaking their heads too
I didn’t know about Bulgaria - strange
Thanks for the lesson!
Bashar said,
March 3, 2008 at 9:46 am
They should come up with standard I say
Olórin said,
March 3, 2008 at 11:59 am
eshda3wa:
Yea exactly..happens even between Arabian countries!
FourMe:
LOOL!! share the results of your experiment with us!
Zainoba:
LOL I hope you come back in one piece! I heard the Greek are quite tough!
Nicole:
Yea lol “acha acha” and shake their heads slightly.
Most welcome, dear one =D
Bashar:
Would save us alot of trouble!
Amu said,
March 3, 2008 at 12:30 pm
lol next time before I travel will check it
Mrm said,
March 3, 2008 at 11:40 pm
i love this post… how about u find out the origin of the middle finger!
Soul said,
March 4, 2008 at 7:03 am
LOOOOL yes the middle finger plz! do ur search ;p
Olórin said,
March 4, 2008 at 9:12 am
Amu:
lol Inshala.
Mrm:
LOL I’ll do so, if I find reliable information I’ll post it!
Soul:
LOOL!
orangina fadidra said,
March 4, 2008 at 12:56 pm
haha imagine me in greece after having a meal and complimenting the chef Thumbs-up :p
and Bulgaria sounds depressing ya3ni why wuld they be so different!
G and L said,
March 5, 2008 at 3:01 pm
I’ll print this page next time I wanna travel
Olórin said,
March 5, 2008 at 7:07 pm
orangina:
LOL..matshofen illa 9a7an yayyich 6ayaran!
I know, a7is tuwihhig!
G and L:
lol! Awesome!
Linus said,
March 6, 2008 at 4:25 am
lol! I always nod
vixenfatale said,
March 7, 2008 at 1:00 am
*shakes hand by turning it half round and back again two or three times* hehehehehehe
nice post !
Outkasty said,
March 7, 2008 at 12:15 pm
sha3b il-Eskimo kharba6 il-mawazeen lol
Olórin said,
March 7, 2008 at 7:41 pm
Linus:
A7sanlik, its not offensive anywhere!
vixenfatale:
lol! thanks!
Outkasty:
They’re awesome! dakhallow il wink bil daily communication! The Bulgarians on the other hand IGLIBOW il mawazeen!
F. said,
March 9, 2008 at 6:16 pm
Very interesting
tilting back and raising the eyebrows is really cute
Olórin said,
March 9, 2008 at 6:26 pm
F.:
The thumbs-up sign in Greece is cute too lol!
KJ said,
March 10, 2008 at 9:05 pm
SO THIS IS YOUR BLOG! TOOK ME AGES TO FIND!
hehehehe @ post lmao
You have to see what happens in the office - we have at least 6 different nationalities and things get quite funny at times!
Olórin said,
March 10, 2008 at 10:04 pm
Welcome!
I can imagine LOL!
Kenneth Leong said,
April 7, 2008 at 9:25 am
How about Indians shaking their heads in a figure of 8 motion?
Olórin said,
April 7, 2008 at 5:20 pm
Yea! Not only Indians, I think it’s also popular in the South Asian area!