“Gestures: The Do's and Taboos of Body Language Around the World”
Never use your thumb to hitchhike in Nigeria; it could be hazardous to your health. And under no circumstances should you indicate "OK" to a German using your thumb and forefinger to form a circle--it would be rude. This revised and expanded edition of Gestures covers the many intricacies of body language across many cultures.
Written by best-selling author, Roger E. Axtell, the reader is taken on a complete tour from head to toe--from hello's and good-bye's, to endearments and insults. It explains where and why such routine gestures as flashing the OK sign can get you punched in the nose and why beckoning to a waiter can be a perilous adventure. Covering everything from the dilemmas surrounding Japanese bowing to the best way to signal a waiter in southern Europe, this book is vital for any international traveler who wants to ensure coming home in one piece! In addition, the book utilizes humor as the reader learns through his or her travels.
The book is broken up into six pertinent chapters. The Power of Gestures explains and helps readers understand the larger world past their own backyard. Axtell discusses vital cultural differences that need to be recognized by the world traveler. The second chapter, The Most Popular Gestures, describes a few of the gestures that have been recognized and accepted the world-over (for the most part). Gestures: Head to Toe is an illustrated listing and discussion of gestures in which the author describes what each gesture means and where it is used.
Next, Axtell includes what he refers to as The Ultimate Gesture in the fourth chapter. He notes that this is the only gesture that is truly universal. It is rarely misunderstood and as you travel, it very well may help you slip out of difficult situations. And, what is this giant of all gestures? Quite simply, it is the smile.
The Innocent Abroad's Shortlist is a key for all travelers to read. This chapter covers twenty gestures most commonly used by North Americans that could cause trouble and/or confusion. Finally, he concludes with a country-by-country listing which includes the gestures and body language used in each country and when it is (and isn't) appropriate.
The cornerstone of culture is language. Language is a vehicle for thought and we use it to communicate and express ideas. Gestures and other body language communicate as effectively as words - maybe even more effectively. Gestures can communicate love, confusion, anger, pride, and so many others. An example of a gesture that communicates love is a baby's smile. Can words possibly duplicate that unique sight of happiness being communicated? Another example is the nod. As we all know, nodding the head up and down signals "yes" and shaking it back and forth means "no." (But beware, these gestures hold different meaning outside of America.)
Simply recognizing that everyone on this globe, this earth, is different is the key to any successful communication. Understanding the many cultures in the many countries of the world are different -- they all have their own histories, their own traditions, customs, and gestures -- leads to friendly relations and less arrogance or ethnocentrism between peoples. Axtell said, "More and more Americans, along with our neighbors in the global village, are discovering the power - and the surprises - of gestures and body language." (Axtell,2)
I have deep interest in the areas of kinesics and proxemics, so I knew this book would be a fast, enjoyable read. I felt the layout of the book was well organized into sub-sections and easy to follow. Certainly, the illustrations and anecdotes help the reader understand the gestures by providing a visual picture and 'story' to go along with it.
I was happy to see that Axtell noted that his book by no means pretended to be 'the source' for gestures and as well included the issue that there are so many still out there that have yet to be defined. He issues a challenge to the reader to come up with possibilities for a few new gestures such as a polite way to signal to another driver that he has forgotten to turn off his turn indicator (the number one 'pet peeve' of drivers universally).
The section I enjoyed most was the country by country breakdown of gestures belonging to the particular cultures. I have found over the past year through genealogy research just how 'European' I really am. I am Welsh and Danish for the most part, so I had lots of fun reading about those countries. My husband is Norwegian so this was fun for him as well.
Because I have lived in many countries and been engrossed in each country's respective culture, many of the gestures and customs were not totally new to me. But then again, there were some that I had no knowledge of and it was fun to learn just how different as well as just how alike we all are.