GEC7- Purposive Communication

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NON-VERBAL GESTURES OF 2 COUNTRIES

South Korea
1. Peace sign
Everyone knows what the V sign is. However, the meaning of this gesture varies
depending on the cultural context. In Korea, the peace sign is commonly used
when taking pictures. Also, it can be used to show how proud you are of
something. For example, when you’re praised by your friend for receiving a full
mark for an exam, you can show this peace sign for “victory.” This is one of the
more common hand gestures in Korean cultures.

2. Receiving and Giving Something to Someone

Giving and receiving an object with only one hand is considered rude in Korea.
This is one of the common mistakes that foreigners make, since doing this
movement with one hand is completely okay in many countries.

In Korea, you need to receive or give something with both hands; this is to show
that you’re showing respect. You don’t necessarily need to do this for your
friends, but you’ll definitely need to use both hands for elders or people of higher
status.

3. Covering Mouth when Laughing

When you travel to South Korea, you’ll notice that many women hide their mouth
with their hand when laughing. This is commonly done by women since it’s very
feminine.

We’re not sure where this popular gesture in Korea originated from. However, it
could be influenced by Confucianism, where it’s believed that public displays of
emotion shouldn’t be expressed to others. Another assumption is that Korean
women are shy in general and by hiding their mouth while laughing, they can
avoid embarrassment (for instance, of food stuck in their teeth).

Example: You (female) are on a date with someone. When he makes you laugh,
use this hand gesture to show your feminine side.
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4. The Double Hand Wave
This is another important body gesture in Korean cultures and is used when you
want to strongly say “NO” to someone. You can use only one hand to say “no” to
someone, but if you use two hands, it sends a strong message that you don’t
want to do. Also, it can mean, “No thank you.”

For example: You spotted that someone dropped a wallet while walking in a busy
street and you hand the wallet over to that person.

5. Two Thumbs Up
The one thumb up gesture is to say (jalhaesseoyo) or “great job,” but if you do
the two thumbs up gesture, it’s equivalent to (jinjja jjangida) or “it’s super
awesome.” This gesture is used only among friends.

Greece
1. Ευχαριστώ! (Efharistó!) — “Thank you!”
Saying Ευχαριστώ! (Efharistó!) or “Thank you!” can be done without even saying
a word, using this common gesture in Greek. Just touch your chest with your
right hand, usually where your heart is, and tap it two or three times. This is a
very popular gesture, which shows gratitude and can be used independently,
even without actually saying a word.

2. Victory Gesture
Raising the hand and showcasing the index and medium finger is used in Greece
to indicate a victory. This gesture is a symbol of peace worldwide; however, in
many countries like Greece, it’s used in cases of success. That said, you can
also spot Greek rappers doing this gesture as part of their performance, aiming
to promote peace.

3. Μη! (Mi!) — “Don’t!”

This gesture is more like a warning. It’s used to warn someone not to do
something. You can usually detect it when parents talk to their children or…their
pets. It includes raising your hand like a fist, with the index finger extended and
the palm facing forward. The hand is then tilted left and right (or vice versa).

4. Μούτζα (Múja) — The Outward Hand(s)

 Yes, this is a unique Greek gesture and is quite rude and offensive. And yes, you
can detect it in many aspects of everyday life in Greece. It’s done by extending
the hand with the palm facing forward and the fingers stretched and apart from
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each other. It can also be done with both hands facing the same direction and
clapping.

Its meaning is obviously negative. It’s used when someone is really mad at
another person, when the latter has done something wrong. You’ll see this often
while driving in Greece, as Greeks tend to be very nervous and expressive
drivers. So, for example, when a driver does something abnormal or exhibits
reckless behavior, the others might lose their temper and do the outward hand(s)
gesture.

We strongly advise you not to use this gesture, as it’s very offensive. If you
happen to receive an outward hand while being in Greece, we recommend just
smiling and apologizing.

5. Snapping Fingers
For Greeks, snapping fingers is not only a dancing gesture; they also snap their
fingers when trying to remember something. In everyday dialogue, for example
when you can’t remember the name of a new colleague, you can snap your
fingers two or three times in order to give yourself some time to think. In addition,
this gesture is often used to motivate others to fill in what you’re trying to say.
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References:

“10 Korean Hand Gestures You Need to Know - KoreanClass101.Com Blog.”

KoreanClass101.Com Blog, www.koreanclass101.com, 15 Aug. 2019,
https://www.koreanclass101.com/blog/2019/08/16/korean-body-gestures/.

“Greek Gestures to Help You Communicate Without Saying a Word -

GreekPod101.Com Blog.” GreekPod101.Com Blog, www.greekpod101.com, 15
Aug. 2019, https://www.greekpod101.com/blog/2019/08/16/greek-body-
gestures/.