I think there are some interesting differences between American and Japanese body language/手真似とかボディーランゲージなど。。
For example, if you want to have someone come toward you, you call them with the bottom of your hand facing down, and moving your fingers. The US way is with our palm/手のひら facing up and moving our finger. It is like the Japanese way of calling a dog...haha
In Japan, the signal for money(thumb and finger making an "O", actually means "OK" in the US. I think this maybe causes a lot of confusion! ^_^
Also, Americans often point with their finger at people. It is a little rude here also, but common. In Japan, maybe people never do it right?
These things are difficult to explain, so I am adding some pictures too. Maybe the pictures are a little strange though...haha
If you have any other differences between American and Japanese gestures, please share them. ^_^
Hi James!
I am also interested in the difference of gesture between US and Japan.
Actually, many people in Japan also use the same OK gesture.
When we want to represent money with our fingers, we use
gesture like this picture which I attached.
It looks similar, but can you see the difference?
I found an interesting webpage whick introduce gesture in US.
http://www.english-net.co.jp/~duke/audio/gestures/
Do you usually use these kind of gestures?
Ok, I see! It's a small difference, but a big difference. ^_^
And thank you for the webpage!
I think I recognize most of these.
If we have food we don't like, we hold our nose to show it smells bad.
If we don't know something(or don't care) we do the shoulder thing.
If we cross our arms, it can sometimes mean we are not patient or becoming angry.(though in Japan this means the person is thinking??)
I cross my arms a lot...but I am not angry...hehe