In some situations, explaining “on the fingers” is faster and easier than using words. Hand gestures are a normal way of communication for any person. Non-verbal communication is a very ancient form of communication, characteristic of people.
Non-verbal communication
This is a way of communication between people using body language, gestures and facial expressions. This method of communication is international, that is, does not depend on verbal, linguistic. But there are exceptions. It is impossible to separate verbal communication from gestural communication, each of our words and sentences is accompanied by certain signs: facial expressions, the pose in which you are located, unconscious movements of the arms, legs or head. All this makes our speech more lively and understandable to the opponent. For example, when a person is annoyed, he can frown, gesticulate actively and aggressively. When she wants to please another person, she reflexively moves closer, looks into her eyes, girls often begin to twist locks of hair or straighten clothes. Unlike words that we speak consciously and deliberately, non-verbal signs honestly speak of our true emotions and intentions. On the basis of this, a special lie recognition system was even developed.
Few people know how to control their body language. Psychologists and linguists conducted various experiments, which were based on the principles of non-verbal communication. For example, the subject was asked what time it was, while showing a smoking gesture with his hands. People in such conditions get confused, not knowing whether to show the clock, or to look for matches in their pockets.
Sometimes, knowing what the gesture of the thumb and little finger means, a person did not understand why, showing him, they told him to leave. Most of these hand movements are involuntary. Arbitrary, that is, intentional gestures, are an important part of communication. They are symbols and are known to all:
- ok sign (connection of thumb and forefinger);
- “Stop” (extended extended palm) and others.
Over time, the number of signs with hands increases, enriched under the influence of culture. For example, the gesture “live long and prosper” (the index and middle fingers together, the little finger and the ring finger together, the distance between them) came from the cinema.
What does the thumb and little finger gesture mean?
Our fingers are sometimes much more eloquent than words. Consider what the gesture means - 2 fingers, thumb and little finger. The most common meaning for this symbol is a greeting from surfers and Hawaii. They call him “shaka” and during the demonstration they turn their hand to the interlocutor. There are a lot of histories of the occurrence of this gesture, and they are all connected with the fact that people for one reason or another lost their fingers, except for the thumb and little finger. These legends are not meaningless, because if we turn our pressed fingers in the “shack”, it means that the raised thumb and little finger will become a common greeting symbol. This is only one of the interpretations of this gesture. Often we show it when we want someone to call us, as if depicting a telephone receiver near the ear. Some with this gesture demonstrate a desire or an offer to drink.
Dangerous gestures
Like the “shaka” gesture described above, many others have a double meaning, especially different in different countries. For example, a harmless and positive thumb raised, which for us means that everything is cool, super, in Iran is an insult. Do not lure the index finger of a person in the Philippines, because there they only treat dogs. But our not very friendly "fig" in Brazil - a wish for success and good luck. What the gesture of the thumb and little finger in Russia and the world means, we found out, but there are thousands of others. The meaning of all symbol gestures is difficult to remember, so consult before traveling to a particular country so as not to get into a difficult situation.
Other ways to speak without words
As we have already said, there are many ways to express your thoughts without words. All famous charade games are built on this, where you need to guess the word that they describe without words. A person intuitively understands what he is shown. Often, such gestures save people who speak different languages. Some rules of non-verbal communication should be remembered in order to apply them in everyday life. For example, during an interview, you should not cover your mouth with your palm, this indicates a lie or understatement. Even knowing what the gesture of the thumb and little finger means, you should not use it in a formal setting. Crossed arms or legs indicate isolation and unwillingness to communicate. You should not look into the eyes of the interlocutor for a long time or, conversely, constantly look away. The former may be regarded as flirting, the latter as shame or embarrassment.