making assumptions
By jb78000
@jb78000 (15139)
August 16, 2009 5:20am CST
what cultural differences have you been surprised at when abroad? i think most of us assume that facial expressions are universal but i've just read about a report that suggests some at least are not http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8199951.stm
for a long time i thought that shaking your head and nodding meant the same everywhere. then i visted bulgaria. (actually i think in this case it's revenge on neighbouring greece for the greek word for yes being the same as the bulgarian word for no...)
2 people like this
5 responses
@sutent (1060)
• China
16 Aug 09
Hi,
I never see tha related research before. From my personal experience, it seems right. I judge the other's emotion or express my emotion mostly by eyes character. I am not sure of western people's situation. No comment on their facial expression. BUt i think culture difference defenitely do some contribution to it.
Happy mylotting!
1 person likes this
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
16 Aug 09
Hi jb, well here in Greece the head is shaken from side to side to mean yes, also the word no is rarely used but replaced with a loud tut whilst the head is raised up then down, in the more usual gesture of yes. It is a great insult to show ones palm in a raised gesture so one needs to be very careful whilst waving to someone from a car.
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
16 Aug 09
Hi jb, no I'm in Southern Greece on the mainland, I don't know if our gestures here are the same in the north but they are the same when the Athenians descend at holiday time. But then again most of those who descend have roots in villages in this area. I'm pretty sure that the loud tut with upward movement of the head is pretty universal.
Now you've set me thinking and on my next cafenion visit I will check out if the locals tut and shake at the tourists, I'm pretty sure it's an ingrained gesture and they do it to everyone. Certainly my son and his friends drive me mad when they are in the back of the car and don't answer a question with a simple no, but sit there tutting and nodding when I can't actually see them.
@maximax8 (31042)
• United Kingdom
16 Aug 09
I went to Bulgaria and tried not to nod or shake my head for it would have been confusing for the local people. I had many problems with the language barrier there and I had a misunderstanding whilst trying to purchase a train seat. I try to avoid hand gestures overseas because they can be misunderstood. My mother tongue language is English but the words are different. We say lift and Americans say elevator. We say trousers and they say pants. In my home country eating with the left hand would be acceptable but that certainly wouldn't be the case in Sumatra. In Eilat Israel and the ladies had bikinis and swimming costumes on but just over the border in Jordan the ladies were fully clothed accept for their eyes. It was just as hot and the clothing couldn't have been more different. I kept my arms and legs covered to be respectful to them.
@danrunsfast614 (1396)
• United States
16 Aug 09
I have never really experienced this but I find it very interesting. Thanks for the enlightenment. Happy Mylotting.
@PeacefulWmn9 (10420)
• United States
16 Aug 09
Hi Jb. Although I've never been abroad, I hope to be able to do so in the future. Good to know about these things. It may explain why when I read books, it sometimes refers to a person "shaking his head yes," or "nodding her head no." That is just the opposite of what those gestures mean in the US.
Karen
