PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION 1

NOTES

GESTURES & THEIR MEANINGS

ONE-HANDED GESTURES

• Beckoning Sign: In North America or Northern Europe a beckoning sign is made with the index finger sticking out of
the clenched fist, palm facing the gesturer. The finger moves repeatedly towards the gesturer (in a hook) as to draw
something nearer. It has the general meaning of ‘come here’. In Northern Africa (i.e. the Maghreb), calling someone is
done using the full hand. In several Asian and European countries, a beckoning sign is made with a scratching motion
with all four fingers and with the palm down. In Japan, the palm faces the recipient with the hand at head's height.
• Blah-blah: The fingers are kept straight and together, held horizontal or upwards, while the thumb points
downwards. The fingers and thumb then snap together repeatedly to suggest a mouth talking. The gesture can be used
to indicate that someone talks too much, gossips, is saying nothing of any consequence, or is boring.
• Check, Please: This gesture, used to mean that a dinner patron wishes to pay the bill and depart, is executed by
touching the index finger and thumb together and ‘writing’ a checkmark, circle, or wavy line (as if signing one's name)
in the air. To signal for the bill in Japan, although not widely used by younger people, both hands are raised, with the
two index fingers forming an ‘X’. This is to signal the 'end' of a meal which is called ‘Shime’ in Japanese. The crossed
fingers represent this sign resembling an ‘X’.
• Clenched Fist: Used as a gesture of defiance or solidarity. Facing the signer, it threatens physical violence (i.e. ‘a
thumping’).
• Crossed Fingers: Used to superstitiously wish for good luck or to nullify a promise.
• Cuckoo Sign, Touched or Screw Loose: In North America, making a circling motion of the index finger at the ear or
temple signifies that the person ‘has a screw loose’, i.e. is speaking nonsense or is crazy.
• The Finger: An extended middle finger with the back of the hand towards the recipient, is an obscene hand gesture
used in much of Western culture.
• Finger Gun: A hand gesture in which the subject uses their hand to mimic a handgun. If pointed to oneself (with or
without the ‘hammer falling’ of the thumb indicating firing), it may indicate boredom or awkwardness in the sense of
wanting to commit (social) suicide; when pointed to another, it is interpreted as a threat of violence, either genuine or
in jest. Between friends, a finger gun can be a sign of acknowledgement similar to a head nod and hello.
• Fist Bump: Similar to a handshake or high five which may be used as a symbol of respect.
• Fist Pump: A celebratory gesture in which a closed fist is raised before the torso and subsequently drawn down in a
vigorous, swift motion.
• Hand Plateau: Extending of an open hand with an upturned palm to indicate an item or person. When swept
horizontally it can signify the entire area. It is considered more polite than a pointed finger.
• Handshake: A greeting ritual in which two people grasp each other's hands and may move their grasped hands up
and down.
• High Five: A celebratory ritual in which two people simultaneously raise one hand and then slap these hands
together.
• Hitchhiking Gesture: Sticking one thumb upward, especially in North America, or pointing an index finger toward
the road elsewhere to request a ride in an automobile.
• ILY Sign: It combines the letters 'I', 'L', and 'Y' from American Sign Language by extending the thumb, index finger,
and little finger while the middle and ring finger touch the palm. It is an informal expression of love.[18]
• Knocking on Wood: A superstitious gesture used to ensure that a good thing will continue to occur after it has been
acknowledged. However, it is sometimes used after speaking of a plausible unfortunate event, so that it does not
actually occur.
• Loser: Extending the thumb and forefinger to resemble the shape of an L on the forehead is an insulting gesture.
• Money Sign: The thumb rubs repeatedly over the tip of the index finger and middle finger. This gesture resembles the
act of rubbing coins or bills together and is generally used when speaking about money.
• Nazi Salute or Fascist Salute: Used in Germany and Italy during World War II to indicate loyalty to Adolf Hitler or
Benito Mussolini and their respective parties. The right arm is raised in a straight diagonal position forward with the
palm open facing downward.
 PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION 2
NOTES

• Okay: Made by connecting the thumb and forefinger in a circle and holding the other fingers straight, may signal the
word okay. It is considered obscene in Brazil and in Iran, similar to the Western extended middle finger with the back
of the hand towards the recipient; similarly, the gesture is obscene in American Sign Language when made with the
other three fingers slightly separated. It is also an insult in parts of Europe, to imply the rudeness or arrogance of the
recipient, often used when driving.
• Outstretched Hand (with palm up): A near-universal gesture for begging or requesting, extending beyond human
cultures and into other primate species. This gesture can also be done with both hands to form a bowl.
• Pointing: Done with the index finger, this may be used to indicate an item or person.
• Raised Fist: A salute and logo most often used by leftist[clarification needed] activists.
• Respect: A gesture made by extending the index, middle, and ring fingers of one hand at another person with the
middle finger raised slightly higher than the index and ring fingers. It is used in restricted circles as a sign of respect
and approval.
• Ring: An Italian gesture used in conversation to delineate precise information, or emphasize a specific point. It is
made similarly to the A-Ok sign, but the ring made by the thumb and forefinger is on top with the palm facing
medially. The arm moves up and down at the elbow. If more emphasis is needed both hands will make the gesture
simultaneously with the palms facing one another.
• Salute: A number of gestures used to display respect, especially among armed forces.
• Scout Handshake: A left-handed handshake used as a greeting among members of various Scouting organizations.
• So-So: This expresses neutral (‘so-so’) sentiment or mild dissatisfaction (‘meh’), or can describe an uncertain situation
(‘maybe’). The hand is held parallel to the ground (face down) and rocked slightly.
• Talk to the Hand: An English language slang expression of contempt popular during the 1990s. The associated hand
gesture consists of extending a palm toward the person insulted.
• Telephone: Thumb and little outstretched, other fingers tight against palm. Thumb to ear and little finger to mouth as
though they were a telephone receiver. Used to say, ‘I'll call you’, or may be used to request a future telephone
conversation or to tell someone of a call.
• Thumbs Up and Thumbs Down: Common gestures of approval or disapproval made by extending the thumb upward
or downward.
• V Sign or Victory Hand: Made by raising the index and middle fingers and separating them to form a V, usually with
the palm facing outwards. This sign began to be used during World War II to indicate ‘V for Victory’. In the 1960s, the
hippie-movement began to use the V-sign to mean ‘peace’, especially in the United States. It is also used in most
coastal East Asian nations, in either orientation, as an indication of cuteness when being photographed. Examples are
China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand.
• Wave: A gesture in which the hand is raised and moved left and right, as a greeting or sign of departure.

TWO-HANDED GESTURES

• Air Quotes: Made by raising both hands to eye level and flexing the index and middle fingers of both hands while
speaking. Their meaning is similar to that of scare quotes in writing.
• Añjali Mudrā (Namaste): A sign of respect in India and among yoga practitioners. It is made by pressing the palms
together in front of the person.
• Applause: An expression of approval made by clapping the hands together to create repetitive staccato noise.
Applause is most appropriate within a group setting, to collectively show approval by the volume, duration, and
clamor of the noise.
• Awkward Turtle: Used to mark a moment as awkward. One hand is placed flat atop the other with both palms facing
down, fingers extended outward from the hand and thumbs stuck out to the sides. The thumbs are rotated to
symbolize flippers.
• Golf Clap: Practically silent clapping of the palms together, to silently approve of something. It may be performed
when loud applause is inappropriate; however, it may instead be done in mockery or to display faux approval.
• Hand-rubbing: Rubbing both hands palms together along the fingers' direction may mean that one is expecting or
anticipating something or that one feels cold.
 PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION 3
NOTES

• Hands Up: A gesture expressing military surrender by lifting both hands. This may have originated with that you
would show that you had no weapons, making you not a threat.
• Hand Heart: A recent pop culture symbol meaning love. The hands form the shape of a heart.
• Open Palms: A gesture seen in humans and other animals as a psychological and subconscious behaviour in body
language to convey trust, openness and compliance.
• Praying Hands: A reverent clasping of the hands together, is an expression used in most major religions during
prayer. The palms of the hands are held together with the fingers extended and touching or the fingers folded upon
the opposite hand. This gesture is often made with the two hands held at chest or head level, the elbows against the
side, and the head bowed towards the hands.
• Slow Clap: A loud clapping gesture in slow motion that signifies disapproval or sarcasm.

OTHER GESTURES

• Air Kiss: Conveys meanings similar to kissing, but is performed without making bodily contact.
• Blowing a Raspberry or Bronx Cheer: Signifies derision by sticking out the tongue and blowing (Lingualabial trill)
to create a sound similar to flatulence.
• Bowing: A show of respect in many cultures
• Cheek Kiss: Pressing one's lips to another person's cheek may show friendship or greeting
• Curtsey: A greeting typically made by women in older times, performed by bending the knees while bowing the head
• Duck Face: A popular gesture among teenagers which involves puckering lips. The gesture is often used as a ‘funny
face’ when taking pictures.
• Eskimo Kiss: A gesture in Western cultures loosely based on an Inuit greeting, performed by two people touching
noses
• Eyebrow Raising: In Marshall Islands culture, briefly raising the eyebrows is used to acknowledge the presence of
another person or to signal assent. It is also commonly used in the Philippines to signal affirmation much like nodding
is used in western cultures. Eyebrow flash is used for various meanings in other settings as well.
• Eye-roll: Performed by rotating the eyes upward and back down; can indicate incredulity, contempt, boredom,
frustration, or exasperation; can be performed unconsciously or consciously; occurs in many countries of the world,
and is especially common among adolescents.
• Facepalm: An expression of frustration or embarrassment made by raising the palm of the hand to the face.
• Genuflection: A show of respect by bending at least one knee to the ground.
• Hand Kiss: A greeting made by kissing the hand of a person worthy of respect.
• Hat Tip or Doff: A salutation or show of respect made by two people removing their hats.
• Head Bob: An affirmative response or acknowledgement common in India.
• Head Shake: Indicates a negative reaction to a query or a rejection in English-speaking cultures; also used
occasionally in disbelief.
• Headbanging: A deep and abrupt shaking of the head, sometimes to whip long hair back and forth. Done in time with
music, headbanging is used as a sign of excitement and appreciation of a performance.
• Kowtow: Shows respect by bowing deeply and touching one's head to the ground.
• Nod: Tilting the head up and down that usually indicates assent in Western Europe, North America, and the Indian
subcontinent, among other places, but a nod also means the opposite in other places, such as Bulgaria. When shaken
once firmly, it is an expression of strong agreement such as ‘Indeed’ or ‘Yes, sir.’ When shaken quickly the person is
indicating a desire to move along with the topic.
• Puppy Face: Tilting the head down with eyes looking up, like a puppy; it has a number of uses.
• Shrug: Lifting both shoulders indicates lack of knowledge or concern. Sometimes the gesture is a palms upwards from
bent elbows motion with possible raised eyebrows.
• Shush: The index finger of one hand is extended and placed vertically in front of the lips, with the remaining fingers
curled toward the palm with the thumb forming a fist; used to demand or request silence from those to whom it is
directed. Can be silent or accompanied by an audible ‘Sssh!’ sound which alone has the same meaning.
 PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION 4
NOTES

• Sign of the Cross: Used in many Christianity rituals, consists of drawing the shape of a cross over one's body or in the
air.
• Throat Slash: Made by moving one's index finger, thumb or entire hand, held straight and with palm down,
horizontally across one's throat; the gesture imitates cutting a person's throat with a blade, indicating strong
disapproval, extreme anger, or displeasure with others or with oneself; alternatively, it can be a signal to stop
broadcasting, i.e. ‘cut’.
• Thumbing the Nose: A sign of derision in Britain made by putting the thumb on the nose, holding the palm open and
perpendicular to the face, and wiggling the remaining fingers, often combined with sticking out the tongue.
• Touching Heads: A gesture to express positive emotions between friends, relatives, lovers etc.
• Woe is Me! A melodramatic gesture of distress made by lifting the arm and placing the back of the hand on the
forehead.
• Yawning, Exaggerated: Generally with one hand held to the mouth, this is used to express boredom.