“The Principles of

Diplomacy and Diplomatic

Work”
Lecturer: N.M. Protsun

E-mail: Natalia.protsun@uacu.edu.ua
Lecture 15. Specifics of business communication, ethics and norms of
diplomatic protocol in foreign countries

1. Gestures Around the World

2. Social Networks
Project
1. Gestures Around the World

Experts believe that between 65% - 93%

of communication is non-verbal. Body
language is rarely misinterpreted.
This includes physical contact and body
language, which can be both
intentional and unintentional.
Similar Signs,
Different Meanings
A look into hand gestures and their meanings
for different cultures
Consequential Misunderstandings
Scenario One:
You’re vacationing in Greece and
playing a soccer with a few locals.
After your teammate scores a goal,
you give your him a thumbs-up to
congratulate him.
What did you say to him?
You unintentionally said, “Up
yours.”
Scenario Two
You’re dining in Germany when a
waiter asks how your dish is.
You’re chewing and don’t want to
be rude, so you give him the “A-
Okay” sign.
Why does he storm away in anger?
Because you really just called
him an “A**hole.”
 America

“The best advice to Americans abroad is to keep your hands in your

pockets, lest you be gravely misunderstood.”
~ Bill Kaczor, AP the Los Angeles Times.
America
Fact
In an Air Force base in Florida, a captain gives servicemen there a
crash course in international body language.
In these men’s travels, misinterpretation can cause unnecessary
friction or even jeopardize missions:
• The thumbs-up gesture in the Middle East is an insult
• The “A-OK” is neutral in Japan, an insult in France, and a homosexual request
in Malta
America
Cultural Gestures
Beckoning Finger
Beckoning sign, “come here”

A-OK Sign
Sign of approval or praise

“V” Sign
With palm out it means “peace”;
with palm in it stood for victory.
America
Cultural Gestures (cont.)
Thumbs-Up
Sign of approval

Middle Finger
General insult, “up yours”
United States vs. France
Similar gestures take on different meanings
In France, the middle
finger takes on the same
meaning as it does in the
United States. However,
the A-OK sign here is also
used as an insult meaning
“you’re a zero” or
“a**hole”. This is a
perfect example of why
diplomats and
businesmen should be
careful about using hand
gestures while traveling
abroad.
Japan
In Japan, it is very easy to make a social faux pas.
Listening is a necessity in polite conversation, and the
way one holds a business card can send either
positive or negative messages.
In terms of hand gestures, on the other hand, making
social mistakes is much less likely.
Japan
Cultural Gestures Cultural Gestures
(Positive or neutral) (Negative)
Thumbs-up Beckoning Finger
“Number One Reference to dog or
A-OK animal, offensive
gesture
“Money”
Fig Sign
Waving Open-palm in
General insult
front of face meaning “screw you”
“I don’t deserve this”
or “I don’t understand”
Germany
Generally speaking, German non-verbal communication is rather
difficult.
A knuckle tap on a table of multiple people is a proper way to greet,
while a finger wave is a proper way to bid farewell.
Appreciation may be shown by putting clasped hands over one’s
head.
However, Germany’s hand gestures make it easier for the culturally
unaware to make social blunders.
Germany
Cultural Gestures Cultural Gestures
(Positive or neutral) (Negative)
Middle Finger
Thumbs-Up
General insult, “Screw
“Number One” you”, signifies male
A-OK Sign (in some genitalia
parts of Germany) Fig Sign
Used to mean Screw you
“Perfect” A-OK (some parts of
Germany)
“A**hole”
“Homosexual”
Italy
The weight bared by non-verbal means of communication is very high
in Italian culture.
Physical contact is more than acceptable, it is commonplace and
includes long, firm handshakes, embraces, kisses, etcetera.
The Italian stereotype concerning talking with hands holds very true,
for hand gestures are almost never absent from conversation, and
misinterpretation is something a tourist would want to avoid.
Italy
Cultural Gestures Cultural Gestures
(Positive or neutral) (Negative)
A-OK Sign Umbrella Gesture
Used to signify “Go to Hell”
“Perfect” or Under-chin Wipe
“Exceptional” in some “I don’t care” or “Screw
parts of Italy off”
Thumbs-Up A-OK Sign
Sign of approval General insult
“V-Sign” (palm in)
Female genitalia
Video 1
Three Gestures That Require Cautious Use

Thumbs-Up
Germany – “Number one”
China – Excellent
Japan – Boss or husband
America – Sign of approval
Australia- Sign of approval
Greece – “Up yours”
Middle East – Obscene
gesture
Three Gestures That Require Cautious Use

A-OK Sign
America, England – “A-OK”
Japan, China – Money
France – “You’re a zero”
Germany – “A**hole” or
“Homosexual
Greece, Spain- Vulgar
Three Gestures That Require Cautious Use

“V” Sign
America – Peace; Victory
England, Nigeria – Vulgar
expression signifying
female genitalia
Australia, Italy, Ireland - Insult
Wrap-Up
 Gestures are rarely universal across cultures

 Make Sure you familiarize yourself with cross-culture

gestures if you want to avoid misunderstanding

 Don’t be culturally ignorant!!!

 Some gestures, however, are almost universal- so use

common sense!

Handshakes Video 2, Video 3

 2. Social networks
Do Don’t Complete & Update Your Social Media Profiles
Be a Spammer
Be Needy
Separate Business & Personal Accounts
WRITE IN ALL CAPS
Share Thoughtfully
Complain
Help More Than You Sell
Share Without Researching First
Prioritize Your Networks
Interact With Your Audience and Clients
Match the Right Content to the Right Network
Obsess on the Numbers
Source: https://www.outboundengine.com/blog/social-media-etiquette-for-business-25-dos-donts/
Works Cited
Books
Chen, Guo-Ming. Foundations of Intercultural Communication. Needham Height, MA: Allyn & Bacon,
1998. Print.
Benthall & Polhemus, . The Body as a Medium of Expression. USA: E.P. Dutton & Co., Inc., 1975. Print.
Websites
http://www.languagetrainers.co.uk/blog/2007/09/24/top-10-hand-gestures/
http://books.google.com/books?id=GbsNAAAAQAAJ&lpg=PA207&ots=kh6HeRkroj&dq=Morris%20
Collette%20Marsh%20O'Shaughnessy&pg=PA207#v=onepage&q=&f=false
http://web.ebscohost.com/src/detail?vid=10&hid=13&sid=4da2ade7-5616-461e-87e5-
7925efd909e2%40sessionmgr10&bdata=JnNpdGU9c3JjLWxpdmU%3d#db=mih&AN=2
5016402#db=mih&AN=25016402#db=mih&AN=25016402
http://web.ebscohost.com/src/detail?vid=24&hid=13&sid=4da2ade7-5616-461e-87e5-
7925efd909e2%40sessionmgr10&bdata=JnNpdGU9c3JjLWxpdmU%3d#db=mih&AN=1
5666505#db=mih&AN=15666505
http://soc302.tripod.com/soc_302rocks/id6.html
http://www.lcdf.org/xwrits/GESTURES
http://articles.latimes.com/1989-03-12/local/me-937_1_cultural-differences
Images
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3436/3256728147_babdaa0cc6.jpg
http://www.languagetrainers.co.uk/blog/2007/09/24/top-10-hand-gestures/
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_G40XXYGSRhc/SbVyTJ6qVdI/AAAAAAAAACw/Po2Lz3AC7Ms/s320/mw1.gif
http://wwwdelivery.superstock.com/WI/223/1320/PreviewComp/SuperStock_1320R-202386.jpg
http://www.citizenofthemonth.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/aok.jpg