Gestures

They say that communication is 90% body language. But I wonder if the body language of the one to coin the phrase said “I am lying.” Remember what crossing your fingers meant when you were a kid? Regardless, I certainly agree that a significant amount of communication is with your body. I also believe that Indians are far better than me at this. Here are a few of the gestures that I have learned.

the bobble head- Made famous by the tacky dashboard ornament in your first car. Here it is similar. It looks like you are trying to touch your ears to your neck, but not in a rigid side to side movement. More of a flowing loosening your neck movement. This simply means “I acknowledge that words are coming out of your mouth.” It does not mean yes, or no, or I agree, or even that I am listening to you. I just means "I see that you are talking right now." If you want some clarification, an accented “no?” on the end of your sentence will suffice. If the other party agrees he/she will tell you, if they do not agree, don't understand or weren’t listening you will get another bobble head. Occasionally I have switched to spanish in the middle of my sentence. If they respond with a bobble head I know they don't understand or aren't listening.

the raised pinky- If you make a fist raise it parallel with your shoulder, and stick your pinky straight out, as conspicuously as possible. The means “I have to pee.” technically the 2 fingers (pointer and middle) means I have to poop, but I have never seen that used. In the day to day the raised pinky suffices for both.

the wrist of fatalism- This is my favorite. Start with your forearm perpendicular to your body (elbow bent at 90 degrees) palm facing down. Then quickly rotate the wrist until the palm faces up. During the rotation though the pinky and ring finger should be brought in, and the other 3 left out. This is technically is followed by the phrase “what to do?” (except the words sound more like “watudu”), but often the words are left out. This can mean many things. Everything from I don’t know/care to you can pee wherever you want. If you are asking someone a question and are answered by the wrist flick you are free to proceed however you would like.

Drinking hand- This is tricky and I have messed it up a few times. You raise your hand to your mouth as if holding an invisible glass. As it gets close to the mouth you shake the hand. This literally means Drink? Depending on the context it can be do you wanna get a coke with me? or would you like some water? or did you have something to drink? However if the pinky finger begins to inch its way out from the other 3 the gesture will take on a new meaning. Said motion with an extended pinky means “shall we get a beer?” The extended pinky means the drinking will be exclusively alcoholic. Now I work in a very conservative organization, and going up to someone during working hours and gesturing “do you want a beer?” when I mean to say “do you want to go to the canteen and get a soda with me” can be a serious problem.

The flashing hands- Extend one hand (preferably the dominant one) and bring all 5 fingers to a point facing in front of you. Then open (not quite fully though) and close your hand a number of times. People on the road were doing this to me for a week before I had any clue. In brazil this means there are too many people on the bike, and my brazilian friends were completely lost (it is not uncommon to see 4-6 people on a motorcycle). It really only means that your lights are on. It is funny to me because many other abnormal things (cows in the road, people driving into oncoming traffic, pimped auto rickshaws etc.) don’t even receive a second glance. However if your head lights are on that is just over the top, you can be sure you will be corrected.

Hand over the bump- raise your hand to head level and move it in a 1 foot wide semi circle. This means next. Usually used in the context of directions, but that isn’t a hard and fast rule.

The wiggly why- Begin with your forearm outstretched perpendicular to your body (similar to the wrist of fatalism above). Your palm (if you are using your right hand) facing to the left. Open your fingers a bit and and wiggle the wrist. Wiggle as if having a pole running through the forearm into the tip of the middle finger around which the hand is rotating/wiggling. This is best translated as ?. As the recipient it is your responsibility to know what the question is and how to answer it. I like this one also because if I am distributing the wiggly why the burden of communication completely put on the other person.

Invisible sweaty brow- fairly simple as well. bring all fingers to a point and touch to the forehead. Then throw them down as if discarding a sweaty rag. This means “finished” with the implication of “good riddance,” or “I am through with this/that.”

the 5 minute pinch- bring all 5 fingers to a point. Make sure the point is facing directly up to the ceiling and then tap your thumb against the other 4. This literally means “5 more minutes.” However 5 more minutes means “I need more time.” More time could be anything from 30 seconds (it almost never is) to 1 more month. As the recepient it is your responsibility to understand the increments being discussed (seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks etc.)

For example:

Approaching the restaurant:

Security guard: Flashing hands
Me: bobble head.

Enter the restaurant

Me- point to a table
Server- bobble head.

I sit down

Me: Drinking hand
Server: drinking with raised pinky and raised eyebrows (implying question)
Me: exaggerated frown.
Server: bobble head. 5 minute pinch.

Server brings water.

Me: raised pinky
Server: Wrist of fatalism
Me: Wiggly why (meaning I can’t pee here at this table)
Server: Hand over the bump (motioning toward an adjacent open field).

Returning back from the field to sit down

Me. Invisible sweaty brow

Enjoy meal.

;)