Pay attention to the interlocutor during the conversation. How often does he gesticulate, thus accompanying his speech? How emotional is he? What actions do the fingers slip?
Many people use their hands during a conversation to give their speech a more vivid emotional coloring. Sometimes, with the help of finger gestures, you can understand what mood a person is in or what he really wants to convey to the interlocutor.
But for deaf and dumb people, hand gestures are the main method of interaction with the outside world, as well as with each other. Therefore, having learned the designation of each gesture, you can easily communicate with such people.
Finger gestures and their meaning, photos with their image will be discussed further.
Which gestures are the most used
Every day, millions of people communicate using spoken language, hands and fingers.
Finger gestures are often used in everyday conversation, and their meaning is clear to everyone. Most common:
- thumb pointing up or down;
- two fingers forming a V;
- raised index finger;
- gesture - middle finger;
- OK gesture;
- sign "goat";
- shaka;
- rubbing the thumb.
These finger symbols are the most popular. But what is the meaning of each of them?
Thumb up/down
Perhaps this finger gesture is the most common. A "thumbs up" is a symbol of approval for something. When a person likes something, he will certainly raise his finger up, as if to say: “This is super!”
The thumb down gesture has the opposite meaning of the sign above. When a person does not like something, he shows his dissatisfaction by putting his thumb down.
The "thumbs up" sign is also used in another version: it is used by "voters" on the road to stop a passing car.
This finger gesture is applicable in different countries, and its meaning can be very different. For example, among Australian residents, a raised thumb carries an insult with sexual overtones. The Greeks use it during quarrels for mutual insults.
Fingers forming V
The index and middle fingers forming the letter V are also a fairly common gesticulation. It symbolizes victory, since V is short for the word "victory". These finger gestures are common in many countries, and their meaning in Russia also does not change.
The progenitor of thishand movements was the English President Winston Churchill. At the end of World War II, he expressed with two fingers an undeniable victory over fascism.
These finger gestures and their meaning are somewhat different in some European countries. V, shown with an open hand, means victory, and the back of the hand - the number 2.
Raised index finger
Index finger up - these are also finger gestures. And their meaning is interpreted based on the name "indicative". Raising a finger, as a rule, is to show something, only the meaning may change depending on the situation.
- A finger pointing towards something acts as a pointer.
- During a conversation, a raised finger can signal: "Attention!"
- The index finger swaying from side to side indicates a ban. The same gesture applies to children as a moral.
- The sign of silence is the index finger on the lips.
Index finger up, finger gestures and their meaning were especially common centuries ago among government officials during important government decisions.
Fingers folded into a ring, or "OK"
The "OK" gesture originated in the United States and was used to confirm that all is well. Over time, this finger gesture and its meaning migrated to other countries. But in the Land of the Rising Sun foldedthe fingers in the ring symbolize money.
Goat gesture
This gesture is familiar to rock fans. At rock concerts, within a subculture, and to demonstrate their love for this musical direction, people bend all fingers except the little finger and index finger.
However, in ancient times this symbol was used to scare away all kinds of evil spirits. Children are also entertained with this gesture, since it precedes tickling. In some countries in Europe and Latin America, the sign "goat" denotes cuckolds, which is an insult.
Shaka
This symbol is expressed as a straightened little finger and thumb, and it is endowed with many meanings. The most common is a “phone call”, that is, in this way they express a request or statement: “Call!”
Another option is to express a desire to drink. When folded fingers are brought to the mouth and at the same time throw the head back. In the "silent" alphabet in Asian countries, this is the designation of the number 6, and in the Russian - the letter U.
Rubbing your thumb with others
When a person mentions money in his conversation, he accompanies his speech by rubbing his thumb on the rest. This gesture is familiar to almost everyone, so as soon as it is performed, it becomes clear what it is about.
The second designation is the moment of remembering, thenthere is when a person has forgotten something and is trying to remember, he performs such gestures.
Latin in Sign Language
The Latin alphabet in finger sign language, whose meaning is the same for most countries, is as follows.
The alphabet, as well as numerical designations, will not cause difficulty, and studying them will help in the ease of communicating with people with hearing impairments.
In addition to the work of the hands, such communication is accompanied by facial expressions, the use of the mouth, the application of fingers to the lips, and, if necessary, the use of body turns. These finger gestures and their meaning are the same in different countries, therefore they are considered international.
Three fingers up
Thumb, index and middle fingers raised up. In the simplest interpretation, this sign means the number or quantity 3. This gesture with the fingers and their meanings in Russia is performed a little differently: instead of the thumb, they raise the ring finger.
In its original version, this symbol is used in Germany, where the count on the hand begins with the thumb. Although initially this gesture was used in the countries of Medieval Europe as an accompaniment to an oral oath of allegiance to the motherland. Therefore, in some cases, it is a symbol of victory.
Raised palm
In most countries, a raised palm indicates a stop signal. This use of it is used during a conversation to stop the interlocutor.
The second designation is "greeting" or "farewell",when the palm is raised for a short time. But among the peoples of Greece, this is an insulting gesture, after which conflict will immediately follow.
Connecting the fingertips of both hands
When the interlocutor puts his fingertips together, you can immediately understand that he is full of calmness and confidence in himself and his knowledge. Such people are stingy with emotions and are very balanced.
Also, the gesture marks the moment of reflection and decision. In this interpretation, it was used several hundred years ago at judicial meetings.
Crossed index and middle fingers
In many Western countries, fingers are crossed for good luck. In Russia, this gesture corresponds to two designations: for good luck and as a cancellation of one's words. When a person makes a promise that he is not going to keep or his speech is unreliable, he keeps his fingers crossed behind his back to "relieve himself of all responsibility" for what was said.
But in the Vatican, showing this gesture to the interlocutor, a person insults him, because in this country such a plexus of fingers means female genital organs.
Inviting gesture with index finger
On the territory of Russia, as well as in many European and Western countries, someone is called by a stretched forward and curving index finger, but it is considered a "slang" symbol and is not used in cultural communication. In Asian countries, this gesture is prohibited. In the Philippines, dogs are called in this way, so its use in relation to a person is humiliating andoffensive.
Kukish
This sign is interpreted differently in different countries. So, among the inhabitants of Russia, this is an expression of refusal, and in a rude form. And for the Brazilians - on the contrary, a symbol of goodwill, who wish good he alth and good luck. Therefore, it is used quite often in this country.
Middle finger
This gesture in most civilized countries is obscene, offensive. It symbolizes the male genital organs, and in this designation the middle finger was used in the days of the ancient Romans.
Fist
When all fingers on one or both hands are pressed to the palm, that is, clenched into a fist, this indicates a person's hostility.
The emergence of finger gestures
The use of fingers during colloquial speech or separately from it began to exist many centuries ago, even at the time of the formation of civilization. Especially often gestures were involved in religions.
Christians used to move their fingers, folding them into various plexuses during the reading of prayers, worship.
Muslims have each phalanx of the fingers, as well as the palm, are endowed with a letter of the alphabet.
In France, when various secret societies were organized, members of these societies communicated with finger and hand gestures. Moreover, the gestures were known only to them and were secret.
In Chinese medicine, with the help of fingers, the whole body was treated by pressing on special points. Therefore, in Asian countries, hands are also a symbol of he alth, and gestures with their help are offensive.signs are prohibited.
Over time, the use of fingers as a way of communication took root in public life and began to be supplemented with new symbols, changing its meaning. Now most people use this method of communication, sometimes unconsciously, expressing their emotional outburst.
For people with disabilities, this is the only way to interact with the outside world. Therefore, finger gestures cannot be ignored when communicating.
