Introduction.
Gestures are non-verbal body movements, either facial expressions or using hands, that convey meaning or message. Intentional or unintended gestures can highlight or clarify spoken language, show emotions, or communicate without words. Some common gestures utilized in society include waving hello or goodbye, pointing, nodding, shaking the head, indicating size or quantity, and smiling or frowning. Several gestures have common meanings, such as waving to say hello or nodding to agree, but their meanings might vary among cultures (Pouw and Fuchs 1). Certain hand motions are offensive in some cultures, yet others are fine. The “thumbs up” gesture is pleasant in many Western cultures but disrespectful or obscene in some Asian societies. Therefore, gestures must be mindful of cultural variations in international or multicultural situations. Gestures are multicultural because gestures are founded in human physiology and biology and developed to communicate without words. Cultural influences can affect gesture meanings and context. Smiles and frowns are universally understood as indications of emotion. These idioms differ by culture. Some cultures view smiling as courteous or friendly, while others consider it insincere or inappropriate (George 17). Thus, while gestures may have universal roots in human physiology and biology, their specific meanings and interpretations can be shaped by cultural influences, so it is important to be aware of these differences and approach gestures with cultural sensitivity and awareness when communicating across cultures. Different gestures have similar meanings both in Asian cultures and Western cultures but also have gestures with different meanings in these cultures.
Similarities of gestures in Asian and Western Cultures.
Shaking hands is a common gesture to welcome people and show respect, especially during interactions. From formal business encounters to informal social gatherings, shaking hands is generally the initial physical interaction between two people. A firm handshake conveys confidence and strength, while a soft one suggests indifference. The study conducted by Suvilehto et al. (2019) showed that in both Western culture and Asian cultures, such as Japan and Korea, shaking hands has a common meaning attached to it greetings during an interaction. In Western cultures, particularly in formal or commercial contexts, shaking hands is a standard and expected greeting. Confidence and respect are communicated with a firm handshake, whereas a lack of interest or regard may be read from a limp one. Greeting and showing respect through the exchange of a handshake is a common practice in many Asian cultures, and in Japan, for instance, greetings typically involve a slight lowering of the head as a symbol of respect. In modern Japanese society, especially in business situations, shaking hands is expected. As a demonstration of deeper respect and sincerity, shaking hands with both hands is also customary in Asian cultures like China and Korea (Suvilehto 8).
Non-verbal nodding is universal and used as a show of approval or acceptance. Thus, it is a common kind of body language in both Asian and Western cultures. Nodding indicates agreement, appreciation, or understanding in many cultures, and it is important because it can be used to demonstrate agreement, comprehension, or respect without words. Nodding adds meaning to verbal messages, which can help people communicate, especially across cultural and linguistic boundaries. The research conducted by Puppel et al. (2021) showed that Asian and Western cultures utilize and interpret the nodding gesture similarly during communication and interaction. In Asian cultures such as Chinese and Japanese, and in Western cultures, nodding is a frequent nonverbal expression of agreement or affirmation in Asian and Western cultures, and it shows that someone is listening and agrees with what is being said. In Asian and Western cultures, nodding indicates that the listener is interested and attentively listening to the speaker. Nodding demonstrates civility and interest in Asian and Western cultures (Puppel et a. 242).
In many cultures, especially in East Asia, bowing is a nonverbal show of respect, welcome, or acknowledgement. Japan, Korea, and China bow to demonstrate respect, thanks, or apology. The bow’s depth and duration depend on the parties’ social standing and relationship. European aristocracy and high-ranking officials were traditionally shown respect by bowing. Modern Western nations use it less than East Asian cultures (Puppel et al. 224). In yoga, meditation, and martial arts, bowing respects to teachers. European aristocracy and high-ranking officials were traditionally shown respect by bowing, and it is still used when greeting a king or in religious ceremonies. In Western societies, especially subcultures, bowing or other nonverbal gestures demonstrate respect or acknowledge authority or expertise. Bowing to elders, superiors, and people of higher social rank has been a feature of Japanese society for generations. Situation and relationship determine bow depth and duration, and in formal contexts, a deep bow is used to apologize, but in informal situations, a shallow bow is utilized. Bowing shows respect and thanks in Korea, where age, social standing, and relationship can affect bow depth and duration (Puppel et al. 225).
Another gesture with the same meaning and interpretation attached to it in both Asian cultures and Western cultures is the thumbs-up gesture. The thumbs-up gesture involves raising the thumb and forming a fist. In Western cultures, it expresses acceptance, encouragement, or agreement and may represent approval or support. In ancient Rome, gladiators in the Colosseum utilized the gesture to show acceptance, which became connected with good sentiments and spread to various cultures (George 17). In Asian cultures, such as Chinese and Japanese, and in Western cultures, the thumbs-up gesture is used to show positive emotion, support, and approval. In addition, the gesture itself is physically expressive and has a dynamic quality that can convey energy and enthusiasm, and the upward movement of the thumb also suggests progress and positivity, further reinforcing the positive connotations of the gesture. The thumbs-up gesture can be used to show approval or contentment. A person could give the thumbs up to indicate they are having a good time; thus, the thumbs up nonverbal communication gesture is a useful way of communicating across language barriers, as it is a universal symbol recognized in many different cultures (George 17).
Differences in gestures in Asian and Western Cultures
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Eye Contact.
Eye contact is a universal and natural human activity that conveys various emotions, thoughts, and intentions. Eye contact can indicate trust, respect, curiosity, intimacy, dominance, or submission, depending on the environment and cultural norms, and it can assist in fostering rapport and partnerships. Directing face-to-face conversations requires eye contact, and realizing how much one looks inward might be the first step in letting one’s guard down and connecting with others. In Asian cultures like the Japanese, making eye contact has a different connotation than in European civilization. Japanese people consider eye contact unfriendly, unlike Europeans, who perceive it as an essential aspect of communication. In Japan, toddlers focus on their necks rather than their eyes to sharpen their peripheral vision (Choi 9). Western Europeans are better at recognizing eye contact and more likely to deliberately seek out and recognize others’ direct gazes during social engagement; thus, they are less likely to misunderstand averted looks as self-directed. Emotional intensity gained through eye contact varies between Europeans and Japanese, and the two cultures also differ in how eye contact is perceived. Choi et al. (2020) found that Japanese participants were more adept than Americans at reading the subjective emotions conveyed by a model’s facial expressions. The findings of this study imply that cultural display rules play a crucial role in how individuals evaluate the sincerity of others’ manifestations of emotion (Choi 17). These results indicate that cultural differences in display norms influence how individuals understand the intentions behind others’ displays of emotion. Therefore, this research corresponds to the difference in emotional interpretation of eye contact between Asian and Western cultures.
Maintaining eye contact conveys assurance and interest in the other person in Western society. Looking away during a discussion is considered disrespectful in Europe since it conveys a lack of interest in the topic. Maintaining eye contact is often seen as a sign of confidence and self-assurance in a formal European interview (Sicorello et al. 10). Nonetheless, making and maintaining eye contact is forceful and aggressive in Japanese society. When someone looks at them, many individuals immediately look aside or down. It is a sign of modesty when staring someone down might appear disrespectful and confrontational (Sicorello et al., 2019). Therefore, direct eye contact is considered disrespectful, aggressive, or improper in many Asian cultures, especially Confucian ones. In some Asian traditions, averting one’s sight shows respect. Western and Asian cultures are diverse, and people may interpret eye contact differently based on their experiences and beliefs; thus, it is best to be aware of cultural variations and communication techniques when communicating with people from different cultures (Sicorello et al. 11).
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Pointing Fingers.
Pointing fingers is a nonverbal gesture in which a person extends their index finger in a particular direction or toward a certain object or person to suggest, call attention to, or emphasize. Pointing can be done with one or both hands and complemented by other gestures or facial expressions to convey meaning or emotion. The gesture of pointing fingers has different meanings in Asian and Western cultures. A cross-cultural study by Cameron‐Faulkner et al. (2021) showed that although pointing fingers at people is generally unpolite, it is more accepted in Western than Asian cultures. Pointing is unpleasant in Asian cultures. In nations like Japan and China, where pointing directly at someone is considered aggressive and confrontational, people may use their whole hand or nod to indicate a direction or position (Cameron‐Faulkner 273). Asians value harmony and respect for others, especially those in power or of higher social status; therefore, finger-pointing is prohibited. Pointing at someone is challenging this order and a social faux pas. On the other hand, the gesture of pointing fingers is generally accepted in some Western cultures, where it is often used to draw attention to something or someone or to emphasize a point. In Western society, pointing with the index finger is not regarded as aggressive or confrontational, unlike in some Asian societies. Western cultures employ different nonverbal clues and body language gestures to emphasize or direct. It is worth mentioning that Western cultures and countries have various views on finger-pointing. In some European nations, like Italy, finger-pointing is unfriendly and disrespectful, but in others, like the US, it is more prevalent and accepted (Cameron‐Faulkner 275). Communicating with people from different cultures requires awareness and respect for local cultural norms and traditions.
Conclusion.
Different gestures have similar meanings both in Asian cultures and Western cultures but also have gestures with different meanings in these cultures. Gestures can express information and feelings without words. However, gestures are culturally specific and might be misconstrued as inappropriate in other cultures. There are some universal gestures, such as nodding to indicate agreement or shaking the head to indicate disagreement, but there are also many cultural-specific gestures that have various meanings in different cultures. Therefore, gestures must be done based on specific cultural beliefs when talking with people from different cultures.
Works Cited
Cameron‐Faulkner, Thea, et al. “A cross‐cultural analysis of early prelinguistic gesture development and its relationship to language development.” Child development 92.1 2021: 273–290.
Choi, Satoko Hirayama, Akihiro Domae, and Susumu Yamaguchi. “Psychology: the Journal of the Hellenic Psychological Society.” (2020).
George, Michael, and Ondřej Korchan. “Body language and gestures across cultures.”
Pouw, Wim, and Susanne Fuchs. “Origins of vocal-entangled gesture.” Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews (2022): 104836.
Puppel, Joanna, and Alicja Rozpendowska. “Empathic and peacebuilding gestures: an analysis of greeting gestures across cultures.” Scripta Neophilologica Posnaniensia 21 (2021): 221-245.
Sicorello, M., Stevanov, J., Ashida, H., & Hecht, H. (2019). Effect of gaze on personal space: A Japanese–german cross-cultural study. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 50(1), 8-21.
Suvilehto, Juulia T., et al. “Cross-cultural similarity in relationship-specific social touching.” Proceedings of the Royal Society B 286.1901 2019: 20190467.
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