Pay attention to the interlocutor during the conversation. How often does he gesticulate, accompanying his speech? How emotionally does he do it? What actions do the fingers slip?
Many people resort to the help of hands during a conversation to give their speech a more vivid emotional color. Sometimes, using finger gestures, you can understand what mood a person is in or what he really wants to convey to his interlocutor.
But for deaf-mute people, hand gestures are the main method of interaction with the outside world, as well as between themselves. Therefore, having learned the designation of each gesture, you can easily communicate with such people.
Gestures by fingers and their meaning, a photo with their image will be considered later.
What are the most used gestures
Every day, millions of people communicate using colloquial speech, hands and fingers.
In everyday conversation, finger gestures are often used, and their meaning is clear to everyone. The most common:
- thumb pointing up or down;
- two fingers forming the letter V;
- raised index finger;
- gesture - middle finger;
- gesture "ok";
- sign "goat";
- shaka;
- rubbing the thumb.
These characters, composed of fingers, are the most popular. But what is the meaning of each of them?
Thumb up / down
Perhaps this is the most common finger gesture. “Thumb up” is a symbol of approval of something. When a person likes something, he will certainly raise his finger up, as if to say: “This is super!”
The gesture of the thumb down is the opposite of the sign above. When a person does not like something, he shows his dissatisfaction by lowering his thumb down.
The “thumb up” sign is also used in another variant: 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. So, among Australian residents, a thumb raised upwards carries an insult with sexual overtones. The Greeks use it during quarrels for mutual insults.
Fingers forming V
The index finger and middle finger, forming the letter V, are also a fairly common version of gestures. It symbolizes victory, since V is an abbreviation for the word Victoria. These finger gestures are common in many countries, and their importance in Russia also does not change.
The forerunner of this hand movement was English President Winston Churchill. At the end of World War II, he expressed an indisputable victory over fascism with two fingers.
These finger gestures and their meaning are somewhat different in several European countries. V, shown by an open palm, means victory, and the back of the palm - number 2.
Raised index finger
Index finger up - these are also gestures with fingers. And their meaning is interpreted based on the name “indicative”. Raising your finger up, as a rule, is to show something, only the value can vary depending on the situation.
- A finger pointing towards something specific serves as a pointer.
- At the time of the conversation, a finger raised up may indicate: “Attention!”
- The index finger swaying from side to side indicates a ban. The same gesture applies to children as moralizing.
- The sign of silence is the index finger attached to the lips.
Index finger up, finger gestures and their meaning were especially common centuries ago among government officials during important government decisions.
Fingers folded in a ring, or OK
The OK gesture appeared in the United States and was used to confirm that everything was fine. Over time, this finger gesture and its meaning migrated to other countries. But in the Land of the Rising Sun, fingers folded in a ring symbolize money.
Gesture "Goat"
This gesture is familiar to rock lovers. At rock concerts, inside the subculture, as well as to demonstrate their love for this musical direction, people bend all fingers except the little finger and index finger.
However, this symbol was used in ancient times to scare away all kinds of evil spirits. Children are entertained with such a gesture, since it precedes tickling. In some countries of Europe and Latin America, the sign “goat” means cuckolds, which is an insult.
Shaka
This symbol is expressed as the straightened little finger and thumb, and it is endowed with many meanings. The most common is a “phone call,” that is, they express a request or statement in this way: “Call!”
Another option is an expression of desire to drink. When the folded fingers are brought to the mouth and at the same time they throw their heads back. In the “silent” alphabet in Asian countries, this is the designation of the number 6, and in Russian - the letter U.
Rubbing the thumb with the rest
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, therefore it is only necessary to execute it, as it becomes already clear what is at stake.
The second designation is the moment of remembering, that is, when a person has forgotten something and is trying to remember, he performs such gestures.
Sign language latin
The Latin alphabet in the sign language of the fingers of the hands, the meaning of which is the same for most countries, is as follows.
The alphabet, as well as numerical designations of complexity will not cause, and their study will help in the ease of communication with people with auditory defects.
In addition to the work of the hands, such communication is accompanied by facial expressions, using the mouth, applying fingers to the lips, and, if necessary, using body turns. These finger gestures and their meaning are the same in different countries, therefore they are considered international.
Three fingers raised up.
Thumb, index and middle fingers raised up. In the simplest decoding, this sign denotes a number or quantity 3. This gesture is performed differently by the fingers and their meanings in Russia: instead of the thumb, the ring finger is lifted.
In its original form, 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 one's homeland. Therefore, in some cases it is a symbol of victory.
Palm up
In most countries, a raised hand indicates a stop signal. This application of it is used in the process of 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 a conflict will immediately follow.
The connection of the fingertips of both hands
When the interlocutor puts his fingertips together, you can immediately understand that he is full of calm and confidence in himself and his knowledge. Such people are stingy with emotions and very balanced.
Also, a gesture indicates a moment of reflection and decision. In this interpretation, it was used several hundred years ago in judicial sessions.
Crossed index and middle fingers.
In many Western countries, fingers are crossed for good luck. In Russia, two signs correspond to this gesture: for good luck and as the abolition of one’s words. When a person makes a promise that he is not going to keep or his speech is false, then he holds his fingers crossed behind his back to “relieve himself of all responsibility” for what has been said.
But in the Vatican, showing this gesture to the interlocutor, a man inflicts an insult to him, since in this country such a plexus of fingers means female genital organs.
Calling finger gesture
On the territory of Russia, as well as in many European and Western countries, they are calling someone outstretched and bending with the index finger, however, he is considered a “slang” symbol and is not used in cultural communication. In Asian countries, this gesturing is prohibited. In the Philippines, dogs are invoked in this way, therefore its use in relation to a person is humiliating and insulting.
Kukish
Such a sign in different countries is interpreted in its own way. So, among the inhabitants of Russia this is an expression of refusal, and in a rude form. But for Brazilians - on the contrary, a symbol of goodwill, which they wish good health and good luck. Therefore, in this country it is used quite often.
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 even 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 hostile mood.
Finger gestures
The use of fingers during colloquial speech or separately from it began to exist many centuries ago, even during the formation of civilization. Especially often gestures were involved in religions.
For Christians, finger movements and folding them into various plexuses were used during prayers and divine services.
In Muslims, each phalanx of the fingers, as well as the palm, is endowed with a letter of the alphabet.
In France, when various secret societies were organized, members of these societies communicated with gestures of fingers and hands. Moreover, the gestures were known only to them and were secret.
In Chinese medicine, fingers were used to treat the entire body by clicking on specific points. Therefore, in Asian countries, hands are also a symbol of health, and gestures with their insulting signs are prohibited.
Over time, the use of fingers as a way of communication took root in public life and began to be supplemented by new symbols, to change 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 during communication.