Gestures I. Universal usage of gestures in communication 1) Gestures are widely used especially in Arab countries. 2) Gestures h

Gestures
    Good morning,everyone. Today we are mainly talking about gestures in communication especially in Arab countries. As we know, (1) gestures are motions of the limbs or body made to express or help express thought or to emphasize speech. Gestures include movement of the hands, face, or other parts of the body. The language of gesture allows individuals to express a variety of feelings and thoughts,from contempt and hostility to approval and affection. Most people use gestures and body language in addition to words when they speak. (2) The use of gesture as language by some ethnic groups is more common than in others, and the amount of such gesturing that is considered culturally acceptable varies from one location to the next.
    Gestures play a major role in many aspects of human life. Gesturing is probably a universal; there has been no report of a community that does not gesture. Gestures are a crucial part of everyday conversation such as chatting, describing a route, negotiating prices on a market. Gestures play a central role in religious or spiritual rituals such as the Christian sign of the cross.
    It was, I believe, an Englishman who said that Arabs fight with their mouths but talk with their hands. Of course, (3) Arabs also talk with their mouths. But they have developed such an eloquent system of the gestures that words often seem unnecessary. Watching two Arabs talking,you begin to feel that you do not have to understand their language in order to understand what they are saying.
    At first it seemed that their gestures could not be classified. But later,certain patterns began to appear. Now I believe that I can make several broad statements. Some of my educated Syrian friends have read them and in general they agree with them.
    1. Gestures in the Arab world are done mostly with the hands. However, some people don’t know how to use all parts of the body to communicate.
    2. Women gesture far less than men.
    3. (4) Arabs who have gone to school use gestures more than those who have not.
    4. Gestures appear to be used to show three kinds of feelings—friendly feelings, unfriendly feelings,or romantic feelings.
    In the Arab world, people like to express their feelings of friendship or hostility in a manner more dramatic than words allow. For example,if an Arab accepts you as a friend, he will place his two index fingers side by side. This is a sign that he considers you to be his equal in all aspects. This gesture has also taken on another meaning. "The two things we are talking about are the same. " In Jordan, if a Bedouin extends his little finger and invites you to lock pinkies. He is offering friendship. The same gesture with the second finger means that you are from now on his enemy. In Syria and Lebanon, these meanings seem to be just the opposite.
    There is also a special way of shaking hands to show the degree of friendship. Between close friends,the hand is held up and out,as though prepared to make a fast gun-draw. Then it is brought down in an arc to meet the hand of the friend in what becomes an explosive contact of flesh. No one can mistake the warmth and vigor of feeling that two friends put into this gesture. When the same friends take leave of each other,each will place a hand oyer his heart. This indicates that each is really sad about the parting. The same gesture is used when one refuses the offer of food or drink. Again, it sends the message of sincere regret.
    If one can read signs of friendship clearly, the signs of hostility are also easy to see. Arabs value friendship over anything else. Perhaps that is why they must communicate hostility in a language understood everywhere in the Arab world. For example, the index finger pointing at each other is one way hostility is shown. If the speaker wishes to show open hatred,he will join his index finger and thumb in a circle and draw back his lips in a snarl. This means"Watch out,you dog! I will break you neck if you continue to make me angry. "Taxi drivers often flash this sign at one another. They know that they could never make their anger heard above the noise of an Arab city.
    If an Arab feels neither friendly; nor unfriendly, he makes another gesture. He places his thumb behind the lapels of his jacket and lifts the jacket gently backward and forward. This is a sign of lack of interest. It says,"It is no skin off my nose, "or "This is none of my business. "
    In the Middle East .gestures are an important part of the way in which two unmarried people approach each other. A man who encounters a young lady in public may run his hand over his hair as a way of saying,"Hello,you cool chick. "If the response is the same from the young lady,it means she is willing to improve the relationship.
    The most common of gestures in the Middle East is lifting the chin upwards to indicate no. it has been given several meanings by women. The toss of head usually means "Absolutely not!" A tilt of the eyebrows while opening the eyes wide,without any gesture of the head,can mean"I think it is not likely,but you may try to persuade me otherwise. " Men use the gestures too. But they cannot give it the range of meaning that women do.
    That is all for today’s lecture. Thanks for your attention.