American Body Language: Personal Space and Gestures

More advice to pass along to your learner about American social norms.

Help your learner understand the importance of what's known as personal space in the U.S. And the meaning of numerous gestures too! 

Personal space:

Although some Americans like to be affectionate and "touchy," others prefer to maintain a definite amount of physical distance in social and business settings.  

For example, when waiting in line, sitting in a waiting room or having a conversation, the amount of distance tends to vary, and depends very much on how much room there is to spare. 

So advise your learner that he should take cues from what he sees around him, and that he should try to match his physical distance from others based on what he sees others do. Then describe how close is "too close" in various settings, and explain the importance most Americans place upon having sufficient personal space. 

Let your learner know that standing too close can be considered rude or invasive in the U.S., and can be misconstrued as a hostile act of challenge or intimidation. Also pass along that the U.S. convention is to use the phrase "excuse me", "I'm sorry" or even the truncated "Sorry!" when we mistakenly brush up against someone we don't know. 

Gestures:

Some of the gestures in day-to-day use in the U.S. are likely to be unfamiliar to, or have a different if not offensive meaning, to someone from another culture. 

For example:

In the U.S., the "O.K." gesture,. made with thumb and forefinger typically means "okay" or "understood."

In France, however, it can be taken to mean "zero" or "worthless", whereas in Brazil, the O.K. gesture with thumb and forefinger can be seen as a gesture as offensive and hostile as the U.S. middle finger. 

In the U.S. thumbs-up indicates approval or "good work!"  

Yet, in Italy and the Middle East, it can be taken as an offensive gesture meaning "up yours" -- very different from the US interpretation! 

In the U.S., an American waves his hand to say good-bye. 

In Latin America, a wave of the hand means "no."  

In the U.S., an American may beckon a friend with the index finger. 

In the Middle East, Spain, Latin America and Asia, however, the gesture is offensive, as it's used only to beckon a pet or an animal. In those cultures, it's common to beckon with the whole hand, palm down. 

In many Eastern cultures, speakers may gesture with the middle finger as a pointer.  But in the U.S....well, we all know what the middle finger means!

Let your learner better understand U.S. interpretations of gestures to avoid misunderstandings and social faux-pas! 

For more information on body language and gestures, see my previous post on eye contact and handshakes. 

And for more information on the meanings of body language and gestures in other cultures, see communicating with gestures from esl.net

Happy Tutoring!

Jiyoung

Jiyoung Song
Programs and Social Media Intern, English At Large
Dartmouth College, Class of 2016

*These facts come from an online source.

ENGLISH AT LARGE
Literacy and Learning for Life
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