My opinion of page N.- 8- Gestures and Custom:
In my opinion, we often believe that knowing a language, like English, means we can easily communicate anywhere in the world. However, this interview with June Galloway made me reflect on how important nonverbal communication, such as gestures and body language, also is.
For example, something as simple as a greeting or a hand gesture can have completely different meanings depending on the country. A gesture that may be friendly in my culture may be seen as rude or even insulting in another. I find this very interesting, but also a little worrying, because you can inadvertently offend someone without any ill intent.
Finally, it struck me that common things like pointing or giving a thumbs-up aren't universal, and in some places they're considered rude. This shows how important it is to educate yourself and respect the customs of others, especially if you're traveling or living with people from other cultures.
In my opinion, we often believe that knowing a language, like English, means we can easily communicate anywhere in the world. However, this interview with June Galloway made me reflect on how important nonverbal communication, such as gestures and body language, also is.
For example, something as simple as a greeting or a hand gesture can have completely different meanings depending on the country. A gesture that may be friendly in my culture may be seen as rude or even insulting in another. I find this very interesting, but also a little worrying, because you can inadvertently offend someone without any ill intent.
Finally, it struck me that common things like pointing or giving a thumbs-up aren't universal, and in some places they're considered rude. This shows how important it is to educate yourself and respect the customs of others, especially if you're traveling or living with people from other cultures.