1. Intercultural communication requires more than language mastery; understanding local gestures is essential to avoid serious misunderstandings that could ruin important personal or professional relationships.
2. It's fascinating how the same gesture can mean something positive in one culture and be offensive in another, demonstrating that our body language is as culturally conditioned as our words.
3. In an increasingly globalized world, cultural literacy about gestures should be an essential part of any language program or preparation for international travel.