A crash course in Italian hand gestures

     It’s a well-known fact that Italians are gesturing a lot, more than other nations, that’s why they seem so emotional. Italians use around 250 gestures daily, according to an article in the New York Times. According to the text, one of the reasons why people gesticulate is "to make yourself more visible, to make the body move more – to take up a bigger space". There are different kinds of gestures: some of them can indicate character traits and express feelings, others can insult people. To sum up, non-verbal communication is important especially when you are travelling. It has both sides: the person can be hurt by gestures or can be understood without words. Sometimes it’s more convenient to show your intentions, requests or delight by gestures. However, don’t forget to be careful in your gesticulation. Different countries understand and define gestures in different ways. That’s why the author of the article gives advice to keep in mind most common and necessary gestures which can help you in your holidays in Italy.

Pinch your fingers together
and moved your hand up and down
for "what do you want?"

     To Italians, gesturing comes naturally. But it doesn’t mean that other nations freeze up and place his arms flat against the sides while they are talking. They gesticulate too but not so loud. I’ve read in other article that some Italians joke that gesturing may even begin before birth. They joke that in the ultrasound the baby is saying to doctor what he or she wants from him or her. In my opinion, the article will be useful for people who are going to visit Italy. Indeed, the main point is to help people to avoid misunderstandings with native speakers during their holidays.

     For my groupmates. Do you learn gestures before going abroad? Do you know gestures which have one meaning in our country and absolutely different in others? Give an example. Can you tell that sometimes you feel yourself like an Italin (I mean that you are gesturing a lot)? Have you ever seen native Italian-speakers? Are they really so emotional?

P.S. Some gestures were just described but not illustrated, that’s why I decided to add some of them which have been already mentioned in the article.

   Knock with the fist of one hand on the palm of the other for "stubborn".

Pull down the skin below your eye with your index finger to indicate "cunning, and not necessarily in a good way".

 Raise both hands to say "So sorry", "I surrender" or "Thank you!" – choose your context carefully.

 Put your two index fingers side by side and press together, and people are getting along, and possibly having sexual relations.

Set your two index fingers with the tips against each other and people really aren't getting on.

     The article is taken from “The Guardian”. (http://www.theguardian.com/world/shortcuts/2013/jul/02/how-speak-italian-with-hand-gestures).