[Mella]

Human body language, including gestures and facial expressions, is used to communicate in countless subtle and complex ways. The meanings of gestures and facial expressions can differ from one culture or region to another. I was reading about the different body languages and gestures of Turkish people. I thought it was quite interesting. If anyone has more to add, feel free..

• Kissing each other on both cheeks. This is done to greet each other, and can be done man to man, woman to woman or man to woman. Shaking hands is also used but if you just shake hands this means you are not very close to that person. When you meet a friend, you generally kiss on both cheeks. When you se two guys hugging and kissing each other in both cheeks in Turkey, don't think they are homosexual
  Some very religious people, hovewer, avoid any contact with the opposite sex.

• Turks tend to stare at one another and foreigners more than Westerners are accustomed to. Westerners should not feel singled out or watched when such behavior occurs.

• If you see someone holding their hand with palm up and bringing fingers in toward thumb, this is a compliment and generally means something is "good." It can be done when they like a food, a cloth, or any object. It can also mean they find a woman or man nice and handsome.

• The idle habit of snapping your fingers with one hand and then slapping the top of a closed fist is considered obscene. This may be one of the rudest possible gestures

• The gesture created when a circle is formed by touching the forefinger to the thumb does not mean "ok." In Turkey this symbol means you are a homosexual. It is quite offensive.

• In Turkey, you can see guys (who are close friends) in more physical contact than in the western countries. It is normal to hold the hand of a friend or walk with your arm over your friend's shoulder. This does not mean you are gays, this is a sign of close friendship.

• Nodding your head to the front means "yes".

• Throwing your head slightly to the back while raising your eyebrows up and clicking your tongue at the same time means "no".

• Shaking your head to sides means "I don't get it" or "I don't know"

• Waving your hand up and down to somebody, with inside of your palm looking down means "come here"

• Hand kissing is also a very important and traditional gesture in Turkish culture. It is a way of greeting a person significantly older or than you. In religious holidays, for instance, children kiss the hands of their grandparents. It is also a tradition to give children kissing your hands some money on these special days. The action can be described as follows:
  
  *The grandparent (or older person) puts his hand slightly forward, with the palm facing down. The child (if necessary, bends a little and) kisses the hand offered.
  
  *In response, the older person kisses the child on both cheeks. But this time, it is not simply touching the cheeks as you do with a friend. He kisses both cheeks with his lips

• Raising your chin, moving your eyebrows up and simultaneously clicking your tongue means "NO."
  This one is one of the most different gestures of the Turkish body language.A sharp downward nod means yes.

• It is rude to point your finger or the sole of your shoe toward a person

[Oonie]

Hmmm, most interesting Mella.#Must make more of an effort to look out for these things when I am there next.

Thanks for some more fascinating info. Keep it up girl!!

[**claire**]

Originally Posted by Carmella

.

• Throwing your head slightly to the back while raising your eyebrows up and clicking your tongue at the same time means "no".

This is the one that always get me ..... totally opposite to what we do. to me that would mean yes ..or a nod to mean 'come over here'

[Mella]

Originally Posted by **claire**

[/list]This is the one that always get me ..... totally opposite to what we do. to me that would mean yes ..or a nod to mean 'come over here'

I know, it's so confusing.

In Holland they have even wierder Body language signs.
Like If they find something yummy/nice they shake their hand infront of their ear. I keep cracking up at them...

What sort of gestures do we have in England Claire?! The only two i can think of is the w**ker sign, or sticking up your 2 middle fingers

[**claire**]

I found another one that always confuses me...

Come here/follow me: hand waved downward in a scooping motion, with word Gel gel! ('Come! Come!')

where as we would wave our hand upwards?!?

Carmella..... I cant think of any that we have either ... guess we do them without thinking about it?
you have stated the obvious ones tho!!

[Eline]

Hi Mella,

What are you telling me here, I think the part of Holland you live the people are a bit grazy I never ever seen anybody shake their hand infront of their ear .... oh my God what must that look like??? Make a picture of that and send me....pleasseeee

I really have to think to special gestures we make here... When I think of one I let you all know.

xxx

[Mella]

Well a few i have noticed being done By Dutch people are..

*The waving a cupped hand next to the ear to signal if they find something lekker/nice

*Moving your index finger around your ear means you have a telephone call, not "you're crazy."

*The crazy sign is to tap the center of your forehead with your index finger.

*To indicate when someone is talking 'onzin' (rubbish) or is a mafkees (idiot) they make a little fist with the thumb tucked in, infront of their nose.

Im sure there are lots more though...Plus the body language can also differ not only by country but also by region so maybe they do things different in your area Eline. I dont know hehe

[Andrea]

thanx for all that info, now when i return to kus, i will be watching out out for all of the body languge.

[chocolatehoney]

U know since ive read this post i can actually remember some of my friends making these gestures!! It so interesting how different things can be in different countries!

[Mella]

Originally Posted by chocolatehoney

U know since ive read this post i can actually remember some of my friends making these gestures!! It so interesting how different things can be in different countries!

I know isn't it! I didn't really think much about it until I moved from England to Holland, then i really noticed the big difference in culture right down to the little things like body language.