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Dragonlady · Last edited by Dragonlady on Sun Sep 26, 2010 7:52 pm; edited 1 time in total

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not related to TESOL

Mrs L · Joined: 20 Mar 2008 Posts: 72 Location: Rainy England

Don't know about the two you asked about dragonlady, but I'll check with hubby when he gets home from work and let you know if he can offer an explanation. Two I still use-

Patting my right elbow with my left palm to indicate somebody is cheap.

Wiggling my right index finger when someone else is talking to indicate that I agree with what they're saying.

I'm guessing there might be some regional variation in these signals. It's pretty complicated for us foreigners though. We don't just have a new language to learn but a whole host of hand gestures too!![/i]

El Gallo · Joined: 05 Feb 2007 Posts: 318

The wagging of the right index finger at you mean no. It's useful in tourist traps or intersections to shoo away vendors but in my native culture it is very rude (like, "shame on you, you are a very bad boy") This was so annoying to me when I arrived in Mexico, I threatened to break my friends finger if he continued wagging it at me. Now I do it and forget when I go to the States. When my brother's friend offered me a cigarette and I wagged my finger at him, my brother asked me what the hell I thought I was doing.

I was angry the first time a student did this to me in class, but now I just teach them the cultural difference.

By the way, is it true it's rude to point your finger at someone in England?

El Gallo · Joined: 05 Feb 2007 Posts: 318

I like the banging on the back of the truck signal when one is backing up.

In Chiapas, a continual "bang, bang, bang, bang" means keep on backing up.
One louder "bang" means stop or, more often, that you have already hit something Razz

deeb · Joined: 27 Jan 2008 Posts: 36 Location: Guadalajara

Actually Mrs L and El Gallo are both right about the wagging/wiggling finger. The side-to-side motion is no and the crooked up-and-down motion of the index finger means yes or I agree.

I personally like the motion of slicing your hand across your chest, like where your seat belt goes, to signify Share!

Samantha · Joined: 25 Oct 2003 Posts: 2038 Location: Mexican Riviera

Great topic, Dragon Lady. It's true a conversation can be carried on across a crowded room. I've always thought it very clever.

I haven't noticed the last two mentioned by DL either so maybe sign language is regional as well. Here are two very commonly used signals in my area. Extend right arm slightly, elbow bent, and put thumb and index finger together (pointing left). It means "just a second" or "I'll be right with you". The other is extending right arm slightly, point downward with index finger and make a rapid circular motion. That means "I will be right back".

MELEE · Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2009 4:22 pm Post subject:

Dragonlady,

I suspect the locals in Veracruz use much more body language, and possibly regional, this would be a great discussion topic with an intermediate to advanced student!

The up down fingure thing is usually verbalized "eso eso eso" a la Chavo del 8.

Personally, I wish the taxi drivers in my town would pay more attention to the traffic and stop having so many sign language conversations with the other taxi drivers on the road. Here in Oaxaca, if the governement does collaspe, it will quickly be replaced by a taxi driver state, I swear they are more common then inscets these days...

TheLongWayHome · Joined: 07 Jun 2006 Posts: 1016 Location: San Luis Piojosi

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

thelmadatter · Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2009 7:28 pm Post subject: minute

Yeah.. I cant figure out why the "wait a sec" sign pisses me off too. It just means "a little bit" for me.

I understand why the wagging finger could get misinterpreted but when I do to to mean "shame" its more of and up-and-down motion rather than side-to-side.

One that got a good chuckle from students was the first time I did my gesture for burp or heartburn, (make fist and touch center of chest with thumb)... looks like "pu�al" to them.

I put my pointer finger in my cheek to signify "innocent" but my BF (maybe ex BF, we'll find out) says that in Mexican sign languge this means "gay" No one's been able to confirm that for ma.

MO39

rafomania · Joined: 25 Mar 2005 Posts: 95 Location: Guadalajara

one i find funny is where you put the tip of the middlefinger on top of the index finger and look through it. It means 'ojo' or 'hello, you are a bit weird'
its a teenager sign.
also find 'wait a munute' annoying, even though i have done it!!

El Gallo · Joined: 05 Feb 2007 Posts: 318

don't point at a rainbow - es mala suerte

Milenka · Joined: 30 Jun 2008 Posts: 113 Location: Mexico City

El Gallo · Joined: 05 Feb 2007 Posts: 318

"- man shaking woman's hand and scratching the palm of her hand with his middle finger"

Oh gross! A male student in his twenties did this to me a couple of weeks ago and even though it was weird and disgusting, I wasn't sure what it meant - how do you say YIKES?

Anyone who does this to anyone else should be slapped in the face.