EMBLEMS IN SPEECH

 

We move our arms and hands when we talk.  This is gesturing, and it’s one part of nonverbal communication.  Gestures fall into two categories – speech illustrators and, you’ve guessed it, emblems.

Speech illustrators support our words the same way tone of voice and facial expressions do.  When you say the word “big” and stretch you hands out wide in front of you, that’s an illustrator and all people, no matter where they are from, use these types of gestures to reinforce their speaking.

Emblems (aka emblematic gestures) are deliberate body movements that are consciously sent and easily translated into speech, such as a thumbs-up, a shush with the index finger to the lips, or a wave that means “hello” or “good-bye”.  They symbolise an idea, they are quick to use and unambiguous, and most people within a culture or group agree on their meaning.  Having said that, a thumbs-up can mean “I need a lift” or “OK”.  Emblems can be still, or they can be in motion.  For example, circling the index finger around at the side of your head says “crazy” and rolling your hand or hands in front of your body means “hurry up”.

Just as different cultures have a different verbal vocabulary, each culture has a vocabulary of emblematic gestures that relates to phrases that they think need a gesture.  Some are easy to guess, others, not so much! Traders on the floor of a stock exchange, umpires, coaches and parents use emblems regularly because noise, distance or environment can make verbal communication difficult.  There are some good YouTube videos to test your emblematic gesture skills (see link below)!

One well known example of an emblem is a ring formed by the thumb and the index finger.  This gesture means “OK/good” in most European cultures including the UK and Ireland, but it translates to “zero” in France and means “anus” in Greece Turkey, Russia and Brazil.

Spot the connection with this emblem!


Contact between cultures might explain the geographic distribution of emblems.  Emblem gestures, with the same meaning, are often found in neighbouring geographical areas that encompass many linguistic regions.  The impact of cultural contact can be very long lasting.  For example, in Northern Italy and Rome, the head gesture for “no” is a horizontal head shake, same as us, but it is a head toss (head jerk up and backwards) in southern Italy.  The head toss emblem is seen in the parts of Italy settled by ancient Greeks more than 2000 years ago and the only other places in Europe where the head toss means “no” are Greece and surrounding areas such as Turkey and Bulgaria, suggesting the head toss probably spread to southern Italy through contact with ancient Greek settlers.

In many parts of the world, the left hand is considered unclean because of its association with ablutions and is avoided in relation to giving, receiving, eating and drinking.  As a result, most people in Ghana consider pointing (another emblem) with the left hand to be rude and disrespectful.   So, when you are travelling the world, do remember that emblems mean very different things in different places.  They are conventional but depend on social knowledge.  Misinterpreting an emblem’s meaning could lead a sticky cultural encounter!

Finally, if you were wondering; no, sign language is not emblematic communication. Sign languages are just that, languages, with their own vocabulary, grammar, syntax etc.

 How well do you know your emblems?

 (opens in a new window)


Jeanie September 2021

Comments

  1. BridgetSeptember 27, 2021 at 2:29 PM

    Get you with your embedded links, wit and handing in early! (I read about this too, did not know these were called emblems). Peace out man

    ReplyDelete

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