The differences in gestures and practices across cultures of the world are a major issue in inter-cultural communication.
Quite troublesome for Americans is the fact that the peace sign is actually taken as showing the finger in countries like United Kingdom, South Africa and Australia. To be exact, the palm should face outwards so that a person is not mistaken in this regard.
While in India and Albania the people use nodding their heads up-down and right-left as signs for “yes” and “no” respectively, in Bulgaria, the gesture is quite different in comparison. In Bulgaria, shaking one’s head left to right means “yes”, while up and down means a “no”.
In America and many other places, a thumbs up is quite a common positive gesture. However, in Iran and several other countries in the Middle East translate the gesture as the foulest insult and it needs to be avoided. Also, in the Muslim world, shaking hands between people of different genders is taboo. Even touching people from the opposite sex and even looking at them is taken as a huge thing there.
In the temples and mosques across Asia, including the ones in India, one requires taking the shoes off before entering the holy places. Going from the American culture, one needs to remember that as it might be very offensive otherwise. In India, eating or touching the food with left hand is taken to be improper as it is meant for body hygiene.
Among these different cultures, for an American, living in the Muslim world might seem most difficult because of the stringent rules and regulations along with the stigma attached with the gestures and actions.
A person from outside the American culture might, on the other hand, miss out on comprehending the amiability of communication here. He or she might come across as too formal or even uninterested to Americans. Also, if a person is from a culture where there are specific customary rules for dining like that in Japan or India, he or she might feel out of place here.
Thus, these differences of comprehension and actions might create communication gap among people from different cultures of the world.
References
Pegg, David. (2012). 25 Cultural Faux Pas You Don’t Want To Commit While Traveling. In List
25. Retrieved from http://list25.com/25-cultural-faux-pas-you-dont-want-to-commit-while-
traveling/
Top Twenty Cultural faux Pas. In Get Lost Magazine. Retrieved from
http://getlostmag.tumblr.com/post/15660466361/top-twenty-cultural-faux-pas
