Come parlare l’italiano con le mani: guida turistica fa impazzire gli Usa

Summary

In this lesson, the focus is on how Italians communicate using hand gestures, which play a significant role in everyday conversations. The video covers various common gestures, their meanings, and how to use them correctly in different contexts. From expressing frustration with a twist of the finger to signifying secrets, the lesson explores gestures like the iconic 'money' gesture, signaling 'go away,' and conveying emotions like desperation or friendship. The key takeaway is understanding the importance of facial expressions and context when using these hand gestures for effective communication in Italian culture.

Takeaways

• 😀 Italians communicate a lot through hand gestures, forming an essential part of their daily conversations.
• 💰 The money gesture, made by moving fingers like you're counting cash, expresses the economic situation or concerns about money.
• 🚫 The 'no' gesture is commonly made by moving the hand away with a backward motion.
• 🍝 To express that food is delicious, Italians may rotate their finger, but be careful with the gesture as it could mean something different.
• 🤪 A circular motion of the fingers signifies that something is crazy or outrageous in Italian culture.
• 👋 A simple hand motion directed away from the body indicates 'go away' or a request for someone to leave.
• 👯 The gesture of bringing hands together, often with a smile, expresses friendliness or a question like 'Shall we go?'
• 👎 When something is bad or undesirable, Italians use the pinkie finger to show disapproval.
• 🤫 A classic secret gesture is made by putting a finger to the lips or signaling 'don't speak'—this relates to keeping a secret.
• 😩 The gesture of despair, often involving the hands in a distressed manner, asks 'What do you want from me?' or 'What's going on?'
• 🏖️ To describe something far away, Italians stretch their fingers apart to emphasize the distance.
• 😍 A gesture used to express admiration, often when commenting on someone's attractiveness or intelligence.

Q & A

What is the meaning of the hand gesture where you twist your finger in Italian culture?

The gesture of twisting the finger in Italian culture typically indicates that something is very good, like saying the food is great. However, if you make a different finger movement with the same gesture, it can be interpreted as crazy, especially in the U.S.

How do Italians use hand gestures to convey the concept of 'money'?

In Italy, the hand gesture to indicate 'money' is made by bringing the tips of your fingers together and shaking your hand up and down. This is often used to express frustration about the economic situation.

What does the hand gesture where you make a fist and push it away from your body signify?

This gesture, where you push a fist away from your body, is used to tell someone to 'go away.' It is a clear way of expressing that you want the person to leave.

What does the gesture where you form a circle with your index finger and thumb and rotate it mean?

This gesture means that something is crazy or ridiculous in Italian. It is an informal gesture and should not be confused with similar gestures in different cultures, as it may have different meanings in other countries.

What is the importance of facial expressions when using Italian hand gestures?

Facial expressions are crucial in Italian hand gestures because they help convey the true intent behind the gesture. The face indicates whether the gesture is meant to be friendly, serious, or even hostile.

What does the gesture where you point with your pinky finger signify?

The pinky gesture, when made with a serious or angry expression, is used to indicate something bad, often as a form of criticism or disapproval.

What is the meaning of the 'under the table' gesture in Italian culture?

The 'under the table' gesture is used to symbolize something secret or hidden. This can refer to confidential matters or actions that are being kept from others, and is also linked to the Italian expression 'acqua in bocca,' meaning to keep quiet or not reveal a secret.

What does the iconic 'what do you want from me?' gesture represent?

This gesture, where the hands are held out with the palms up, often signifies confusion, frustration, or a sense of being overwhelmed, like asking, 'What do you want from me?' It's a gesture of exasperation.

What does the gesture for 'watch out' look like in Italian culture?

The 'watch out' gesture in Italian culture is made by holding the hand up, usually with the palm facing out, as a way to warn someone to be cautious or alert to a potential danger.

What does the gesture indicating 'far away' mean in Italian?

In Italian, the gesture for 'far away' is often used when talking about something or someone distant, either in space or time. It is commonly used to emphasize the distance or long wait involved.