The Definitive Book of Body Language

Cultural Differences

Estonia

Portugal

Northern Europe

Scandinavia

Middle East

Parts of Asia

Russia

How to Offend Other Cultures

When it comes to inadvertently offending other cultures,

Americans usually take first prize. As mentioned, most Amer-

icans don't have a passport and believe the rest of the world

thinks like them and wants to be like them. Here's a picture of

George W Bush using the signature gesture of the Texas Long-

horn football team, of which he is a supporter. The index

finger and little finger represent the horns of the bull and this

football gesture is recognised by most Americans.

Showing this American football gesture

is a jailable offence in Italy

In Italy this gesture is known as the 'Cuckold' and is used to tell

a man that other men are screwing his wife. In 1985, five Amer-

icans were arrested in Rome for jubilantly dancing and using this

gesture outside the Vatican following the news of a major Long-
horns win in the USA. Apparently the Pope was unimpressed.