Intercultural Communication by Amanda Lokys

Books in Nepal

2024-08-01 00:26:00 UTC

In Nepal, disrespecting books is considered rude because books are seen as symbols of knowledge and wisdom. They are often associated with the Hindu goddess of learning, and disrespecting them is believed to bring bad luck and show a lack of appreciation for education and knowledge

Nepal

2024-08-01 00:28:02 UTC

Hinduism and Buddhism, which are predominant in Nepal, consider knowledge sacred. In Hinduism, Saraswati is the goddess of learning, wisdom, and the arts. Books, being symbols of Saraswati, are treated with special respect. It's common practice not to touch books with feet or place them on the ground. Also, Many Nepali customs and traditions emphasize showing respect to elders, teachers, and objects associated with learning. This respect extends to books as they are key tools in the process of education and personal growth.

Writing in Red Ink

2024-08-01 00:30:01 UTC

In traditional Korean culture, it is believed that writing in red ink indicates that person has a desire to be killed/die, as in traditional Korean culture they write the names of the deceased in red ink. In Japan, Portugal and South Korea, red ink is prohibited, as it is believed that if someone writes in red ink, the colour symbolises death/evil. - nelle

Molly- Shoes off inside

2024-08-01 00:30:22 UTC

In many places around the world such as Russia, Norway, Malaysia, Japan, Thailand and many it's considered rude to wear shoes indoors as they bring in dirt from outside into the building, however, in places such as America people wear all shoes inside including boots and heels.

Bulgaria- Eleanor

2024-08-01 00:30:46 UTC

The most common way to show agreement and say ‘yes’ in Bulgaria is to shake your head from side to side, a gesture that in many countries means no. When Ottoman forces would capture Orthodox Bulgarians and try to compel them to renounce their religious beliefs by holding swords to their throats, the Bulgarians would shake their heads up and down against the sword blades, killing themselves. Thus the up-and-down head nod became a defiant gesture of saying "no" to the country's occupiers, rather than converting to a different religion.

Italy

2024-08-01 00:31:43 UTC

In Italy, it is considered unusual to order a cappuccino after 11am. Italians typically drink cappuccinos only in the morning, as they believe milk-based coffee drinks are too heavy to have later in the day. Ordering one past 11am will mark you as a tourist as locals prefer espresso or other non-milk-based coffees past 11.

Thumbs In Afghanistan

2024-08-01 00:32:29 UTC

In Afghanistan, the thumbs-up gesture is traditionally considered rude and offensive, similar to giving someone the middle finger in Western cultures. This cultural difference means that what is seen as a positive or neutral gesture in many countries is perceived as vulgar and disrespectful in Afghanistan.

Giving Gifts in Asian Countries

2024-08-01 00:33:18 UTC

In various countries in Asia, it is disrespectful to open a gift in front of guests. To avoid being seen as greedy and impatient, the opening of gifts should be kept until all guests are gone and should be done in privacy. This practice is in place to preserve modesty, avoid comparison and privacy and adhere to cultural norms and superstitions which state that it is bad luck to open gifts in public. It is also incredibly disrespectful to give certain items as gifts, for example, giving an older person a clock is seen as disrespectful as it can symbolise the person running out of time in life.

Facial expressions- Jayde

2024-08-01 00:33:52 UTC

Many Asian cultures suppress facial expression as much as possible, relying mainly on their eyes to convey and communicate messages. Many Mediterranean (Latino / Arabic) cultures exaggerate grief or sadness using the whole face while most American men hide grief or sorrow.

Purple Flowers - Latin America

2024-08-01 00:33:52 UTC

Sending someone purple flowers in Latin America is deemed inappropriate and often offensive as they are used most often for funerals. They are associated with mourning and death in many parts of the world, but it is most acknowledged in Latin America.

Street names in Japan

2024-08-01 00:35:03 UTC

In Japan, block and section numbers are used instead of names. It's common for someone in Japan to say "I work or I live at block 6." In Japan, they believe by doing this system, areas such as Tokyo or Hiroshima, can be further subdivided into smaller blocks with numbers. Individual losts consist of the same numbers but in Kanji and in reversed order: district, block, and building numbers, postal code.

Harrison D Bulgaria Shaking Head

2024-08-01 00:35:30 UTC

In Bulgaria a shake of the head by a Bulgarian means "yes," and a nod for "yes" actually means "no." According to the legend it was so when the Ottoman rulers asked whether they wanted to convert, they would shake their heads for yes, when they meant no.

Sole of Feet

2024-08-01 00:35:30 UTC

In Singapore, as in many Asia cultures, the foot is thought to be unclean and should not be used to point at someone. The bottom of your feet should never be shown – this is common to a number of countries, including India and China.

Bulgarian Affirmation

2024-08-01 00:35:32 UTC

In Bulgaria, shaking your head means yes and nodding means no. A trait picked up from the Ottomans. According to the legend, Bulgarians swapped the meaning of the signs, so when the Ottoman rulers asked whether they wanted to convert, they would shake their heads for yes, when they meant no.

Bulgarian Head Gestures - Spencer

snewhouse2 — 2024-08-01 00:35:47 UTC

Bulgarians famously shake their head side to side for “yes” and up and down for “no.” This unconventional mannerism is confusing for foreigners and often results in miscommunication between parties, especially when a foreigner is asking a question. Even people living in the country for a long time can be caught out by their subliminal expectations, leading to amusing and sometimes embarrassing results.

Touching- Jayde

2024-08-01 00:36:13 UTC

In the USA, handshakes are common even among strangers, while hugs and kisses are typically reserved for opposite genders or family, with varying degrees of intimacy. African-Americans often touch when greeting but dislike head touches due to patronizing connotations. In Islamic and Hindu cultures, the left hand is avoided for social interactions as it is associated with toilet functions; touching between genders is usually disapproved, but same-sex touching is acceptable. Many Asians avoid touching the head, believing it houses the soul and is endangered by such contact.

Ok Sign Brazil

2024-08-01 00:36:41 UTC

In Brazil it is highly disrespectful to use the ok sign as it can be considered offensive and can mean "you're a big zero" or "you're a real loser." This gesture is viewed as a vulgar or obscene gesture, equivalent to giving someone the middle finger in many Western cultures. The meaning can vary depending on the context and region, but it's generally best to avoid using this gesture in Brazil to prevent misunderstandings or offense.

Albania

2024-08-01 00:39:56 UTC

In Albania, the left hand is traditionally considered unclean or inappropriate for actions such as shaking hands and eating. This is primarily because the left hand is only used for personal hygiene. Shaking hands with the right hand is a common gesture of respect and trust, as it shows that the hand that is being offered is clean and free of germs.

By certain interpretations of Sharia law, amputation of a hand as a punishment for theft has historically been prescribed.Traditionally, the right hand is usually the one amputated.