Arnold (et al),
I have been told, and have read in a book whose name I don't have in my
head right now (but will forward if/when I recall it), that the gesture is
considered somewhat obscene in some Latin American countries, Brasil being
particularly sensitive to it.
This is an awkward thing for me, as I am a scuba diver and that sign is
universally used in scuba to indicate "OK" (that the diver is safe and not
having problems) --- when I was diving in Brasil in December, I learned
that the diving community there has just had to accustomize themselves to
this sign but new divers in Brasil sometimes giggle nervously the first few
times they use it.
The book I mentioned above is titled something like "Dos and Taboos Around
the World"; I'm fairly certain of the first words and less of the remainder.
Sorry the news isn't simpler,
Jim
At 08:04 28-01-1998 -0500, Winkler, Arnold F wrote:
>Friends,
>
>This is an unusual request on these lists, but I know that some of you
>will have an answer to the following question:
>
>We are planning an advertisement that would show a person making the OK
>gesture (thumb and index finger in a circle with other 3 fingers
>straight). Could this be misconstrued as a vulgar gesture in some parts
>of the world?
>
>Is there a listing of what gestures are appropriate?
>
>Your input is very much appreciated.
>Thanks and regards
>Arnold F. Winkler - Standards Management
>Tel: 610-648-2055, (Unisys NET-385-2055)
>Fax: 610-695-5473
>E-mail : Arnold.Winkler@unisys.com
>
========================================================================
Jim Melton --- Senior Architect, Standards Phone: +1.801.942.0144
Sybase, Inc. Email: mailto:jim.melton@sybase.com
1930 Viscounti Drive Personal email: mailto:jim.melton@acm.org
Sandy, UT 84093-1063 Fax (by prior arrangement only): +1.801.942.3345
USA
========================================================================
= Facts are facts. However, any opinions expressed are the opinions =
= only of myself and may or may not reflect the opinions of anybody =
= else with whom I may or may not have discussed the issues at hand. =
========================================================================
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.2 : Tue Jul 10 2001 - 17:20:39 EDT