Reading Body Language - Common Hand Gestures

Walking on two feet and thus having free hands (fore limbs) gives us an unique ability to make different gestures. They are very advantageous during social interactions. There are different categories of under which different gestures fall. Only manipulative, pointing, declarative and territorial gestures are quite common across the globe.

Symbolic and Emblematic gestures vary from one culture to another. Also, meaning of same gesture might have entirely different meaning in two cultures.

Directing ("This way."), Pointing ("It's the thing.") or Blaming ("You are a culprit.")

Skyward/Upward, Ruler's Finger or "One God"

Allowing ("Come here.", "Let it approach.")

Stopping ("It's enough.", "Don't come.")

Blessing or Suppressing

Submission or "Give me."

Powerful, Strong or Winner

Questioning or Demanding

Offering or Picking

Clarification ("Believe me.", "Nothing to hind.")

Helping Hand or Making Clear

No Arms In Hand or Hand Wave ("I'm here.")

Symbolic Pistol or Sign of Shooting

Symbolic Punch ("Beat you") or Power Fist

Related Articles:

1) Words and gestures are alike 2) Body Language Brain 3) Clusters 4) Congruence 5) Proxemics 6) Context 7) Micro Expressions 8) Para Language 9) Common Facial Expressions 10) Common Postures 11) Self-communication by gesturing