Language/Amharic/Culture/Threatening,-Harassing,-or-Disrespectful-Body-Language
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
Rate this lesson:
Threatening, Harassing, or Disrespectful Body Language in Ethiopia
- Wagging the fingers to and from you with the palm down and with (usually) the arms stretched means ‘come.’
- Pointing the index finger towards an individual and then moving the hand forwardand backward (“don’t you dare”) indicates warning.
- Waving the index finger left and right means no.
- Biting ones own lower lip, especially if it is accompanied by nodding forward and backward, means threatening someone.
- Putting hands in the pocket while talking with elders shows disrespect.
- As in America, raising a middle finger with the palm up while the remaining fingers are folded is an obscene and offensive gesture.
Consider exploring these related pages after completing this lesson: Ethiopian Cuisine, Ethiopian Holidays and Festivals, Sexual Harassment in Ethiopia & Threatening Safety Tips for Female Volunteers.
Source[edit | edit source]
https://www.livelingua.com/peace-corps/Amharic/Amharic%20Peace%20Corps%20Language%20Manual-2015.pdf
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
- Dämbäña System in Ethiopia
- Ethiopia Timeline
- Cultural clothing
- Homosexuality and Bisexuality
- Time
- Borrow household items
- Invitations in Ethiopia
- Titles (ማዕረግMa’ïräg)
- Threatening Safety Tips for Female Volunteers
- yähïzb bä’alat Public Holidays in Ethiopia