Language/Amharic/Culture/Threatening,-Harassing,-or-Disrespectful-Body-Language

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

https://www.livelingua.com/peace-corps/Amharic/Amharic%20Peace%20Corps%20Language%20Manual-2015.pdf

Other Lessons

• 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