Keeps the hands slap ready when focus wanders.
Italians and Dutch share the same gestural instinct for teaching
11–20 of 57 posts
Re: Italians and Dutch share the same gestural instinct for teaching
#12As a Sicilian and university computer science lecturer, I can say that hand gestures are my primary way of communicating concepts. So much so that the old joke holds true. How do you stop an Italian from talking? Tell them to sit on their hands.
Doubly so with CS in the mix. IMO.
Re: Italians and Dutch share the same gestural instinct for teaching
#13I only realized that dutch people are handful communicators when moving abroad. Apparently I do it unconsciously all the time.
For example we gesture when something tastes good and I don't even say "tastes good" out loud i just wave my hand next to my cheek. But quickly learnt that people think you're crazy in the head instead of complimenting the chef.
Re: Italians and Dutch share the same gestural instinct for teaching
#14It seems reasonable to expect that some behaviors transcend culture and go back to instinct (tho expectations often conflict with reality) which probably is not even human specific. IIRC Konrad Lorenz pointed out in Solomon's Ring that rooks will exhibit "infantile behavior" when grooming in a mated couple which, well, humans do it when they cuddle too. As an aside: my favorite italian gesture is "tasty" (put index o…
I don't think these are special as in rare, but they are cool. Many countries have gestures for the same thing. In portugal you pick up the ear lobe with your index finger and thumb, stretch the other fingers and pull it a few times. It means tasty also. You may accompany it with saying "it's from here", as in the food "is from the earlobe" which means its good, but mostly its done silently.
Re: Italians and Dutch share the same gestural instinct for teaching
#15Im Dutch and I still have fond memories of my matrix algebra professor doing that.
He would stand in front of class. Close his eyes. And draw two matrices in the air with his hands and continue to explain matrix multiplication like that. It was a bit funny to watch at the time. But it stuck with me, so I guess it worked.
Re: Italians and Dutch share the same gestural instinct for teaching
#16I only realized that dutch people are handful communicators when moving abroad. Apparently I do it unconsciously all the time. For example we gesture when something tastes good and I don't even say "tastes good" out loud i just wave my hand next to my cheek. But quickly learnt that people think you're crazy in the head instead of complimenting the chef. https://youtube.com/shorts/5a9Md32gSQg?is=fJ9BYQEt-CpEUE-g
Eating only half a pepernoot and putting it back in the bowl is crazy behavior.
In this case the gesture is to not speak with a mouth full of food, which is understandable.
Re: Italians and Dutch share the same gestural instinct for teaching
#17I only realized that dutch people are handful communicators when moving abroad. Apparently I do it unconsciously all the time. For example we gesture when something tastes good and I don't even say "tastes good" out loud i just wave my hand next to my cheek. But quickly learnt that people think you're crazy in the head instead of complimenting the chef. https://youtube.com/shorts/5a9Md32gSQg?is=fJ9BYQEt-CpEUE-g
Eating only half a pepernoot and putting it back in the bowl is crazy behavior. In this case the gesture is to not speak with a mouth full of food, which is understandable.
Also, she made the gesture twice without saying "mmmmm" while making it. Imo, that sound is part of the gesture.
Re: Italians and Dutch share the same gestural instinct for teaching
#18Must be true. I have seen Dutch and Italian parents teaching their kids valuable social concepts with the exact same swift motion of an open hand.
Re: Italians and Dutch share the same gestural instinct for teaching
#19I don't know. I know some older Dutch folks are more handsy, but the young'ins? Nah. The new generation of Dutch are less so.
Re: Italians and Dutch share the same gestural instinct for teaching
#20I only realized that dutch people are handful communicators when moving abroad. Apparently I do it unconsciously all the time. For example we gesture when something tastes good and I don't even say "tastes good" out loud i just wave my hand next to my cheek. But quickly learnt that people think you're crazy in the head instead of complimenting the chef. https://youtube.com/shorts/5a9Md32gSQg?is=fJ9BYQEt-CpEUE-g
Needs the sound! Otherwise, even other Dutch people will look crazy at you. :)