عايش
04-05-2010, 10:30 AM
Welcoming gestures
These are some moves Yemenis use to display their affection and hospitality. The moves often include the hand and head such as:
http://yementimes.com/control/upload/culture_gesture1.jpg
Welcome on the head: “Ala alras” is often said while placing the palm of the hand on the head, to signal that that you are most welcome and will be placed on the heads of people in priority. It is sometimes said that if there is no space for you, the host or welcoming person will place you on the top of their heads.
http://yementimes.com/control/upload/gesture2.jpg
From my eye: “Min aini” is said when you request something and the person promises to attend to your request with great pleasure and attention. From my eye refers to an old concept that if there is no way to fulfil this request, the person asked will give up his or her eyes to answer the need of the person doing the asking. The gesture requires placing the index on one eye and sometimes on both eyes one eye after the other.
http://yementimes.com/control/UPLOAD/gesture3.jpg
Even if it means sacrificing my neck: “ala alraqaba” is an expression made by slapping the hand genteelly on the neck indicating that the person will do the job/request even if it cost his/her life. It is used when there is a task containing risk or when there is an urgent need to do something and by not doing it, would sadden or harm the asker. Another expression for this is “raqabti sadada” which is the same hand-neck gesture but it means the person will take the full responsibility for the issue or promise.
http://yementimes.com/control/upload/gesture4.jpg
The best of the best: “min hinna” is a gesture Yemenis use to describe an object or a place as top class. The person quickly hits the tip of the nose. It is said that this expression comes from the fact that holding the nose high signals top level and so this praised object is relative to holding the nose high.
Warning gestures
http://yementimes.com/control/upload/gesture5.jpg
I will show you: “lawareek” is said by holding the tip of the ear as if signalling that the person spoken to will have his ear pinched, either because of something he/she has done, or if they dare to do something.
http://yementimes.com/control/UPLOAD/gesture6.jpg
Shame on you: “Allah almusta’an” is a gesture made by holding the chin and often declining the head to one side signalling that “I did not expect this from you” or “shame on you”. Allah almusta’an literally translates to ‘God is the one we seek to bear the consequence of your wrong doing’.
http://yementimes.com/control/upload/gesture7.jpg
Not a penny: “wala fils” is a gesture that includes a slight sound created by quickly moving the thumb across the upper teeth from inside the mouth to the outside. It means ‘you will not get a single penny from me’. It also is used to signal that someone is completely broke.
http://yementimes.com/control/upload/gesture8.jpg
I will show you: “lawareek”. In this sign, one person warns another by using the thumb and index finger to make a circle and leaves the other three fingers extended as if indicting the number three while shaking the hand in this position with the palm towards the recipient.
http://yementimes.com/control/upload/gesture9.jpg
You dare: “athadak” is another warning sign, by which the person hold his/her throat with the index finger and thumb at the location of the adam’s apple and slightly pulls the skin to the outside. The sign indicates an extreme threat, as if saying I will cut your throat if you dare do this or that.
http://yementimes.com/control/upload/gesture10.jpg
In your dreams: “Wala fi ahlamak” is similar to the one above, but here the upper side of the fingers is used as if removing something from the lower side of the chin. It can be used when someone is delusional and that what they are talking about is not likely to happen, as in ‘dream on’.
http://yementimes.com/control/upload/gesture11.jpg
Dare you: “A’ar” It is a gesture made by slightly tapping outwards the back of one ear with the index finger. It is used to dare someone and warn them that if they go ahead and do it, the consequences won’t be good.
Grieving gestures
http://yementimes.com/control/upload/gesture12.jpg
Oh my God: “ya waili” this gesture is common with many other cultures and is often used by women rather than men. The woman slaps her hand on her chest often while bending fro and back.
http://yementimes.com/control/UPLOAD/gesture13.jpg
What a catastrophe: “Ya musibatah” is very similar to the welcoming gesture on the head by placing a hand over the head but this has a totally different connotation. Also, when doing this move, it is often in a form of a slap on the head rather than gentle placing and is repeated more than once signalling what a disaster has befallen.
http://yementimes.com/control/upload/gesture14.jpg
What do I do with myself: This gesture includes slapping one’s cheek and sometimes both cheeks, indicating that a disaster has befallen him/her, and the person grieving does not know what to do about it. It is also known as “latm” which means ‘slapping’.
Other gestures
http://yementimes.com/control/upload/gesture15.jpg
Quick: “fisa’” this is a move made by snapping the index and thumb together and making a sound. It is usually done twice or more indicting that something must be done very quickly.
http://yementimes.com/control/upload/gesture16.jpg
Despite your protest: “wa ala ainak” is used to tease someone that something will go ahead, despite their protest. The teaser rubs the fist of one hand in a circular motion across the palm of the other.
http://yementimes.com/control/upload/gestureplus.jpg
Shush: “ooh” this is almost a universal gesture, only in Yemen, instead of biting the fingers, the person bites the knuckle of the index finger from the thumb side, warning the other person not to say a word about a certain topic, or not to ‘spill the beans’, ie. let out a secret in front of anyone around. Sometimes it is done by biting the space between the thumb and the index finger, and this shows great regret, such as when someone forgets something very important.
http://yementimes.com/control/upload/gesture18.jpg
Ignore it: “tanish tanish” It is a gesture made by moving the hand outwards to the right side as if waving something away, whilst looking towards the other direction.
http://yementimes.com/control/upload/gesture21.jpg
Terribly awful: “shamat” when describing something as horrible, a Yemeni uses one finger to draw a line vertically across the cheek. It could also describe feelings of great despair.
The source :http://www.yementimes.com/defaultdet.aspx?SUB_ID=33980
These are some moves Yemenis use to display their affection and hospitality. The moves often include the hand and head such as:
http://yementimes.com/control/upload/culture_gesture1.jpg
Welcome on the head: “Ala alras” is often said while placing the palm of the hand on the head, to signal that that you are most welcome and will be placed on the heads of people in priority. It is sometimes said that if there is no space for you, the host or welcoming person will place you on the top of their heads.
http://yementimes.com/control/upload/gesture2.jpg
From my eye: “Min aini” is said when you request something and the person promises to attend to your request with great pleasure and attention. From my eye refers to an old concept that if there is no way to fulfil this request, the person asked will give up his or her eyes to answer the need of the person doing the asking. The gesture requires placing the index on one eye and sometimes on both eyes one eye after the other.
http://yementimes.com/control/UPLOAD/gesture3.jpg
Even if it means sacrificing my neck: “ala alraqaba” is an expression made by slapping the hand genteelly on the neck indicating that the person will do the job/request even if it cost his/her life. It is used when there is a task containing risk or when there is an urgent need to do something and by not doing it, would sadden or harm the asker. Another expression for this is “raqabti sadada” which is the same hand-neck gesture but it means the person will take the full responsibility for the issue or promise.
http://yementimes.com/control/upload/gesture4.jpg
The best of the best: “min hinna” is a gesture Yemenis use to describe an object or a place as top class. The person quickly hits the tip of the nose. It is said that this expression comes from the fact that holding the nose high signals top level and so this praised object is relative to holding the nose high.
Warning gestures
http://yementimes.com/control/upload/gesture5.jpg
I will show you: “lawareek” is said by holding the tip of the ear as if signalling that the person spoken to will have his ear pinched, either because of something he/she has done, or if they dare to do something.
http://yementimes.com/control/UPLOAD/gesture6.jpg
Shame on you: “Allah almusta’an” is a gesture made by holding the chin and often declining the head to one side signalling that “I did not expect this from you” or “shame on you”. Allah almusta’an literally translates to ‘God is the one we seek to bear the consequence of your wrong doing’.
http://yementimes.com/control/upload/gesture7.jpg
Not a penny: “wala fils” is a gesture that includes a slight sound created by quickly moving the thumb across the upper teeth from inside the mouth to the outside. It means ‘you will not get a single penny from me’. It also is used to signal that someone is completely broke.
http://yementimes.com/control/upload/gesture8.jpg
I will show you: “lawareek”. In this sign, one person warns another by using the thumb and index finger to make a circle and leaves the other three fingers extended as if indicting the number three while shaking the hand in this position with the palm towards the recipient.
http://yementimes.com/control/upload/gesture9.jpg
You dare: “athadak” is another warning sign, by which the person hold his/her throat with the index finger and thumb at the location of the adam’s apple and slightly pulls the skin to the outside. The sign indicates an extreme threat, as if saying I will cut your throat if you dare do this or that.
http://yementimes.com/control/upload/gesture10.jpg
In your dreams: “Wala fi ahlamak” is similar to the one above, but here the upper side of the fingers is used as if removing something from the lower side of the chin. It can be used when someone is delusional and that what they are talking about is not likely to happen, as in ‘dream on’.
http://yementimes.com/control/upload/gesture11.jpg
Dare you: “A’ar” It is a gesture made by slightly tapping outwards the back of one ear with the index finger. It is used to dare someone and warn them that if they go ahead and do it, the consequences won’t be good.
Grieving gestures
http://yementimes.com/control/upload/gesture12.jpg
Oh my God: “ya waili” this gesture is common with many other cultures and is often used by women rather than men. The woman slaps her hand on her chest often while bending fro and back.
http://yementimes.com/control/UPLOAD/gesture13.jpg
What a catastrophe: “Ya musibatah” is very similar to the welcoming gesture on the head by placing a hand over the head but this has a totally different connotation. Also, when doing this move, it is often in a form of a slap on the head rather than gentle placing and is repeated more than once signalling what a disaster has befallen.
http://yementimes.com/control/upload/gesture14.jpg
What do I do with myself: This gesture includes slapping one’s cheek and sometimes both cheeks, indicating that a disaster has befallen him/her, and the person grieving does not know what to do about it. It is also known as “latm” which means ‘slapping’.
Other gestures
http://yementimes.com/control/upload/gesture15.jpg
Quick: “fisa’” this is a move made by snapping the index and thumb together and making a sound. It is usually done twice or more indicting that something must be done very quickly.
http://yementimes.com/control/upload/gesture16.jpg
Despite your protest: “wa ala ainak” is used to tease someone that something will go ahead, despite their protest. The teaser rubs the fist of one hand in a circular motion across the palm of the other.
http://yementimes.com/control/upload/gestureplus.jpg
Shush: “ooh” this is almost a universal gesture, only in Yemen, instead of biting the fingers, the person bites the knuckle of the index finger from the thumb side, warning the other person not to say a word about a certain topic, or not to ‘spill the beans’, ie. let out a secret in front of anyone around. Sometimes it is done by biting the space between the thumb and the index finger, and this shows great regret, such as when someone forgets something very important.
http://yementimes.com/control/upload/gesture18.jpg
Ignore it: “tanish tanish” It is a gesture made by moving the hand outwards to the right side as if waving something away, whilst looking towards the other direction.
http://yementimes.com/control/upload/gesture21.jpg
Terribly awful: “shamat” when describing something as horrible, a Yemeni uses one finger to draw a line vertically across the cheek. It could also describe feelings of great despair.
The source :http://www.yementimes.com/defaultdet.aspx?SUB_ID=33980