Can Italians talk without using their hands? Gestures offer a window into Roman culture. Read the story here: http://nyti.ms/1avwKYQ
Some gestures are simple but others are far more complex. They add an inflection — of fatalism, resignation, world-weariness — that is as much a part of the Italian experience as breathing.
To Italians, gesturing comes naturally. Some even joke that gesturing may even begin before birth.
Isabella Poggi, a professor of psychology at Roma Tre University and an expert on gestures, has identified around 250 gestures that Italians use in everyday conversation.
References:
When Italians Chat, Hands and Fingers Do the Talking - NYTimes.com, 2013 http://nyti.ms/18x8ntc
Some gestures are simple but others are far more complex. They add an inflection — of fatalism, resignation, world-weariness — that is as much a part of the Italian experience as breathing.
To Italians, gesturing comes naturally. Some even joke that gesturing may even begin before birth.
Isabella Poggi, a professor of psychology at Roma Tre University and an expert on gestures, has identified around 250 gestures that Italians use in everyday conversation.
References:
When Italians Chat, Hands and Fingers Do the Talking - NYTimes.com, 2013 http://nyti.ms/18x8ntc