Culture: Gestures -- The OK, Hang Ten & Loser Signs

Little M.J. with the OK sign
Image from we talk anything, anything about Se.Mio.Tic.

I think some of you still remember my entry titled Culture: Italian Popular Gestures. Previously, I told my students to research on cultural differences and yesterday in one lesson, a student of mine did a nice one on the "OK" gesture.

To many, the sign will mean nothing but simply "OK" or "OK?", but is that universal? Are there exceptions in some countries and doing that will cause embarrassment? It is worth looking into.

Yan Pu (left) and Julie Len with a group of vaccinated children
in Le Du County, flashing the “OK” sign, the symbol that the
Jade Ribbon Campaign implemented to indicate protection from hepatitis B. 
Image from stanford.edu

Quoting from Wikipedia,

1. In some Mediterranean countries, as well as in Brazil, it represents vulgar expressions: either an insult (you are an asshole), or the slang for anus itself.*
2. In Australia and Portugal, it can either mean okay or zero.
3. In Chinese number gestures, it is the hand gesture for number three.**
4. A similar gesture, the Vitarka mudra ("mudra of discussion") is the gesture of discussion and transmission of Buddhist teaching. 
5. In Japan, it also means zero or money.***

* I have consulted my Brazilian friend / Assistant Professor Francisco at the Hong Kong Polytechnic Univeristy about this, and he said the following,

"yes, it is absolutely correct, but there are two things. the way it is in the picture, with the three strechted fingers  upwards, that means perfect. if they are down, that it is extremely rude. we just don't use it to mean 'good job, perfect' because it seems out-of-date, old-fashioned. and the other one, well... too rude and offensive."

** In Hong Kong, seems like this one is more for the older generations, because the easier way is to use the middle three fingers instead of the last three.

*** Last night, I went to have dinner and consulted my good "Sister" / friend / student Sally, who is an expert of Japanese language, as well as two local Japanese gentlemen, and they all agree that this sign can mean zero or money, and they explained that it means money because it is the shape of  a coin; however, they also said it can also mean OK in Japan.

Vitarka mudra, Tarim Basin, 9th century
Image from Wikipedia

So, that's it for the OK sign.


Then when I was reading the recent hit article on CNNGo.com titled How to be a Hong Kong local: 10 tips on faking it, I saw the following Obama gesture which the article called it the "hang ten" hand sign.

Obama with the Shaka sign for the the Punahou Marching Band from Oahu, Hawaii
Image from Peter Bowes

In Hong Kong, it means the number 6. Do a little search on Wikipedia and I found that "Hanging Ten" is a surfer's phrase which means standing on the surfboard with ten toes over the edge while surfing.

Hang Ten, look at her toes please!
Image from 160over90

Further research unveiled the true name of this gesture -- the Shaka sign, and it is often associated with Hawaii, which is also why Obama showed off this gesture when he was at the 2009 Inaugural Parade with the Punahou Marching Band from Oahu, Hawaii. 

As for the meaning, Wikipedia said "Depending on context it can also be used to communicate notions such as "thank you", "hi", "howzit", and the like."

Image from Weird Worm

Last but not least, the most popular gesture on the show TopGear, if you have watched the show I have recommended last time in the entry, Listening & TV: Skeleton VS Mini-Cooper @ TopGear, you should not be surprised to see the following gesture.

The Loser Sign by Jeremy Clarkson of TopGear
Image from Flickr

In the show, it is used to address the lost party as "Loser", exceptions on Wikipedia are too minor so this hand gesture can be considered as rather universal, but demeaning.

There will be more discussions on gestures in the future, so please support, subscribe and like this entry and the English Playground!!



Vocabulary:
vulgar -- (adj) disapproving rude and likely to upset or anger people, especially by referring to sex and the body in an unpleasant way
anus -- (n)[C] the opening at the end of the alimentary canal through which solid waste leaves the body
Hang Ten -- (n)[U] a surfer's phrase which means standing on the surfboard with ten toes over the edge while surfing.
Inaugural -- (adj) [before noun] an inaugural speech is the first speech someone gives when starting an important new job / an inaugural event is the first in a series of planned events
demeaning -- (adj) causing someone to become or feel less respected



Resources:
Culture: Italian Popular Gestures @ Locky's English Playground
http://lockyep.blogspot.com/2011/06/culture-italian-popular-gestures.html

How to be a Hong Kong local: 10 tips on faking it @ CNNGo
http://www.cnngo.com/hong-kong/life/how-be-local-10-tips-faking-it-316802

OK Sign @ Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OK_sign

Hang Ten @ Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hang_ten

Shaka Sign @ Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaka_sign

Listening & TV: Skeleton VS Mini-Cooper @ TopGear  @ Locky's English Playground
http://lockyep.blogspot.com/2012/01/listening-tv-bobsleigh-vs-mini-cooper.html

TV: TopGear (with fast cars and British accent)  @ Locky's English Playground
http://lockyep.blogspot.com/2010/08/tv-topgear-with-fast-cars-and-british.html

Loser @ Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loser_(hand_gesture)

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/vulgar_2
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/anus?q=anus+
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/inaugural?q=Inaugural+
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/demeaning?q=demeaning+

Event: I Love Lyuba: Baby Mammoth of the Ice Age Exhibition (Updated)

If you know me or the style of the English Playground, you should know that I don't recommend too many events or exhibitions, but when I do recommend, it is a must-go or else you will regret. And this one, even if you have no idea what it is, you must still go and queue up for it.

IFC Mall packed with visitors
Image from Locky's English Playground

Not only will you get to see this huge skeleton model of a 4-metre-9-tonne ancient male woolly mammoth and experience its majesty,

Earth-shakingly cool!
Image from Locky's English Playground

but you can even get up close to almost touch it, walk below it, raise your head to look directly at its teeth and jaws,

Huge animal with few teeth
Image from Locky's English Playground

 to get really close to its two powerful monstrous tusks!

Powerful tusks
Image from Locky's English Playground

Then of course, the main focus of the exhibition, the one that everybody wants to get on film,

Front view of baby mammoth Image from Locky's English Playground

Back view of baby mammoth Image from Locky's English Playground

the most well-preserved specimen ever!!! Siberian female baby mammoth Lyuba!!!

Died 40,000 years ago at the age of one month, Lyuba gave scientists valuable information on the mammoth's diet and eating habits as its organs were completely intact. 

Right side is the main focus, ear bitten off  by a dog after excavation Image from Locky's English Playground

Lyuba's left face Image from Locky's English Playground

At the size of a It is hard to believe that it will eventually turn into a 4 metre tall earth-shaker!!

Beautiful little baby mammoth, won't you agree? It came all the way to Hong Kong to see you,  would it be fair to her not to pay her a visit?

Lyuba still in the snow
Image from Locky's English Playground

Frozen Lyuba in Japan
Image from Locky's English Playground

Loads of educational materials such as interviews and photos for you to study after snapping loads of photos with Lyuba, and it's free!!!! What are you still waiting for????

Cousins of Lyuba -- Dima (Top left), Khroma (Right)
Image from Locky's English Playground

Suggest everyone to go after dinner time, as by then, you won't need to push people or be pushed.

Updated:
For more amazing readings on mammoths, please see read Woolly mammoth on Wikipedia (under the Resources section) and THE YUKAGIR MAMMOTH.

The preserved baby woolly mammoth named Dima
Image from Wikipedia

Vocabulary:
woolly mammoth -- see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woolly_mammoth

Image from Wikipedia

majesty -- (n) [U] If something has majesty, it causes admiration and respect for its beauty
monstrous-- (adj) like a monster
tusk -- (n) [C] either of the two long pointed teeth which stick out from the mouth of some animals such as elephants
specimen -- (n) [C] something shown or examined as an example; a typical example
Siberian -- (adj) from Siberia

Image from Wikipedia

intact -- (adj) complete and in the original state /  not damaged
excavation -- (n)[C or U] removal of earth that is covering very old objects buried in the ground in order to discover things about the past
earth-shaker -- (n) sth that is so heavy that it shakes the ground when it moves


Resources:
I Love Baby Lyuba @ IFC
www.ifc.com.hk/lyuba/

Mammoth @ Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mammoth

Lyuba @ Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyuba

Woolly mammoth @ Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woolly_mammoth

THE YUKAGIR MAMMOTH: BRIEF HISTORY, 14C DATES,INDIVIDUAL AGE, GENDER, SIZE, PHYSICALAND ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS AND STORAGE
http://www.geo.auth.gr/12icbs/proceedings/mol_et_al.pdf

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/majesty_2
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/monstrous_2
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/tusk?q=tusk+
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/specimen?q=specimen
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siberian
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/intact?q=intact+
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/excavate?q=excavation

Living: Master So VS Mayans' Doomsday Prediction

Image from Amazon

A few days ago, one of my students presented her findings in the class, and the one she chose to present was this, the Mayan Calendar and of course, the end of the world prophecy. I, of course, do not believe any in the end of the world prophecies simply because there are always one prophecy after another, and they are all not true. Some of you might still remember Y2K, of which some claimed that once the time switched from  23:59 of 1999-12-31 to 00:00 of 2000-01-01, the computers will go crazy, nuclear missiles would launch like crazy and the world would end.

Oh well....

Mayan Calendar
Image from indie country music chart

World-renowned Chinese Feng Shui master Peter So Man-Fung has his views too, but that would be at the very end of the following article. Before you read what he said, you can also read his predictions about Hong Kong, Europe and US to see how much he was right. (This article was posted on the 22nd January 2012).

Riding the Dragon: 2012 predictions from Chinese masters By: Joyce Woo Agence France-Presse 4:32 pm | Sunday, January 22nd, 2012 In a picture taken on January 17, feng shui master and TV personality Peter So poses for a picture while holding a Chinese feng shui compass in Hong Kong. China's feng shui masters tackle the big issues with their predictions for the Year of the Dragon. AFP PHOTO/AARON TAM HONG KONG—Want to know what’s in store for 2012? Who will win the US election? Will the eurozone implode? China’s feng shui masters tackle the big issues with their predictions for the Year of the Dragon. As Chinese communities around the world prepare to ring in the new year on Monday, astrologers and geomancers are predicting the dragon will bring natural disasters and financial volatility, especially to crisis-hit Europe. “The world economy will be unstable in the Year of the Dragon, because the economies in Europe and the US are still suffering from the effects of the recession,” Hong Kong feng shui master Anthony Cheng says. Celebrity astrologer Peter So says the United States will provide some good news late in the year, but his charts for Europe make grim reading. “Europe will not recover so soon – it is expected to suffer at least until 2014. But what I can say is this, a recovery for the US economy is possible in 2013,” he says. If you’re prepared to ride the dragon and invest in 2012, Russia and China could be your best bets. The two emerging markets will be the best performers in a volatile year, says Cheng. But be prepared for surprises, especially out of China where the Communist Party will hold its 18th Congress to select a new generation of leaders. “In the second half of the year, a scandalous corruption case will be exposed in China,” warns Cheng, refusing to elaborate about who will be implicated. “I can also predict that in Hong Kong and in mainland China, a number of high-ranking officials will be forced to step down. Some may be thrown behind bars, or even pass away.” Many Chinese take such predictions seriously and adjust their lives accordingly. Feng shui, the ancient study of the forces of chi, or life energy, is a daily part of life in the Chinese world. One of Hong Kong’s largest brokerages, CLSA, releases a Feng Shui Index every year, offering its “tongue-in-cheek” predictions for global markets and world affairs. Lest anyone take it seriously, CLSA admits that feng shui’s “original purpose was to locate auspicious burial spots, not call the twists and turns of the equity markets or individual sectors.” But it has a stab anyway, even if some of its predictions are less than audacious. For example, it says the stars point to a “job opening” for Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping, the man everyone expects to become China’s next ruler after the 18th Congress in October or November. As for US politics, the soothsayers are more cautious. When asked who will win the US elections, So refuses to make a prediction without precise information about the dates and times of the candidates’ births. “Sometimes luck depends on the country itself, rather than an individual president,” he says enigmatically. “For the US, they are starting to have luck on their side again, so it is going to be a good year no matter who’s elected.” The five Chinese elements are wood, fire, earth, metal and water, and 2012 is tipped to be big on water. This could mean riches and abundance, but it could also spell disaster. Well-known Hong Kong astrologer Alion Yeo says we should brace for storms and floods. “Expect to see a lot of flooding in areas like Thailand and southeast China,” he says. So sees similar portents, but with an earthy twist. “Indonesia, Pakistan, India and places in China like Sichuan, Yunnan and Guizhou are particularly disaster-prone. They are likely to experience frequent earthquakes,” he says. While the ancient Chinese were developing their systems of astrology and geomancy, people across the Pacific were finding other ways to predict the future. The Mayans of modern-day South America purportedly had a calendar that showed the world would come to an end on December 21, 2012. Like the historians who rubbish such interpretations of Mayan belief, So says there is no need to fear the end is nigh. “Doomsday is just a bunch of make-believe,” he says.

So, was Master So really correct? Looking back from today, what he said on 22nd January was pretty spot on! The US economy is obvious leading Europe in terms of recovery. In the stock market, non-state-owned Hong Kong listed Chinese companies are fuelling scares, audit firms sack their bosses like they don't care not getting paid. Corruption case in the second half of  the year? A number of high-ranking officials will be forced to step down? Very likely.

The last thing that Master So said was Mayans' end of the world prediction is make-believe. I totally agree, because if it is really true, then the Vatican definitely will make an announcement first, not the Mayans.

View Larger Map

There are more to hear from Master So, and I will write about it in the future entries.


Learning Pyschology:
The above article is not an easy one with many difficult words, sure enough many learners of English will feel frustrated reading it. However, take it step by step, slowly, try to understand the meaning of every line before you move on, use the vocabulary list I have provided for you to make the process easier. When you can understand, you will have interest to keep going. Don't give up too quickly and don't push yourself too hard. Take your time. This is how I learn.


Vocabulary:
prophecy -- (n) [C] a statement that says what is going to happen in the future, especially one which is based on what you believe about a particular matter rather than existing facts
missile -- (n)[C] a flying weapon which has its own engine so that it can travel a long distance before exploding at the place that it has been aimed at
renowned -- (adj) famous for something
astrologer -- (n)[C] someone who studies astrology
geomancer -- (n) [C] from Geomancy ( Greek: γεωμαντεία, "earth divination") is a method of divination that interprets markings on the ground or the patterns formed by tossed handfuls of soil, rocks, or sand.
volatility -- (adj) likely to change suddenly and unexpectedly or suddenly become violent or angry
crisis-hit -- (adj) [before noun] experiencing or having experienced a dangerous or difficult situation, especially a difficult financial situation:
recession -- (n)[C or U] a period when the economy of a country is not successful and conditions for business are bad
grim -- (adj) worrying, without hope
emerging market -- (n) [C] are nations with social or business activity in the process of rapid growth and industrialization.
scandalous -- (adj) making people shocked and upset
implicate -- (vb)[T] to show that someone is involved in a crime or partly responsible for something bad that has happened
step down /aside -- [phrasal verb] to leave an important job or position, especially to allow someone else to take your place
prediction -- (n) [C or U] when you say what will happen in the future
ancient -- (adj) of or from a long time ago, having lasted for a very long time
chi -- (n) [U] In traditional Chinese culture, qì (also chi or ch'i) is an active principle forming part of any living thing.
brokerage -- (n)[C] [C] (also brokerage house) an organization that buys and sells currency, shares, etc. For other people or organizations:
lest -- (conjunction) literary in order to prevent any possibility that something will happen
tongue-in-cheek -- (adj) [before noun] describes something that is meant to be understood as a joke, although it might appear to be serious
auspicious -- (adj) formal suggesting a positive and successful future
burial spot /ground-- (n)[C] an area of land where dead bodies are buried, especially a long time ago
twist -- (n) [C] a change in the way in which something happens
stab -- (n)[C] a sudden feeling, especially an unpleasant one such as pain
audacious -- (adj) showing a willingness to take risks or offend people
soothsayer -- (n) [C] old use a person who is believed to have the ability to know and tell what will happen in the future
enigmatically -- (adv) from enigmatic mysterious and impossible to understand completely
brace for  -- from brace yourself for [R] to prepare yourself physically or mentally for something unpleasant
portent -- (vb)  [T] formal to be a sign that something bad is likely to happen in the future
earthy -- (adj) like or relating to earth
Mayan -- (n) [C] people of the Maya. The Maya is a Mesoamerican civilization, noted for the only known fully developed written language of the pre-Columbian Americas, as well as for its art, architecture, and mathematical and astronomical systems. Initially established during the Pre-Classic period (c. 2000 BC to 250 AD), according to the Mesoamerican chronology, many Maya cities reached their highest state of development during the Classic period (c. 250 to 900 AD), and continued throughout the Post-Classic period until the arrival of the Spanish.
purportedly -- (adv) from purport  [T + to infinitive] formal to pretend to be or to do something, especially in a way that is not easy to believe
rubbish -- (vb)  [T] UK informal to criticize
nigh -- (adv)(prep) old-fashioned or literary near
doomsday -- (n)[U] the end of the world, or a time when something very bad will happen
spot on -- [after verb] UK informal exactly right
make-believe -- (n)  [U] disapproving  believing in things that you want to believe because they are easy or exciting, but which are not real

Resources:
Riding the Dragon: 2012 predictions from Chinese masters @ Inquirer Lifestyle
http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/32011/riding-the-dragon-2012-predictions-from-chinese-masters

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/prophecy?q=prophecy
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/missile?q=missile
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/astrologer?q=astrologers+#astrologer__3
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geomancer
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/volatile?q=volatility+
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/business-english/crisis-hit?q=crisis-hit+
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/recession?q=recession
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emerging_markets
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/scandalous?q=scandalous+
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/implicate?q=implicated+#implicate__3
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/step-aside-down#step-aside-down__2
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/prediction?q=predictions+#prediction__3
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/ancient?q=ancient+
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%27i
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/business-english/brokerage?q=brokerage+
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/tongue-in-cheek_2?q=tongue-in-cheek
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/lest?q=lest+
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/auspicious?q=auspicious+
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/burial-ground
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/twist_4
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/stab_2
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/audacious?q=audacious
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/soothsayer?q=soothsayers#soothsayer__3
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/enigmatic?q=enigmatically
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/brace_4
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/portend?q=portent+
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/earthy_1?q=earthy
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mayans
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/purport_1?q=purported#purport_1__3
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/rubbish_2
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/nigh?q=nigh
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/doomsday?q=Doomsday+
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/spot-on?q=spot+on