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Gesture in Brazil

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The meaning of gestures: body language in Brazil
[pic]
When living in Brazil there's not only the issue of learning the language of Portuguese, there's also the issue of learning the body language

Brazil body language
Let’s cover Brazil now as our next country and explore their gestures and body language a bit. • When conversing, good eye contact is important. To not do so is considered impolite.

• In a marketplace, if a vendor holds his hand out, fingers extended and flips the thumb back and forth it merely means, ‘There isn’t any left; I don’t have any more.’ • A good, warm handshake is the traditional greeting in Brazil. However, the Brazilians show affection easily. People in Brazil will also shake hands when arriving and departing. There may also be a touching of the forearm or elbow, and often a pat on the back. [pic] In this photo U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Brazilian Foreign Minister Celso Amorim shake hands during a meeting in Brazil. Both appear poised, friendly and professionally amicable. • If you are conducting business, be certain to bring a plentiful supply of business cards because these are always exchanged. Also, during business meetings expect to be served (often) small cups of very strong coffee. • Since this is more of a touching society, people stand close together when conversing or when standing in lines. • To add emphasis to a statement, a Brazilian may snap the fingers while whipping the hand down own and out. • To express appreciation, a Brazilian may appear to pinch his earlobe between thumb and forefinger. For example, if you’ve enjoyed a meal this gesture may be used. Among Brazilians, to dramatize it even further, they will reach behind the head and grasp the opposite earlobe. [pic]

• When carrying any article along the streets-a pair of shoes, a bottle,

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