LE listening C1 The history of hand gestures

Summary

Key Points

• While many hand gestures are culturally specific, some are widely recognized across the globe, and this video focuses on the history of four such gestures. 0:30
• The military salute may have originated in the 18th century with British grenadier guards who touched their helmets as a greeting because their large helmets were difficult to remove. 0:42
• The thumbs up gesture is popularly believed to stem from Roman gladiatorial contests where it signified sparing a gladiator's life, though reliable historical references for this specific interpretation are lacking. 1:36
• A more plausible theory suggests that in Roman times, extending the thumb indicated a desire for the gladiator to be killed, while hiding the thumb meant sparing their life. 2:04
• The high five, commonly used for greeting or celebration, is often attributed to 1970s baseball, but it might be an evolution of the 1920s jazz-era "low five" or "giving skin" gesture. 2:50
• The handshake dates back at least to ancient Greece, with ancient art depicting goddesses shaking hands, symbolizing equality between the parties. 3:17
• In 17th-century European marriage portraits, handshakes between husband and wife were common, further illustrating its use to signify equality. 3:37
• Today, the handshake serves a multitude of purposes, including greeting, congratulating, expressing gratitude, and sealing agreements, consistently conveying trust, respect, and equality. 3:55