Introduction:
Gestures made by people in Gambia can be confusing at
first. Here are some commonly used hand signals, pictured
and explained non-verbal behaviour:
1: "ma-bañ" in Wolof. A sign of refusal,
usually coming from stubborn children. Literally, "a
chicken would!" (Note: this is an effective way
to ward off sweet begging children, sure to make them
laugh).
2: "I will beat you”, sometimes accompanied by
a "tsk tsk" and disapproving shake
of the head. This is the usual threat of punishment
for difficult children.
3: "Later" or "when I return."
Useful for friends and acquaintances after a chat or
when in a hurry.
4: "Salamalekum." This represents a
handshake from a distance and thus should be shown back
in kind. Often used in passing at a distance or when
face-to-face verbal greetings are difficult or impossible.
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1,
Maa-bañ:
Flapping your arm like wings, bird-style. |
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2,
Tsk tsk:
Downward snapping of thumb & index finger. |
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3,
Later:
Circular motion of index fingers around in front
of you. |
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4,
Salamalekum:
Clasping hands in front of you and raising them
a little. |
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