"A gesture is a form of non-verbal communication made with a part of the body, used instead of or in combination with verbal communication. The language of gesture allows individuals to express a variety of feelings and thoughts, from contempt and hostility to approval and affection. Most people use gestures and body language in addition to words when they speak. The use of gesture as language by some ethnic groups is more common than in others, and the amount of such gesturing that is considered culturally acceptable varies from one location to the next."
It further discusses that several meanings of gesture include the following indications:
- Facial expression
Facial expressions are a rich language in their own right and will not be discussed in this article. Some facial expressions are byproducts of emotions, while others, such as winking or eye-rolling are akin to gestures. - Eye-rolling
It may indicate condescension, contempt, boredom, or exasperation. The gesture is often for a rescue from boredom or frustration. It can be interpreted as the equivalent of saying, "I don't like this" or "I think this is re-ally stupid" or "I simply can't believe this." - Nodding
A nod is a gesture of confirmation in many cultures and negation in some (e.g., in Bulgaria and Sri Lanka). - Head bobble, i.e., repeated alternating bending of the head to the left and to the right in arcs along the coronal plane, means disapproval in some cultures, e.g., in the East Slavic
- Head shaking
Repeated turning of the head side to side in arcs along the transverse plane has a meaning opposite to the nod: negation in many cultures and confirmation in some culture. This same head movement in India means OK. - Bent head
A gesture of shame, subduing, or agreement/confirmation. An interpretation depends on the way it being performed and overall body context. Or, can be used as a greeting. - Pointing by chin
A direction may be pointed by chin, e.g., when the arms are doing something else: the head is turned in the corresponding direction and the chin is slightly jerked up and in the pointed direction. This is also used as a greeting in some regions in the U.S., usually among young men. - Greeting by nod
A single nod of the head, (one single cycle in image-pitch) characterizes a greeting gesture.
Romantic Gestures
According to Oliver Jameson in http://www.askmen.com/
The Top 10 Romantic Gestures are:
Number 10 - Organize a scavenger huntWhen your woman comes home, have a little adventure prepared for her. Place a note somewhere in the house telling her what to do. Have a second note waiting for her at the site of the activity in question, giving her the next instructions, and so on.Be sure to make the scavenger hunt sexual by telling her to slowly prep herself for a night of sex. For instance, tell her to have a glass of wine in the kitchen, then to moisturize herself in the bathroom, then to put on some music -- you get the idea.
Number 9 - Tell her she's beautifulWomen will never tire of hearing this. But they'll love it even more if it's unexpected. Call her randomly at work and tell her. Leave a note with this message in her purse, so that she will happen upon it some time in the day. Likewise, send her an e-mail saying you can't wait to see her that night. She'll be so excited to see you, she might just leave work early.
Number 8 - Write her a hand-written letterE-mail may be one of the most revolutionary inventions of this generation, but it sucked something very important out of life: the mystery and romanticism of the hand-written letter. So, recreate that feeling and send her one. It could be a love letter, a narrative letter like the ones in authors' anthologies, a confessional letter, or any format that your woman would like. Just don't print it.
Number 7 - Take her out for lunchAgain, it's the element of surprise that does the trick. Show up unexpectedly at her job and take her to a nice restaurant nearby. You can even bring her lunch and have an impromptu picnic somewhere. You'll be the highlight of her day, especially when her coworkers see that she has such an awesome man.
Number 6 - Cook her favorite dishThe ladies all agree that a man who knows his way around a kitchen is quite the man. Every guy should know how to prepare some basic dishes and at least one difficult one. Learn how to cook her favorite fare and you've got yourself a guaranteed booty voucher. This could even be as simple as making her favorite coffee or mixing her favorite drink and bringing it to her in her favorite cup or glass.Read on for five more things you can do to show her you care .
Number 5 - Take her on an "official" dateAfter a long time together, couples tend to get lazy and skimp out on the extravagant thrills of the early stages. This is something many women lament. So bring back that lost excitement and take her on a very nice date. Bonus points if you take her to a fancy place where dress is formal (you know women love dressing up). Or you can try recreating your first date to the letter. To make it really official, send her a formal invitation by snail mail.
Number 4 - Buy her a token presentOne day, for no reason, show up with a thoughtful little gift. And I'm not talking about a generic teddy bear, or other unimaginative stock gifts. Give her something with meaning that represents something for her. You will get bonus points if it's something she actually needs, but never told you about or barely mentioned in passing. This could be as simple as a blow dryer or a new purse.
Number 3 - Dance with herRemind her how well you can move your body by dancing with her out of the blue. It can be anywhere: in the living room with some nice music, in the halls of a building when no one's around, even in the park. Wherever it is, just do it. She'll feel like she's in a movie, and will probably be eager to see you move in other ways.
Number 2 - Give her a flowerDon't wait for Valentine's Day or her birthday. Get her one flower today, just to make her feel appreciated and adorn her place. Make sure to be original, picking one that she is not used to receiving, like a single rose that was dyed or an orchid. Under no circumstances should you give her a cactus and pretend it's an exotic plant.
Number 1 - Pamper herWhen she comes home from a tough day at work, have a hot bubble bath with candles and chocolate waiting for her, and join her inside. You can also give her a foot massage. Better yet, give her a full-body one. At bedtime, treat her to the best oral sex she's ever received. Believe me; she'll know how to thank you.
