ITALIAN HAND GESTURES

AND BODY LANGUAGE

Arnold TompsonLuton Sixth Form College

In a conversation, the non-verbal speaking interacts with our listener more than

expected.The body language can show your real

intent more than what words can convey.

Do you know what these attitudes mean?

NON-VERBAL ATTITUDES

I am considering your

opinion

I am refusing your ideas

I like what you are

saying

I know a lot about this matter

I’m holding back my

anger

I am feeling involved in it

What’s good to know about Italian languageOver the 40% of Italian words, phrases and idioms can be efficiently converted into body language and Italian

people use it very often.

In Italy if you don’t use gesture while speaking you’re considered a foreigner, even if you are not!

But….If you overuse gesture, you’re considered bad-mannered

and you’ll be criticised for being kind of rude.

LET’S SEE THE 19 SURVIVAL CLUES FOR BEING PERFECT ITALIAN SPEAKERS

TRY TO GUESS THIS ONE!

I’m so hungry!!

Ho fame!!

TRY TO GUESS THIS ONE!

Are you crazy?!?

Sei matto!?!

TRY TO GUESS THIS ONE!

Do you understand me?!

Mi capisci?!

TRY TO GUESS THIS ONE!

That’s perfect

Perfetto!

TRY TO GUESS THIS ONE!

Very sly!Che furbo!

Be careful

Sta attento

TRY TO GUESS THIS ONE!

What the hell are you saying?

Ma cosa stai dicendo?

TRY TO GUESS THIS ONE!

Boh, who knowsBoh, chi lo sa…

TRY TO GUESS THIS ONE!

Got none…Niente da fare…

It’s over/they ran out of it

E’ finita/non ce n’è più

TRY TO GUESS THIS ONE!

If I catch you…Se ti prendo…

TRY TO GUESS THIS ONE!

Money / That’s richSoldi / E’ ricco

TRY TO GUESS THIS ONE!

Come over here…Vieni qui…

TRY TO GUESS THIS ONE!

A long time ago…Tanto tempo fa…

TRY TO GUESS THIS ONE!

Very stubborn!Testa dura!

I’m gonna put up a fight!

Adesso ti pesto!

TRY TO GUESS THIS ONE!

THE POINTS IN A SPEECH

I PUNTI DEL DISCORSO

TRY TO GUESS THIS ONE!

Let me explain…Ora ti spiego…

TRY TO GUESS THIS ONE!

Mmmh…so tastefulMmmh…che buono

TRY TO GUESS THIS ONE!

Who the hell said it?!?

Ma chi l’ha detto?!?

TRY TO GUESS THIS ONE!

Shall we leave?Ce ne andiamo?

Go away!

Vattene!

TRY TO GUESS THIS ONE!

Forget about itScordatelo

Let’s watch now real Italian perfomers showing us gestures

and facial expressions.

Can you guess what these people mean?

According to social surveys, the 60% of ordinary people in

Mediterranean countries include swear words in

their oral speeches.

Would you like to know some?

If yes…let’s continue!

Just to sum up what we’ve been learning today…have a look at these two British men

flying to Italy…