Body Language
Nicaraguans commonly extend their lips, like they are going to give a kiss then point them to indicate locations, people positions, or simply when they gossip about someone in the surroundings. This is very common and took some getting used to. For example, you are in a restaurant and ask where your wife is. Your Nica friend may scrunch their lips then point them towards the bathrooms. They may also discreetly scrunch their lips to the side to indicate the guy next to them is a clown.
Nicaraguans also use finger pointing for various purposes. The most common is the extended index finger moved side to side. This is an emphatic "no" which you will use often with beggars and street vendors. Saying "no" seems to have no effect.
It is not advisable for a foreigner to move his or her forefinger in a straight line or from north to south to a Nicaraguan, even if he or she is giving an order or complaining. The reason is that Nicaraguans might understand it as a start for fighting. Many of them will feel offended with this gesture.
The wrist and finger snap is performed by joining the tips of the thumb and middle finger letting the index finger dangle loosely. Flick the wrist quickly, allowing the index finger to slap against the middle finger. This snapping noise usually is used to indicate emphasis on something you've said like "yeah, you're right on".
In the states you would indicate to someone to come here by having the palm up and repeatedly curling the fingers towards you. In Nicaragua, it is done with the palm down.
Moving the hands and arms while speaking is another Nicaraguan way to express a stronger message. For instance:
--Moving a hand in a circle indicates continuous succession of events, e.g. he continued on and on and on.
--Nicaraguans love to wave hands to say goodbye. However, each one has a different style of doing so.
--If you have employees during your stay in Nicaragua and pay time approaches, some of your employees pass their right forefinger down their left middle and index finger. This unusual signal simply indicates that is time for you to pay their salaries
--When Nicaraguans raise both hands up to the sky and raise their shoulders along with moving their heads vertically, they say what? when? e.g. When are we going or when are we meeting?
Moreover, Nicaraguans vary their tone of voice along a single sentence to emphasize their feelings, opinions, ideas and messages. Due to these changing pitches, many foreigners perceive that Nicas are singing. However, many of them (males) yell while speaking.
Another Nicaraguan custom while speaking is not pronouncing the 's' at the end of the words. Moreover, if there is an 's' in the middle of a word, Nicas may change it to 'j'. Precisely for this change of the 's', Nicas are called mucos by other Central Americans.
However, the most important characteristic from Nicaraguans is that they are friendly. Be prepared for a lot of hugs and cheek kisses with people you hardly know. They display their hospitality in a unique harmonic body language.
A good video on Nicaraguan gestures and signs:
http://www.youtube.com/user/pinoleropuntocom
Nicaraguans also use finger pointing for various purposes. The most common is the extended index finger moved side to side. This is an emphatic "no" which you will use often with beggars and street vendors. Saying "no" seems to have no effect.
It is not advisable for a foreigner to move his or her forefinger in a straight line or from north to south to a Nicaraguan, even if he or she is giving an order or complaining. The reason is that Nicaraguans might understand it as a start for fighting. Many of them will feel offended with this gesture.
The wrist and finger snap is performed by joining the tips of the thumb and middle finger letting the index finger dangle loosely. Flick the wrist quickly, allowing the index finger to slap against the middle finger. This snapping noise usually is used to indicate emphasis on something you've said like "yeah, you're right on".
In the states you would indicate to someone to come here by having the palm up and repeatedly curling the fingers towards you. In Nicaragua, it is done with the palm down.
Moving the hands and arms while speaking is another Nicaraguan way to express a stronger message. For instance:
--Moving a hand in a circle indicates continuous succession of events, e.g. he continued on and on and on.
--Nicaraguans love to wave hands to say goodbye. However, each one has a different style of doing so.
--If you have employees during your stay in Nicaragua and pay time approaches, some of your employees pass their right forefinger down their left middle and index finger. This unusual signal simply indicates that is time for you to pay their salaries
--When Nicaraguans raise both hands up to the sky and raise their shoulders along with moving their heads vertically, they say what? when? e.g. When are we going or when are we meeting?
Moreover, Nicaraguans vary their tone of voice along a single sentence to emphasize their feelings, opinions, ideas and messages. Due to these changing pitches, many foreigners perceive that Nicas are singing. However, many of them (males) yell while speaking.
Another Nicaraguan custom while speaking is not pronouncing the 's' at the end of the words. Moreover, if there is an 's' in the middle of a word, Nicas may change it to 'j'. Precisely for this change of the 's', Nicas are called mucos by other Central Americans.
However, the most important characteristic from Nicaraguans is that they are friendly. Be prepared for a lot of hugs and cheek kisses with people you hardly know. They display their hospitality in a unique harmonic body language.
A good video on Nicaraguan gestures and signs:
http://www.youtube.com/user/pinoleropuntocom
