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Different Signs, Communication and Language throughout the World

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When words don't work and the communication barrier breaks down, humans rely on the universal trait to get their point across: body language. However, in London or France, one may find that his or her thumbs up may have them running by the seat of their pants.
Growing up as Americans, we’ve conditioned ourselves to accept certain gestures as socially accepted bridges of communication; we can express our admiration of an act with a simple thumbs up, or perhaps accurately convey the extent of our distaste by elevating the middle finger, varying the enthusiasm situation by situation.
Just as hairstyle, fashion, and vocabulary have changed over the years, so, too, has body language continued to evolve through the generations. Just in the last 30 years, we’ve seen a handshake turn from a formal shaking of two hands into an intricate routine of fist bumps, over and under pounds, and a number of other complex movements combined into one fluid motion. The peace sign, made by raising the index and middle finger, was so accepted by Americans during the Woodstock era that it became a necessity when greeting another person. Eventually, the sporting world turned it into a sign of victory, but this powerful sign of passion and patriotism now is an old-fashioned, cheesy memory of what once was. Anyone caught using it in the traditional sense in present times is most likely still stuck in the glory days or independent enough not to care.
Even as gestures have changed in our own

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