Human communication has three main bases: verbal language (oral or written), paralanguage (non-verbal languages) and kinesic language (body movements that communicate). Thus, communication can be done through various channels, mediums and codes, all three of which are often at play simultaneously.
Although it is hard to reach a consensus on the interpretation of body movements, non-verbal communication (NVC) as well as verbal communication require that the participants share a “common language”.
NVC is a kind of expression without words. It involves a series of signs – facial expressions, looks, body movements, distance or proximity, smells, non-linguistic sounds such as laughter, crying or yawning, and different types of gestures which are the subject of Guido Indij´s book “Sin palabras. Gestiario argentino – Speechless. A Dictionary of Argentine Gestures”. Buenos Aires, Colección Registro Gráfico, la marca editora, 2006. (page 14)
MUZZA MY LIPS ARE SEALED (P. 87)
Un cierre relámpago asegura nuestros labios para hacer entender que lo que decimos se debe mantener en secreto. El cierre es de cremallera y le decimos “muzza” o “muzarda” más por “mudo” que por “muzzarela”.
“Vos, muzza”
“Cerrá el pico”
“Esto muere acá”
We literally zip our lips to make someone understand that what we just said is top secret. If we were to put this in words, we would say “keep your lips sealed and your mouth shut”.
“Keep a lid on it”
“Keep it under your hat”
“Keep it to yourself”
El índice y el pulgar recorren los labios de una comisura a la otra.
The index finger and thumb run across the lips from one end to the other.
LOCO CRAZY. . . (P. 79)
Para representar que alguien (o uno mismo) está demente, fuera de sí, “sacado” o “muy zarpado” y por ende “le falta un tornillo”, hacemos este gesto de la factoría Frankenstein.
“Tocado”
“Chapita”
“Tocate un vals”
“Está totalmente pirucho”
“Le faltan un par de jugadores”
“No le llega el agua al tanque”
To express when someone else ( or we ourselves) are Insane, out of our wits, deranged, cuckoo or bananas, to express when we have a “screw loose”, we make this gesture, which seems to have something to do with Frankenstein.
“Barking mad”
“Not playing with a full deck”
“As crazy as a loon”
“Off your rocker”
“He needs his head examined”
Se ajusta un tornillo imaginario a la altura de la sien.
Adjust an imaginary screw at your temple.
