| Ann |
: |
Look at the cute cat and the girl in Picture1 ! Each one has a hand beside their
head . |
| Koji |
: |
We call the cat manekineko in Japanese . People believe it invites
a lot of people and money to their stores
.When I tell others to come , I move my hand
like that. |
| Ann |
: |
I see . When I say " , " and invite people , I usually put
up my hand the other way and move it like
in Picture . Now look at Picture 2.You often do the same thing. |
| Koji |
: |
Do I ? |
| Ann |
: |
That's it ! When you do that , I look at
your nose . I was afraid something was wrong
with your nose at first . |
| Koji |
: |
Oh , no ! |
| Ann |
: |
Please don't feel bad . I was just surprised
. When I say " " I use my hand in a different way .
I touch myself with one hand like in Picture . Different cultures have different
customs . |
| Koji |
: |
I understand that . Well , what does the
woman in Picture 3 want to say ? |
| Ann |
: |
Maybe , " I don't know ." |
| Koji |
: |
Oh , you don't know . |
| Ann |
: |
No , no , Koji ! I think that the woman in
the picture wants to say that she doesn't
know . |
| Koji |
: |
Oh , I see . When I mean the same thing , I often shake
my head quickly like in Picture 4. The same action also means "
No . " |
| Ann |
: |
It is the same in my culture , too . |
| Koji |
: |
It is just like a language . |
| Ann |
: |
You are right , Koji . We can understand
the meaning without words if we understand
the use of our bodies . |
| (注) |
shake my head 首を横に振る |