Abstract:The following paper aims at highlighting intercultural misunderstandings that can occur due to different semantic values of emblems, a gesture type generally defined as having an accepted verbal translation in a certain culture or community. To illustrate such problems, the semantic meanings of two emblems in Colombia and Germany are described. Misunderstandings caused by the use of these emblems are then explained from a communicative point of view, using Austin's speech-act theory. Additionally, the article … Show more
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