British tourists risk hand gesture offence

       British tourists run the risk of causing unwitting offence with their hand gestures, according to a survey. More than 80 per cent of Britons are unaware that “the sign of the horns” – often demonstrated by rock music fans at concerts by extending their index and little fingers – is highly offensive in several countries, including France, Italy and Spain.  Almost two thirds of British tourists (60 per cent) said they used hand gestures in everyday conversation, more than the French and even more surprisingly, than the Italians, who are usually considered much more demonstrative. According to TripAdvisor, residents of other countries are just as likely to commit acts of cultural ignorance when it comes to expressive hand gestures. More than one in 10 respondents in France (11 per cent), Italy (12 per cent) and Spain (11 per cent) said they did not know the “two-fingered salute” could be seen as an insulting gesture.  Despite the stereotype, only two per cent of British travellers admitted to speaking more loudly as a way of communicating with those not fluent in English.