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THE THAI HAVE A TRADITIONAL WAY OF GREETING CALLED THE "WAI."
THIS HOLDS THE SAME SIGNIFICANCE AS THE AMERICAN HANDSHAKE,
BUT ALSO SIGNIFIES RESPECT, THANKS, OR APOLOGY. A PERSON
"WAIS" BY PLACING HIS HANDS TOGETHER IN A PRAYERFULL MANNER
AND LIFTING THEM TO HIS FACE WITH THE THUMBS BELOW THE
CHIN AND THE INDEX FINGERS AGAINST THE FOREHEAD, AND THE
HEAD SLIGHTLY BOWED. REFUSING TO RETURN A "WAIS" HAS THE
SAME EFFECT AS REFUSING A HAND SHAKE.
Where learned: THAILAND
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Gesture SPEECH -- Greetings Salutations SPEECH -- Respect |
Date learned: 03-00-1971