"Nonverbal communication, or "body language", is communication by facial expressions, head or eyes movements, hand signals, and body postures. It can be just as important to understand as words are. Misunderstandings – often amusing but sometimes serious – can arise between people from different cultures if they misinterpret nonverbal signals. For example, take the differences in meaning of a gesture that is very common in the United States: a circle made with the thumb and index finger. To an American, it means that everything is OK. To Japanese, it means that you are talking about money. In France, it means that something is worthless. Meanwhile in Greece, it is an obscene gesture. Therefore, an American could unknowingly offend a Greek by using that particular hand signal."