Pointing with the Lips

I had never considered pointing with any other part of my body other than my finger.... until I lived in Costa Rica, that is. 

Why would one use a finger to point when the hands are so often busy doing more important tasks than gesturing.  That is what the lips are for. 

When you are cooking and ask a Costa Rican where a certain ingredient is, it is through a pucker of the lips, an eyebrow lift, and a slight head tilt that you will most likely get that information.  Make sure to follow the eyes because the lips aren't very specific in giving directions.... which I just realized reflects the way verbal directions are given as well. 

Another funny aspect of lip pointing is the phrase "Mr. Fly."  When talking about someone to a friend, you might point with your lips at that person and say, "alla está Mr. Fly."  (Over there, is Mr. Fly).  I don't know why Mr. Fly is said in English or why Mr. Fly can be a man or a woman.... but there you go. 

There are so many different gestures in this culture - from "one hand clapping" to "Mr. fly" .... from gestures that signify the urgency of going to the bathroom to how full a party was... the learning never ends.  Like I've been saying a lot lately, language and verbal expression goes so much deeper than words.