Emblems are:

The correct answer is D. All of the above.

Emblems are indeed nonverbal gestures that carry specific meanings and can be directly translated into verbal messages. They are often agreed upon within particular cultures, which means that their meanings can vary across different cultural contexts. Additionally, because of these cultural differences, emblems can sometimes be offensive to individuals from other cultures who may interpret them differently. Therefore, all the options provided are correct in relation to emblems.