Nod (gesture)
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A nod of the head is a gesture used in many cultures that is most commonly, but not universally, used to indicate agreement, acceptance, or acknowledgement. "Nod" or "nodding" can also be used as a slang term to describe the physiological side effect related to consuming heroin or other opiates. Casual heroin users tend to nod as they drift between sleep and consciousness.
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[edit] Nodding to indicate acceptance
Different cultures assign different meanings to the gesture. Nodding to indicate "yes" is widespread, and appears in a large number of diverse cultural and linguistic groups. Areas in which nodding generally takes this meaning include Indian Subcontinent, Western Europe, and North America. Nodding may also be used as a sign of recognition in some areas.
[edit] Origin
There are varying theories as to why nodding is so frequently used to mean "yes". One simple theory is that it is a form of bowing, indicating that one is prepared to accept what another person is saying or requesting. It has also been stated[citation needed] that babies, when hungry, search for their mother's milk by moving their heads vertically, but decline milk by turning their head from side to side. This has led some to speculate that nodding for "yes" is at least partially innate, although an explanation for some cultures' divergence would then be required.
An early survey of nodding and other gestures was The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals, written by Charles Darwin in 1872. Darwin wrote to missionaries in many parts of the world asking for information on local gestures, and concluded that nodding for "yes" was common to many different groups.
[edit] Nodding to indicate rejection
In some countries (Bulgaria and Sri Lanka) nodding actually has the opposite meaning: "no". It is possible that with the spread of Western culture, the Western use of the gesture has supplanted local usage in certain places.
[edit] Nod of acknowledgement
The nod of acknowledgement is a slight nod of the head in either a slight upwards or slight downwards motion. Despite the fact that the nod of acknowledgement is generally used among males, there are women that choose this method of acknowledgement over the standard verbal greeting or a simple wave of the hand. Although this may seem like a simple gesture there are many nuances that can either make an exchange or break it.
