Nod (gesture)

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A depiction of a man nodding

A nod of the head is a gesture in which the head is tilted in alternating up and down arcs along the sagittal plane. In many cultures, it is most commonly, but not universally, used to indicate agreement, acceptance, or acknowledgment.

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 the Indian subcontinent (note that the head bobble also shows agreement there), Iran, Southeast Asia, Western Europe, Latin America and North America. Nodding may also be used as a sign of recognition in some areas. Nodding is also used to show respect. Insult can be inferred if it is not returned in kind.

Nodding to indicate refusal

There are few exceptions with some countries swapping the meanings between nodding and shaking head: in Macedonia, Bulgaria and Albania a single nod of the head up (not down) indicates a "no".

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. ^{[citation needed]} It has also been stated^[1] that babies, when hungry, search for milk by moving their heads vertically, but decline milk by turning their head from side to side.

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.

Nodding as greeting

Nodding can also be used as a form of nonverbal greeting or acknowledgement of another's presence; in this context, it is essentially an especially mild form of bowing, with just enough movement to show a degree of respect without additional formality. This includes the traditional downwards nod, or the upwards nod (which is more informal and usually used among friends or subordinates). To increase the formality, the downwards nod may also be accompanied by a suitable verbal greeting.

Nodding syndrome

Nodding is also a symptom of a yet unexplained disease. It affects mostly children under 15, and was first documented in Tanzania in 1962.^[2]

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Head nodding.

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Friendly gestures	Air kiss Applause Cheek kissing Dap greeting Elbow bump Eskimo kissing Fist bump Handshake Hat tip High five Hongi ILY sign Namaste Pound hug Shaka Thumbs signal Wai Wave

Gestures of respect	Adab Bowing Curtsey Genuflection Hand-kissing Kowtow Kuji-in Mano Mudra Namaste Prostration Schwurhand Zolgokh

Salutes	Bellamy salute Nazi salute Raised fist Roman salute Scout sign and salute Serbian salute Two-finger salute Vulcan salute Zogist salute

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Obscene gestures	A-ok Anasyrma Bras d'honneur Cornuto Fig sign Finger Mooning Mountza Shocker Wanker

Taunts	Akanbe Finger Loser Talk to the hand

Head motions	Head shake Head bobble Nod

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