The famous Indian head nod or wiggle

Feb 25th, 2002, 12:48

hello everybody.

Just another basic question about India...

when most Indian people I meet talk, they move their heads in a funny way.
in the beginning I thought it was supposed to mean "maybe" but they just keep doing that all the time.

any ideas?

10q.

Feb 25th, 2002, 13:55

and not "maybe", also "no problem" but never "no". You will learn it fast and can confuse your friends at home, have fun.
Gerlinde

picklepak · Feb 26th, 2002, 16:03

I find it highly entertaining to meet other travelers who've been in India long enough that they can do their little Indian head-wiggle without even realizing it. It's great to watch their conversations from a far. I still have to try to do it consciously do it but it's fun nonetheless, and I'm getting better at it. hehe.

Mar 28th, 2002, 11:37

a friend of mine who is indian-american called me on the head wiggle the other day when i was talking to a professor from india. he started wiggling and i started wiggling right back... even when you've been back for ages, you can't escape the wiggle! (also known as "the bobble."

Tom · Mar 28th, 2002, 13:22

I do the Indian head wiggle and it buggs the hell out of me, I just cant stop doing it

IVAN · Mar 28th, 2002, 17:48

During my first contact with India I had a sense of rejection or disaproval because of the head tilting.
In my country, and I guess in Europe in general, this head movement is used to express mild disaproval mainly for the actions of a child. Kind of: "Hmmm... bad boy, I will let you have it this time, but..."
After learning what it meant, I quickly unconsciously picked it up and sometimes inadvertently do it even at home.

Midnite Toker · Mar 29th, 2002, 16:52

Well, you all seem like talented people. I wonder how many other India hands there are like me, who - despite practising in front of a mirror in the privacy of their home - have failed to master the said wiggle.

The best I've been able to get is a rather jerky snap to one side or the other, not unlike those with an uncontrollable tic. The smootheness just isn't there, and I don't want to appear like I'm mocking the afflicted, so I gave up on the exercise. But then, I don't dance very well, either...

I suspect it is something in the genes which determines whether one can do this head movement - rather like furrowing the tongue (another one I tried and failed with). Could there be a grant going for a possible research project here?

Tom · Mar 31st, 2002, 13:31

You need to fully relax your neck and shoulders to get that smoothness which you desire

May 3rd, 2002, 10:59

I have fully mastered it and quite embarassingly do it all the time now. Indidans who have travelled know that generally white girls cannot do this, find it most amusing.

iasis · May 3rd, 2002, 23:55

how exactly the specific movement goes...I hearing this for first time here....

Yes ofcourse I heard it for first time since Ihavent been to India yet!!!

Although I have been confused in other countries ...i.e:Bulgaria where the thing with the head movements are exactly the opossite from my country!
So anyone can describe the specific Indian Head movement??
How u called it????

thanks
iasis

jonnybardo · Oct 10th, 2003, 18:34

OK, I've been in India for a bit over a week (am currently in Kovalam staying at the lovely guesthouse Hari Lekshmi) and feel like I'm starting to get SOME glimmer of understanding of some of the subtleties of the Indian head bobble, but am wondering if anyone knows the ins and outs of it? It seems like it can mean anything from "Go on, I'm listening," to "Yes", "No," "What the hell are you saying?" Etc.

Any tips? Are there standards like the Western shake and nod? Or is it entirely contextual?

steven_ber · Oct 10th, 2003, 18:53

Indians and the weird head tilting.

Understanding head and hand gestures in India.

Apana · Oct 10th, 2003, 20:33

We need a head bobble smiley and a hand waving smiley.

Apana

e101g · Oct 11th, 2003, 04:00

Indian bobble head smiley..
I know it's not perfect. I'll work on it..

concoran · Oct 11th, 2003, 04:31

An up and down movement of head generally indicates 'yes'.
Side to side a little vigoruosly means 'No'

Side to side slowly -> (quite funny). Take an example, you are
explaining a bad situation to your friend or complaining about
something (like no electricity), your friend might move his head
side to side (slowly) which means, he understands your situation
but also agrees with you that the thing should not have
happened.

Feb 25th, 2002, 12:48	#1
toasted Posts: n/a	The famous Indian head nod or wiggle hello everybody. Just another basic question about India... when most Indian people I meet talk, they move their heads in a funny way. in the beginning I thought it was supposed to mean "maybe" but they just keep doing that all the time. any ideas? 10q.

Feb 25th, 2002, 13:55	#2
Gerlinde Posts: n/a	"yes" and not "maybe", also "no problem" but never "no". You will learn it fast and can confuse your friends at home, have fun. Gerlinde

Feb 26th, 2002, 16:03	#3
picklepak Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Calgary, Canada Posts: 274	practice, practice I find it highly entertaining to meet other travelers who've been in India long enough that they can do their little Indian head-wiggle without even realizing it. It's great to watch their conversations from a far. I still have to try to do it consciously do it but it's fun nonetheless, and I'm getting better at it. hehe.

Mar 28th, 2002, 17:48	#6
IVAN Left this for-um Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Unspecified Posts: 822	During my first contact with India I had a sense of rejection or disaproval because of the head tilting. In my country, and I guess in Europe in general, this head movement is used to express mild disaproval mainly for the actions of a child. Kind of: "Hmmm... bad boy, I will let you have it this time, but..." After learning what it meant, I quickly unconsciously picked it up and sometimes inadvertently do it even at home. __________________ Humor is Freedom Ivan's Links -> http://www14.brinkster.com/jnana/links.htm

Mar 29th, 2002, 16:52	#7
Midnite Toker absconding member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Vienna, Austria Posts: 509	I'm missing out somewhere Well, you all seem like talented people. I wonder how many other India hands there are like me, who - despite practising in front of a mirror in the privacy of their home - have failed to master the said wiggle. The best I've been able to get is a rather jerky snap to one side or the other, not unlike those with an uncontrollable tic. The smootheness just isn't there, and I don't want to appear like I'm mocking the afflicted, so I gave up on the exercise. But then, I don't dance very well, either... I suspect it is something in the genes which determines whether one can do this head movement - rather like furrowing the tongue (another one I tried and failed with). Could there be a grant going for a possible research project here?

Mar 28th, 2002, 11:37	#4
penguin Posts: n/a	a friend of mine who is indian-american called me on the head wiggle the other day when i was talking to a professor from india. he started wiggling and i started wiggling right back... even when you've been back for ages, you can't escape the wiggle! (also known as "the bobble."

Mar 28th, 2002, 13:22	#5
Tom Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: South East England Posts: 14	I do the Indian head wiggle and it buggs the hell out of me, I just cant stop doing it

Mar 31st, 2002, 13:31	#8
Tom Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: South East England Posts: 14	You need to fully relax your neck and shoulders to get that smoothness which you desire

May 3rd, 2002, 10:59	#9
Unregistered Posts: n/a	I have fully mastered it and quite embarassingly do it all the time now. Indidans who have travelled know that generally white girls cannot do this, find it most amusing.

May 3rd, 2002, 23:55	#10
iasis Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: neverland Posts: 77	interesting indeed...he he how exactly the specific movement goes...I hearing this for first time here.... Yes ofcourse I heard it for first time since Ihavent been to India yet!!! Although I have been confused in other countries ...i.e:Bulgaria where the thing with the head movements are exactly the opossite from my country! So anyone can describe the specific Indian Head movement?? How u called it???? thanks iasis

Oct 10th, 2003, 18:34	#11
jonnybardo Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: mysore for now Posts: 78	The (in)famous Indian head bobble OK, I've been in India for a bit over a week (am currently in Kovalam staying at the lovely guesthouse Hari Lekshmi) and feel like I'm starting to get SOME glimmer of understanding of some of the subtleties of the Indian head bobble, but am wondering if anyone knows the ins and outs of it? It seems like it can mean anything from "Go on, I'm listening," to "Yes", "No," "What the hell are you saying?" Etc. Any tips? Are there standards like the Western shake and nod? Or is it entirely contextual?

Oct 10th, 2003, 18:53	#12
steven_ber Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: South of England. Posts: 11,569	Indians and the weird head tilting. Understanding head and hand gestures in India.

Oct 10th, 2003, 20:33	#13
Apana Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Hyderabad, India Posts: 146	We need a head bobble smiley and a hand waving smiley. Apana

Oct 11th, 2003, 04:00	#14
e101g Just a dude.. Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: USofA Posts: 58	Indian bobble head smiley.. I know it's not perfect. I'll work on it.. Attached Images Last edited by e101g : Oct 11th, 2003 at 04:38.

Oct 11th, 2003, 04:31	#15
concoran Explorer Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Desert Southwest Posts: 319	An up and down movement of head generally indicates 'yes'. Side to side a little vigoruosly means 'No' Side to side slowly -> (quite funny). Take an example, you are explaining a bad situation to your friend or complaining about something (like no electricity), your friend might move his head side to side (slowly) which means, he understands your situation but also agrees with you that the thing should not have happened.

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