If you’ve ever witnessed an Indian wobbling his head,
You’ve probably wondered “was that a yes or was that a no“? OR
Perhaps you thought there’s something wrong with that neck
while they viscously nodded to your speech?
I’ve been wobbling my head since almost three decades now without realising – it wasn’t a norm elsewhere. So, when in the Netherlands someone actually asked me, if by nodding, I meant a yes or a no, I was stumped. That they didn’t know what I meant came in as a surprise to me. I gulped down the embarrassment.
But that didn’t stop me from wobbling my head.
Instead I decided to publish these guidelines! 😎
How to Interpret the Indian head wobble?
1. This is a YES
[old story]
Someone : Would you like a beer?
Me: nodded up and down
Someone: Brings a beer for everyone but me.
(Didn’t register a Yes.) 😒
A simple nod (up and down) means an obvious yes. It’s a pity that sign language hasn’t evolved so much so to officially register this gesture yet. I even considered doing a voice over with my head wobble. (destroys the whole purpose of wobble business) 😑
2. Then what is a NO?
A simple nod left and right means a NO.
Having lived in Europe for last six years, I’ve tried most cheese. I am confident to say that I hate blue cheese You’re lucky that I tried it even once. It smelled so foul that I had to gulp down the whole piece. 🤢
That was tough. But then someone asked “if I wanted more ?”
I nodded my head (in disgust).
I thought that was clear – an obvious NO
But there they were, pouring some more!
If it weren’t for that someone, I wouldn’t have given up french cheese!
3. What’s with that constant nod?
A constant nod can be super confusing. You wanna know what it really means?
It means – I’ve got to speak even as you speak. (be it with my wobbling head)
It is telepathy to convey if someone agrees or disagrees. (of course, that assuming that their opinion is important enough to be known) 😎
[True story]
Boss: This year hasn’t been good for the company. We can’t offer promotions. blah blah blah
Me : continual nodding head left and right
Boss : In fact we’re thinking of cutting down salaries. We’re looking for volunteers. blah blah blah
Me : (still nodding)
Boss: You! Are you volunteering?
Me : Err.. ah?
[I just disagreed]
The next time I sit in those board room meetings, I’ll bring some sign boards along with me.
A continual nod left and right means a NO (emphasized)
A continual nod up and down means a YES (emphasized)
4. A nod to greet
India has got a population of more than a billion.
You’ve got no time to greet everybody, That’s why they invented a wobble to greet.
[day to day story]
At Coffee machine
Indian colleague : [smiles and nods]
Me: [smiles and nods}
Another Indian comes : [nods at both of us]
Me : [nods]
End of conversation!
Are there more expressions?
Head wobbling is a language on its own. They’re a dozen other expressions to convey your message. I suggest you scroll through YouTube once.
Although the ones I describe here, cover eighty percent of the wobbling business.
Why do Indians do the head wobble?
Good question. I’ve got a theory for this. (since there is no exact answer)
A lot of communication in India is non verbal.
Facial expressions, hand gestures, tone of your voice and the head wobble.
They’re all used to emphasize your view, to be influential (amidst crowd and chaos).
The head wobble comes in very handy when talking to strangers,
who don’t speak your language or while talking to acquaintances,
who would not listen. Wobbling as you speak means double emphasis.
You certainly get the attention.
Addendum: Seventy percent of human communication is actually non verbal.
Head wobble is one of the many non verbal ways to communicate.
If you don’t wobble, what is it that you might be doing? 🙄
#Indianheadwobbleexplained
© Copyright 2020. Megha Gupta. All rights reserved.