Head bobble
The head bobble, head wobble, or Indian head shake refers to a common gesture found in South Asian cultures, most notably in India. The motion usually consists of a side-to-side tilting of the head in arcs along the coronal plane. A form of nonverbal communication, it may mean yes, good, maybe, ok, or I understand, depending on the context
In India, a head bobble can have a variety of different meanings. Most frequently it means yes, or is used to indicate understanding. The meaning of the head bobble depends on the context of the conversation or encounter. It can serve as an alternative to thank you, as a polite introduction, or it can represent acknowledgement.
Head bobbles can also be used in an intentionally vague manner. An unenthusiastic head bobble can be a polite way of declining something without saying no directly. The gesture is common throughout India. However, it is used more frequently in South India and Sri Lanka.
The Indian headshake decoded
A video decoding Indian headshakes has gone viral, attracting over a million hits in a week. What does its popularity tell us about the way Indians see themselves?
"A lot of people might find it strange," says Paul Mathew. "But if you are born in India, as you grow up, it becomes a part of your character, your personality, that as you talk you tend to move your head in different ways." Mathew, originally from south India but now working in the film industry in Mumbai, is the writer and director of Indian Headshakes - What Do They Mean? which has garnered more than a million views on YouTube since it was uploaded last week. "If we had known that this video was going to get such awesome viewership we would have shot it better," he says.
The film presents an array of headshakes and shows how subtle variations in velocity, vigour and amplitude of wobble denote different meanings, including: "yes", "no", "maybe", "what's up?" and "carry on". Mathew admits that his headshakes have been somewhat exaggerated for comic effect, but maintains that it's a true picture of a national trait. The response on social media has been broadly positive. "Oh the accuracy! Love it :)" reads one comment on YouTube. Other comments are a little more sceptical, with some saying that Indian headshakes are more prevalent in the south than the north of the country. BBC Monitoring's Vikas Pandey says that most Indians shake their head unconsciously, with many only realising they do it when foreigners ask them if they mean "yes" or "no". He believes the popularity of the video within India is a sign of the country's growing internationalism. "Indians are becoming more self-aware," he says.
Cracking India’s mystifying ‘nod code’
One thing all travellers to India talk about - apart from the dreaded Delhi Belly, of course - is the great Indian head nod
In Thanjavur city, in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, street markets are flooded with a particular type of bobblehead toy. It is known in Tamil as the Thanjavur Thalaiyatti Bommai, literally meaning The Head Shaking Doll of Thanjavur. The brightly painted clay bommai, usually the figure of a classical dancer or an old couple as a set, comes in two parts: the full body and the head that sits loosely on a small hinge extending up from the neck. A slight tap on the head, or even a vigorous breeze, can set off the head shaking from side to side in an almost circular fashion.
This is the closest imitation of the unique Indian gesture that often leaves visitors to the country flummoxed. One thing all travellers to India talk about – apart from the dreaded Delhi Belly, of course – is the great Indian head nod. It’s not exactly a nod (up and down from the neck, meant to indicate ‘yes’) – or a shake (straight side to side to convey ‘no’). It’s a smooth movement that involves tilting the head from side to side vertically, either gently or fiercely.
The great nod is also called the Indian head wobble, bobble, waggle or the headshake. It is not a jerky or firm motion, but even and continuous; one that Priya Pathiyan, a Mumbai-based writer who conducts guided tours in her city for visitors, describes as “somewhat like an infinity sign, or a numeral eight lying down”. There are pages of writing devoted to it on the internet, not to mention demonstration videos, to demystify it for the traveller. A casual search on YouTube throws up dozens of enthusiasts – both Indians and foreigners – attempting to explain the Indian head nod. A few years ago, one such video even went viral, attracting more than a million views in just a week.
Why Do Indians Shake Their Heads?
The peculiar Indian head nod has bemused lots of travelers | © Harsha K R / flickr
As thrilling and amusing as a trip to India is, sometimes the many different cultures and traditions throughout the country can be confusing. One thing that often bewilders travelers is the Indian head bobble. The head nod is so intrinsic to Indian culture that locals hardly realise they’re doing it or how confusing it may be for someone who isn’t familiar with it. This guide will help decode why Indians shake their heads.
The Indian head wobble is a non-verbal, short and quick mode of communication and depending on how the head and chin is moved, it could have several meanings. When an local slightly dips his head and ducks his chin quickly about three or four times, it means he agrees with you. The gesture could also mean the person is saying ‘yes’ to whatever you just said or asked. The same head nod is used to show that the person is being attentive to what you’re saying.
You will observe that the same head shaking gesture is used by someone to show their gratitude. At such times the head nod is accompanied with a smile. So, next time you tip your driver or the guy who helped you park, you will see this head nod with a grateful smile.
Asian Boss 9 April 2019 · India , Mumbai
In India, there’s a common gesture Indian people do that could be very confusing to foreigners who aren’t very familiar with Indian culture: Head bobbing. We hit the streets of Mumbai to find out if Indians are aware of the Indian head bobble.
#HeadBobbling #IndianHeadBobble #Bobblehead
Netizens outraged after F45 fitness studio posts racially insensitive video of two women shaking their heads side to side, while saying “Happy Deepavali”
A video circulating online of two women at F45 Fitness Studio in Serangoon Garden has made its way around the internet, drawing the ire of netizens for being insensitive.
The fitness studio, which is part of a chain, uploaded a 14-second Instagram Story – which has since been taken down – featuring two women on Thursday (Nov 4). In the clip, the two women, presumably members of the studio, could be seen shaking their heads side to side vigorously, while saying “Happy Deepavali”.
Other voices can be heard laughing in the background. Whilst doing the head movement, one of the women said: “My head/hair cannot turn”. The head bobble or Indian head shake derogatorily refers to a common gesture found in South Asian cultures, most notably in India.
