Head bobble
Encyclopedia
The head bobble, head wobble, or Indian head shake refers to a common gesture
found in South Asia
n cultures, most notably in India
. This form of nonverbal communication
is sometimes referred to as "Indian head shake" or as travel journalist
Stephan Wilkinson has described it, "a vague cock of the head." The motion usually consists of a side-to-side tilting of the head in arcs along the coronal plane. It is often performed by the listener in agreement with what is being said by the speaker, such that the speaker perceives there is 'no problem' with the message currently being conveyed.
In India the gesture is common in the southern parts, but may not be used consistently all around the country.
In Bulgaria
, this is the equivalent of a nod meaning yes, whereas a quick nod up means no.
In the novel Shantaram
, the character discusses becoming familiar with the "head wiggle" as a visitor to Bombay.
Gesture
A gesture is a form of non-verbal communication in which visible bodily actions communicate particular messages, either in place of speech or together and in parallel with spoken words. Gestures include movement of the hands, face, or other parts of the body...
found in South Asia
South Asia
South Asia, also known as Southern Asia, is the southern region of the Asian continent, which comprises the sub-Himalayan countries and, for some authorities , also includes the adjoining countries to the west and the east...
n cultures, most notably in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. This form of nonverbal communication
Nonverbal communication
Nonverbal communication is usually understood as the process of communication through sending and receiving wordless messages. Messages can be communicated through gestures and touch , by body language or posture, by facial expression and eye contact...
is sometimes referred to as "Indian head shake" or as travel journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
Stephan Wilkinson has described it, "a vague cock of the head." The motion usually consists of a side-to-side tilting of the head in arcs along the coronal plane. It is often performed by the listener in agreement with what is being said by the speaker, such that the speaker perceives there is 'no problem' with the message currently being conveyed.
In India the gesture is common in the southern parts, but may not be used consistently all around the country.
In Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
, this is the equivalent of a nod meaning yes, whereas a quick nod up means no.
In the novel Shantaram
Shantaram (novel)
Shantaram is a 2003 novel by Gregory David Roberts, in which a convicted Australian bank robber and heroin addict who escaped from Pentridge Prison flees to India where he lives for 10 years...
, the character discusses becoming familiar with the "head wiggle" as a visitor to Bombay.