Sometimes sign language is more eloquent than any words. Take, for example, the famous “goat” flaring, which among criminals means “to tear apart, I’ll poke blinkers”, carries the good news from Christians, and in some European countries it is addressed to cuckolds.
And if for fun, to stick out the little finger, what would people think? There are several interesting versions about this. Moreover, you can stick out your thumb and immediately become the best friend of surfers or … alcoholics ?! First things first.
Why do people set aside the little finger
Some protrude the little finger purposefully, others unconsciously. This happens mainly during the meal, when they hold a fork, knife, cup or glass in this hand. What does the protruding little finger mean today? There are several versions on this score:
- A man is trying to look intelligent, refined, wants to show his good manners.
- They say Uncle Abe, who is also Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States, always did this when he drank tea, and modern Americans are trying to imitate him.
- The protruding little finger of one of the interlocutors means that there are certain boundaries in their communication.
- An ironic gesture indicating that your monologue is not taken seriously.
- It is believed that people who lie a lot or hide something, unconsciously try to protrude the little finger.
Today, many consider this manner to be bad, vulgar and inappropriate in the modern world. However, the origin of this gesture is fully justified, moreover, there is a version that the protruding little finger is nothing more than a manifestation of a person’s genetic memory of his aristocratic ancestors.
Porcelain age and the last finger set aside
Until the beginning of the 18th century, only the Chinese owned the art of making porcelain and kept their technology in the strictest confidence. In Europe, porcelain figurines and dishes were terribly expensive and accessible only to very wealthy families.
Porcelain cups for tea drinking were extremely miniature with very tiny handles, and it was impossible to grasp them with all fingers. Therefore, we had to take four, and the little finger - to protrude to the side.
And even in those days, they did not hesitate to demonstrate their wealth and decorated all their fingers with rings and massive rings in several rows. Hence another interesting version: there were so many jewels on the fingers that they did not come together and the extreme finger, the little finger, seemed very protruding.
Carrying all the treasures was inconvenient, and the fashion quickly passed, but the gesture remained and was the prerogative of the upper class. However, the servant liked to adopt the manners of the owners, and they began to set aside the little finger in a row, considering it a good form and an opportunity to somehow demonstrate their "nobility".
Adherents of the following hypothesis believe that the aristocracy had nothing to do with it and the protruding of the little finger went from the military.
Valorous Hussar's Battle Injury
Hussars, tired of feats of arms, lodged in the inn, where they beautifully and casually picked up wine glasses and did not hesitate to slightly protrude the little finger. Such a gesture could not go unnoticed by the townsfolk, and imitating the hussar's manners was extremely prestigious.
People just did not think that the little fingers of the grunt simply did not bend due to injuries received from the force of the blow with the arms of their own weapons - a Hungarian saber or finisher.
It is likely that both versions took place. But palmists have their own opinion on why people stick their little fingers out without knowing it themselves.
Yes, you are in deep stress, gentlemen!
The fortunetellers on the arm believe that a person involuntarily sets aside the little finger, being in a state of mental confusion. The stronger the emotional stress, the more the finger is retracted. And if a person is gesticulating with spread little fingers, he has severe stress or deep grief.
In a noble environment, ladies pampered from birth were completely unable to cope with stress and fainted for one reason they knew. Accordingly, they constantly experienced some mental anguish and, according to palmists, walked with protruding little fingers. In this manner, charm and sophistication were seen, therefore, both the countess and the merchants began to be depicted on canvases with a gracefully set apart little finger.
After the revolution, the gesture remained a relic of the bourgeoisie, a symbol of vulgarity and prudence. But the protruding little finger and thumb - the famous shaka - take on completely different meanings.
Cut thieves fingers!
If you go to rest on the islands of Polynesia, leave the habit of placing the extreme fingers on your hand at home. According to local legend, this is how inveterate scammers greet each other here, and not because they like it that way, but simply nothing else.
For each theft, the index, middle and ring fingers were chopped off for each theft, and the extreme fingers were left so that the punished would not lose his ability to hold simple tools in his hand.
Hawaiian greeting
What do the protruding little fingers and thumb mean - every surfer and paratrooper knows. Many believe that Shaka hails from the Hawaiian Islands, where athletes in anticipation of their big wave greet each other with this gesture. And then such conquers were adopted by conquerors of waves all over the world.
Paratroopers do the same, signaling their willingness to courageously jump into the abyss from the side of the aircraft.
In general, in Hawaii, a combination of bulging thumb and little finger is used by everyone - from small to large. So people greet, say goodbye and wish each other good luck.
By the way, the famous football players: Mohammed Salah, Antoine Griezmann and Ronaldinho very often and with pleasure show the fans. Of course, after a goal scored.
Caribbean insult
A man unfamiliar with the customs of the Caribbean can get into a mess and cause serious trouble, showing the girl a shaku even without any thought.
Here, this gesture is used to offer intimacy, and in the best case, the insolence is fined, in the worst case, they will be summoned to the court on charges of harassment.
Maybe startled?
Local marginals, crowded in the corners of the yards, without any words understand what the protruding little finger and thumb mean. Wouldn't they send us a messenger? Maybe a little? Come on, startled? In this case, it is not necessary to bring a hand to your mouth. You can simply shake the palm with the three fingers gathered and the extreme apart, and do not need extra words.
Secret Sign of Drug Dealers
Another example of the bad use of the famous shaki. In the doorways and in badly reputed clubs, drug dealers tell customers in this way that they can buy weed from them.
Many of them got burnt on this gesture, therefore, among drug dealers today they rarely show shaku and are extremely careful.
