The finger: Difference between revisions
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In [[Western world|Western cultures]], '''the finger''' (as in '''giving someone the finger''') is a well-known [[obscene]] [[hand gesture]] made by extending the middle finger of the hand while bending the other fingers into the palm. A known variation includes extending the thumb as well. A variation of the gesture is made by showing someone the back of the hand, with three fingers extended, and telling the recipient to "read between the lines". Another variation includes folding the ring and index fingers alongside the middle finger. |
In [[Western world|Western cultures]], '''the finger''' (as in '''giving someone the finger''') is a well-known [[obscene]] [[hand gesture]] made by extending the middle finger of the hand while bending the other fingers into the palm. A known variation includes extending the thumb as well. A variation of the gesture is made by showing someone the back of the hand, with three fingers extended, and telling the recipient to "read between the lines". Another variation includes folding the ring and index fingers alongside the middle finger. |
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The gesture is also known as the "bird", the "highway salute", "The New York Hello", "concert C", and "flipping/flicking someone off". The gesture is mostly used as a non-verbal way of saying "[[Fuck you]]" |
The gesture is also known as the "bird", the "highway salute", "The New York Hello", "concert C", and "flipping/flicking someone off". The gesture is mostly used as a non-verbal way of saying "[[Fuck you]]". When both hands are used, it is known as the "double-barrel salute," the "double deuce," or the "dirty double." |
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In the [[United Kingdom|UK]], [[Ireland]], [[Australia]] and [[New Zealand]], the [[V sign#The V sign as an insult|V sign]] serves a similar purpose (primarily "Fuck off"), whilst "the bird" is more often used for "up yours", "swivel on it", "sit and swivel on it" or "sit and spin". |
In the [[United Kingdom|UK]], [[Ireland]], [[Australia]] and [[New Zealand]], the [[V sign#The V sign as an insult|V sign]] serves a similar purpose (primarily "Fuck off"), whilst "the bird" is more often used for "up yours", "swivel on it", "sit and swivel on it" or "sit and spin". |
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Revision as of 16:33, 12 October 2007
In Western cultures, the finger (as in giving someone the finger) is a well-known obscene hand gesture made by extending the middle finger of the hand while bending the other fingers into the palm. A known variation includes extending the thumb as well. A variation of the gesture is made by showing someone the back of the hand, with three fingers extended, and telling the recipient to "read between the lines". Another variation includes folding the ring and index fingers alongside the middle finger.
The gesture is also known as the "bird", the "highway salute", "The New York Hello", "concert C", and "flipping/flicking someone off". The gesture is mostly used as a non-verbal way of saying "Fuck you". When both hands are used, it is known as the "double-barrel salute," the "double deuce," or the "dirty double."
In the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand, the V sign serves a similar purpose (primarily "Fuck off"), whilst "the bird" is more often used for "up yours", "swivel on it", "sit and swivel on it" or "sit and spin".
Origin
The origin of this gesture is speculative, but is quite possibly thousands of years old. It is identified as the digitus impudicus ("impudent finger") in Ancient Roman writings[1] and reference is made to using the finger in the Ancient Greek comedy The Clouds by Aristophanes. It was defined there as a gesture intended to insult another. The widespread usage of the finger in many cultures is likely due to the geographical influence of the Roman Empire and Greco-Roman civilization. Another possible origin of this gesture can be found in the first-century Mediterranean world, where extending the digitus impudicus was one of many methods used to divert the ever present threat of the evil eye.[2]
There is a popular story about English bowmen waving fingers at the French knights who did not manage to cut them off during the Hundred Years' War. However, this is a confusion with the origins of the V sign, which are themselves in question.[3]
Another possible origin is the phallic imagery of the raised middle finger (the middle finger being the longest finger on the human hand), similar to the Italian version of the bent elbow insult. Also, there is a variation of the finger where it can be done by performing The Fangul, by sticking out the finger during the throwing motion.
Famous examples
In politics
- In 1968, captured crew members of the USS Pueblo (AGER-2) used a discreet version of the finger as a covert signal of "obscene derisiveness and contempt" (quoted from a newspaper caption) in propaganda photos taken by their North Korean captors.[4] The gesture was explained to the North Koreans as 'the Hawaiian Good Luck sign'.
- In Canada, showing the middle finger is sometimes called the "Trudeau salute" (or "Salmon Arm salute") after Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, because of a famous photo of him giving the finger to protesters in Salmon Arm, British Columbia. He had also used the gesture in the Canadian House of Commons. Prior to becoming Premier of Alberta, the then-Environment minister Ralph Klein was caught on camera giving the finger to a protester during a 1990 meeting about a contentious pulp mill project.[5]
- On July 9, 2003, Philip Wong Yu-hong (Chinese: 黃宜弘), a member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong, was seen giving the finger to protestors as he left the Legislative Council building.[6][7]
- In 2003, the influential newsmagazine The Economist featured an illustration of a cactus tree shaped as if giving the finger on the cover of its September 20 issue. The illustration reflected the cover story, on the outcome of the Cancún ministerial meeting of the World Trade Organization.[8]
- In some subcultures in the United States, it is known as the "one-fingered victory salute", which gained popularity after this video appeared on the Internet in October 2004, showing George W. Bush, at the time of the film the Governor of Texas, using the gesture while engaging in horseplay before beginning the filming of a public address.
- In November 2004 President Bush visited Canada on his first official visit. As his motorcade made its way from the airport to downtown Ottawa he was greeted by many waves and signs. Some were excitedly welcoming him, others were telling him to leave. In addition to those giving waves of greeting, some people were giving him the finger. Bush responded to this saying, "I want to thank the Canadian people who came out to wave - with all five fingers - for their hospitality."[9]
- On February 2, 2007, Mirek Topolánek, prime minister of the Czech republic, gave the finger to left-wing deputies in the Czech parliament [10] and later explained the gesture to the media and the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Republic as a friendly gesture towards Miroslav Kalousek, one of his cabinet ministers.
- In British military spoof marching, commands such as "Left burn" instruct the troops to give the finger to the person or people on their left.
References
- ^ Adams, Cecil. "What's the origin of 'the finger'?" Straight Dope, 4 September 1998
- ^ Malina, Bruce J., The New Testament World: Insights from Cultural Anthropology, 3rd Ed., (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2001)
- ^ Mikkelson, Barbara. "Pluck Yew", Snopes.com, 29 September 1999
- ^ Russell, Stu. "The Digit Affair"
- ^ http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20061030/klein_quotes_061030/20061031/
- ^ Apple Daily, July 10, 2003
- ^ TVB noon news, July 10, 2003
- ^ Issue Cover for September 20, 2003, economist.com
- ^ http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1101820453372_40/?hub=TopStories
- ^ http://www.blesk.cz/Clanek69122.htm
