The finger
Template:Redirect6 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.
Alternate names
The gesture is also known as the "bird", "flipping [or "flicking"] someone off", or "shooting a walton" among other terms. Generally when the "bird" is given, it is intended to mean "fuck you" or "fuck off". When both hands are used (for emphasis), it may be known as the "double-barreled salute". A variation of the gesture is also made by showing someone the back of the hand, with three fingers extended, with the comment "read between the lines."
Another variation, used with the finger withdrawn into a fist but accompanied by a vigorous pumping of the bent arm into the opposite hand, is known as the "violent sendoff," or simply "the VS." This originated [citation needed] in the Southwestern United States (see also The Bras d'honneur).
Origin
The origin of this gesture is speculative, and 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 to insult another person. 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]
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.
A popular urban legend states that during the Hundred Years' War, the French would cut off the middle fingers of captured English archers so they would be unable to use their bows, and that after the Battle of Agincourt, the victorious English showed the French that their middle fingers were still intact.[3]. This legend is also said of the V sign.
In other Western cultures
In the UK, Ireland, Australia, India and New Zealand, the V sign (given with back of the hand towards the recipient) serves a similar purpose, although "the finger" is sometimes used.
In non-Western cultures
In Iran the Westernized middle-finger gesture seems to have been recognized as the offensive gesture.
In some African and Caribbean countries, a similarly obscene gesture is extending all five digits with the palm facing forward, meaning "you have five fathers" (thus calling someone a bastard).[4]
In South Asian countries such as India, social circles use the middle finger gesture in the same sense that it is used in western cultures. The same is true for most South Asian countries.[5] However, in Sri Lanka another version of the gesture exists, especially among the social circles not exposed to the western culture. In that version, the index finger is used in a similar manner to mean the same. In the Middle East, another version of the gesture is used by erecting the middle finger inwards to the palm.[citation needed] The gesture is considered extremely vulgar and stands for the sexual act of fingering.
Notable uses of the gesture
- Airmen of the U.S. 91st Bombardment Group (H) in England during World War II used what their commander, Colonel Stanley Wray, referred to as "the rigid digit salute". The gesture was intended to poke gentle fun at fellow airmen for minor acts of incompetency.[6]
- 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.[7] The gesture was explained to the North Koreans as 'the Hawaiian Good Luck sign'.
- In the late 1990s, former six-time WWE Champion Stone Cold Steve Austin gained significant mainstream popularity in the WWF as a disrespectful, beer-drinking anti-hero who routinely defied his boss, Mr. McMahon.[6] This defiance was often shown by Austin flipping McMahon off and incapacitating him with the Stone Cold Stunner, Austin's finisher.[7]
- On July 9, 2003, Philip Wong Yu-hong (Chinese: 黃宜弘), a member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong in favor of the unpopular article 23, was seen giving democracy protesters the finger as he left the Legislative Council building.[8][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.
References
- ^ Adams, Cecil. "What's the origin of 'the finger'?" Straight Dope, September 4, 1998
- ^ Malina, Bruce J., The New Testament World: Insights from Cultural Anthropology, 3rd Ed., (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2001)
- ^ Moors, Stephen., Mikkelson, Barbara."Pluck Yew", Snopes.com, September 29, 1999
- ^
"What's A-O.K. in the U.S.A. Is Lewd and Worthless Beyond". The New York Times. 1996-8-18. Retrieved 2008-04-11.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/3544/gestures.htm
- ^ Freeman, Roger A.Mighty 8th War Diary
- ^ Russell, Stu. "The Digit Affair"
- ^ Apple Daily, July 10, 2003
- ^ TVB noon news, July 10, 2003
- ^ Blesk.cz | Topolánek ukázal opozici zdvižený prostředník
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