Chin up (non-Mediterranean)
Chin up: absolute Mediterranean 'no', Scandinavian 'what?
Meaning
Target direction : Categorical refusal, disdain, rejection: 'no' physically embodied.
Interpreted meaning : North West: may sound arrogant or ask 'what?
Geography of misunderstanding
Neutral
- spain
- portugal
- italy
- greece
- malta
- kazakhstan
- uzbekistan
- turkmenistan
- tajikistan
- kyrgyzstan
- georgia
- armenia
- azerbaijan
Not documented
- peuples-autochtones
1. The gesture and its expected meaning
Raising the chin (or head) sharply upwards, often accompanied by a click of the tongue or a "Tsk" sound. In Italy, Greece, Spain, Portugal and Turkey, this gesture signals a curt refusal, negation or "no". The movement can also express impatience, contempt or "get out of my way".
2. Geography of misunderstanding
The gesture is specifically Mediterranean and virtually non-existent in the northern West (UK, Scandinavia, Germany). In North America, the gesture is either misunderstood or interpreted as an expression of defiance. In Asia, the gesture is totally absent from the gestural repertoire and can create confusion. A non-Mediterranean person interpreting a "chin-up no" as a simple head movement may ignore a clear refusal or direct instruction.
3. Historical background
The gesture can be traced back to ancient and medieval Mediterranean traditions of refusal. Desmond Morris documents it in Gestures: Their Origins and Distribution (1979) as a specific Greek and Turkish emblem. Roger Axtell places it in his cartography of regional misunderstandings (1998). Paul Ekman classifies it as a non-universal regional emblem in his work on facial and gestural expressions.
4. documented incidents
Incident documented in 1995: a British businessman in Greece misinterpreted a waiter's "chin-up no" as a simple head movement, leading to a confused restaurant order. Informally reported in intercultural training manuals. Another incident: during a Turkish-American negotiation, a clearly expressed gestural refusal was ignored by the American side, creating a diplomatic awkwardness.
5. Practical recommendations
To do: In the Mediterranean (Italy, Greece, Spain, Portugal, Turkey), recognize the gesture as a definitive refusal. The absence of verbal expression does not mean hesitation. Do not: Do not assume that raising the head simply means a physical movement. In multicultural contexts, ask for verbal confirmation if an ambiguous Mediterranean gesture is used. Do not insist after a chin-up no in a commercial negotiation.
Documented incidents
- — Un homme d'affaires britannique a mal interprété un chin-up no du serveur grec comme un simple mouvement de tête, conduisant à une commande de restaurant confuse et malentendus ultérieurs.
Practical recommendations
To do
- En Méditerranée, reconnaître le geste comme un refus définitif. L'absence de parole verbale n'indique pas l'hésitation.
Avoid
- Ne pas supposer que relever la tête signifie un simple mouvement. Ne pas insister après un chin-up no. En contexte multiculturel, demander confirmation verbale.
Neutral alternatives
Say "No" or "Disagree" clearly. Shake head from left to right. Use explicit verbal formulas in intercultural contexts.
Sources
- Gestures: Their Origins and Distribution
- Gestures: The Do's and Taboos of Body Language Around the World
- Gesture: Visible Action as Utterance