Raising the head with eyebrows to say no (Turkish/Balkan)
Turk raises eyebrow: "No". English: "Did you hear me? A millimeter of muscle expresses two realities.
Meaning
Target direction : Categorical no; clear refusal; sometimes accompanied by tongue-clicking or brief whistling.
Interpreted meaning : Raising head and eyebrows in Turkey = not clearly expressed. West = curiosity, question or surprise. Same micro gesture, two worlds.
Geography of misunderstanding
Neutral
- turkey
- greece
- serbia
- albania
- bosnia
- kosovo
1. The gesture and its expected meaning
In Turkey, Greece and the Balkans (Serbia, Albania, Bosnia), a quick lift of the head accompanied by a raised eyebrow smile signals a clear negation: "no", "that's not possible". This gesture is often accompanied by a gentle click of the tongue or a tiny whistle ("tsk").
Ekman & Friesen (1969) and Morris et al. (1979) document this gesture as a culturally specific emblem of the Eastern Mediterranean and the Balkans.
2. Where it goes wrong: geography of misunderstanding
In the West (USA, UK, Northern Europe), the same gesture - raising the head with raised eyebrows - is interpreted as a question, surprise or expression of curiosity. "What did you say?" or "Really?"
A Turk, refusing a proposal by raising his head with eyebrows, is misunderstood by an American who thinks he's being heard or is waiting for clarification. Hence the misunderstanding: the Turk has clearly said no; the American thinks he can continue the conversation.
Matsumoto & Hwang (2013) document that this mismatch causes misunderstandings in commercial and diplomatic contexts.
3. Historical background
The Turkish/Balkan gesture of negation probably dates back to dense urban contexts (Istanbul, Athens, Sarajevo) where rapid gestures enabled communication at a distance. Ottoman Turkey also valued gestures of polite refusal and authority.
In the West, the absence of a similar tradition of micro-gestures of refusal makes this ocular-cephalic code ambiguous.
The Cold War and the Balkan/Turkish divisions reinforced the differences between Eastern and Western gestural codes.
4 Famous documented incidents
- NATO-Turkey diplomatic negotiations (years 2000-2010) Reports of misunderstanding where Turkish refusals were misinterpreted as questions or signals of continuation. Source: [DIPLOMATIC_REPORTS_ TO_BE_CHECKED].
5. Practical recommendations
- To do: In Turkey/Greece/Balkans, head up = clear refusal. In the West, use verbal language to confirm intention.
- Never do: do not assume continuation if Turk raises head. Respect this gesture as a categorical refusal.
- Alternatives: clear verbal language. Nod low to indicate refusal (rather than raising head).
- Caution: young multilingual generations adapt; but in traditional context, respect Balkan code.
Documented incidents
- — Malentendus où refus turcs (relèvement tête) ont été mal interprétés comme questions ou signaux de continuation discussion.
Practical recommendations
To do
- En Turquie/Grèce/Balkans: relèvement tête = refus clair. En Occident: utiliser langage verbal pour confirmer intentions. Demander confirmation explicite.
Avoid
- Ne pas présumer continuation si Turc relève tête. Ne pas ignorer ce geste comme anodin. Respecter comme refus catégorique.
Neutral alternatives
- Clear and explicit verbal language.
- Nod low to indicate refusal.
- Ask verbally: "Are you refusing?
Sources
- The repertoire of nonverbal behavior: Categories, origins, usage, and coding
- Cultural similarities and differences in emblematic gestures — ↗