A pentadactyl adventure
\u00a9 Meredith Mullins<\/p><\/div>\n

The Cultural Traditions of Finger Names Around the World<\/h2>\n

The finger has a long history. No, not THAT finger\u2014that one that always seems to come to mind first.<\/p>\n

The finger in the broader, pentadactyl sense. The five fingers of the hand.<\/p>\n

We humans aren\u2019t the only folks in the world with fingers. Many in the animal kingdom have five-fingered limbs, from monkeys and apes to rats and bats to pandas and birds.<\/p>\n

We humans are not alone in our pentadactyl digits.
\u00a9 iStock\/Kilted Arab<\/p><\/div>\n

But we humans have given our fingers names to distinguish them from one another. And the uses of our fingers have evolved according to cultural traditions and lifestyle. That makes us unique.<\/p>\n

So . . . let\u2019s have some wordplay adventures by getting to know the fingers in all their cultural glory.<\/p>\n

Timeless beauty: The power of our fingers.
\u00a9 Meredith Mullins
(Sculpture by Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux)<\/p><\/div>\n

The Thumb<\/h4>\n

Is the thumb a finger? It depends on who you ask. It is, however, easy to recognize and is usually considered the #1 digit.<\/p>\n

Many of the word origins for the thumb paint a vivid visual picture. The Latin name (also the medical term) is\u00a0pollex,\u00a0<\/i>which most likely comes from\u00a0pollere,\u00a0<\/i>meaning \u201cto be strong.\u201d In Italian, the thumb is\u00a0pollice\u00a0<\/i>and in French it\u2019s le pouce,\u00a0<\/i>both taken from the same root.<\/p>\n

A pollex that belies the moniker “the swollen one.”
\u00a9 Meredith Mullins
(Sculpture by Alexandre Schoenewerk)<\/p><\/div>\n

In Old English, the root t<\/em>um\u00a0<\/i>is taken from\u00a0teue,\u00a0<\/i>which means \u201cto swell.\u201d Thus, the thumb becomes \u201cthe swollen one.\u201d In Greek, one thumb term is antikheir,\u00a0<\/em>which literally means \u201cthe opposite of fingers.\u201d<\/p>\n

In other cultures, the name reflects a function\u2014demonstrating strength as \u201cthe ram finger,\u201d being practical as \u201cthe lice killer,\u201d or earning respect as \u201cthe grandfather,\u201d \u201cthe father,\u201d or \u201cthe head finger.\u201d<\/p>\n

The expressive thumbs
\u00a9 Meredith Mullins<\/p><\/div>\n

Using the thumb as a part of our universal sign language is common. A thumbs up or thumbs down sign can quickly communicate approval and disapproval, but be careful in crossing cultures, as a thumbs up is an insult in some African and Middle Eastern countries.<\/p>\n

Perhaps a more universal (and dexterous) use of the thumbs is the fine art of texting. Harder than it looks for the over 40 crowd.<\/p>\n

Thumbs take on new jobs in the 21st century.
\u00a9 Meredith Mullins<\/p><\/div>\n

The Index Finger<\/h4>\n

The #2 finger is most commonly called the index finger in English. This name comes from the Latin\u00a0indico,\u00a0<\/i>which means to point out. Not surprisingly this finger is also known as \u201cthe pointing finger.\u201d<\/p>\n

The pointing finger
\u00a9 Meredith Mullins
(Sculpture by Jules Lafrance)<\/p><\/div>\n

People have been pointing at things throughout history using this finger, from art to war. From God pointing at Adam to give him life in Michelangelo\u2019s Sistine Chapel to Uncle Sam saying \u201cI want you,\u201d this\u00a0digitus secundus manus<\/em>\u00a0<\/i>is a powerful tool.<\/p>\n

The ultimate use of the pointing finger
\u00a9 iStock\/Tony Baggett<\/p><\/div>\n

You will see this finger throughout religion. For example, when a Muslim raises the index finger, it is a symbol of the unity of Allah. However, this gesture has taken on a more sinister meaning when used by terrorist groups.<\/p>\n

In other functional settings, the forefinger is called \u201cthe trigger finger,\u201d \u201cthe teacher,\u201d and, for cooks, it is invariably the \u201cpot licker.\u201d<\/p>\n

Even though this finger has been directing our attention for centuries, pointing with the index finger is considered rude in many cultures. To be safe, gesture with your whole hand.<\/p>\n

Be careful with your pointing finger. It can be rude in some cultures. (Here, it’s all in fun.)
\u00a9 Meredith Mullins<\/p><\/div>\n

This finger can also be used to call someone over, by curling the finger toward you. Because this gesture is sometimes named \u201cthe dog call,\u201d you might see how this could be insulting. In many cultures it is considered rude.<\/p>\n

The Middle Finger<\/h4>\n

It\u2019s difficult to talk about this finger (or show this finger) without conjuring its connotation\u2014the one-finger salute\u2014an insult throughout most of the world.<\/p>\n

The digitus medius<\/em>\u00a0<\/i>sits in the center of the hand and is the longest finger. So, \u201cmiddle finger,\u201d \u201ctall finger,\u201d\u201clong finger\u201d and \u201cthe tree\u201d are all apt nicknames.<\/p>\n

In this sculpture, the middle finger deserves its name as “the tree” or “the tall finger.”
\u00a9 Meredith Mullins
(Sculpture by Paul Dubois)<\/p><\/div>\n

This finger\u2019s primary claim to fame in the modern world is as an obscene gesture (the Romans called this digit digitus impudicus<\/em>\u00a0<\/i>or the shameless finger), but it is also known as \u201cthe balance wheel of the hand\u201d\u2014a more spiritual definition.<\/p>\n

The Ring Finger<\/h4>\n

The fourth finger in most parts of the world is the finger where a romantic ring finds its home, usually indicating a commitment to marriage or, at least, an engagement or romantic link.<\/p>\n

The practice of using the digitus anulus<\/em>\u00a0<\/i>(latin for ring finger) began in medieval times, when it was believed that this finger had a vein that was connected to the heart (the Vena Amoris\u00a0<\/em>or Vein of Love in Latin).<\/p>\n

A direct connection to the heart?
\u00a9 Meredith Mullins<\/p><\/div>\n

Even Neanderthals believed in a ring to signify commitment. They would weave twigs and grasses to be worn by their mate.<\/p>\n

The meaning of a ring on the left-hand or right-hand ring finger is dependent on the culture, but in most cases, it does signify love.<\/p>\n

For example, in China, a woman’s wedding ring is worn on the right hand since the right hand exerts more influence in that culture. An engagement ring is worn on the middle finger. In India, the right hand is auspicious and therefore the best place for a ring.<\/p>\n

A right hand or left hand ring position depends on the culture.
\u00a9 Meredith Mullins<\/p><\/div>\n

This finger was not just romantic. It was also medical. Doctors used this digitus medicinalis<\/em>\u00a0<\/i>to apply medicines, so the names \u201chealing finger\u201d and \u201cheart finger\u201d have also been used.<\/p>\n

In Japan, this finger is called kusuri yubi (<\/em>medicine finger). It was used only to take powdered medicines and therefore stayed relatively clean for medicinal purposes.<\/p>\n

The freedom to deputize any finger as a ring finger
\u00a9 Meredith Mullins<\/p><\/div>\n

The Pinky<\/h4>\n

The smallest of the fingers\u2014the digitus minimus manus<\/em>\u2014has names that all imply its size. The term pinky itself comes from Dutch, meaning small.<\/p>\n

It is sometimes called the baby or the youngest child (for those cultures that name the fingers after family members). And, because it sticks out, it is sometimes called the orphan.<\/p>\n

The “orphan”
\u00a9 Meredith Mullins
(Sculpture by Hippolyte Moulin)<\/p><\/div>\n

In French, it\u2019s called l\u2018auriculaire\u00a0<\/em>(the ear finger\u2014good for cleaning the ear) or le petit doigt,<\/em>\u00a0<\/i>the little finger. And in Turkish, it\u2019s poetically called the sparrow finger after one of the smallest of birds.<\/p>\n

What is the pinky\u2019s purpose? If you believe emojis, the raised pinky signifies something fancy or classy\u2014the ultimate in etiquette.<\/p>\n

What functions in etiquette does the pinky serve?
\u00a9 Meredith Mullins<\/p><\/div>\n

If you\u2019ve been to an upscale tea party, the raised pinky might be a sign of a refined upbringing or obnoxious elitism, depending on your perspective. Or it may just be a matter of muscle. Put your thumb and forefinger together with great pressure and watch what your pinky does.<\/p>\n

Be careful, though. In China, an extended pinky is the same as a thumbs down sign.<\/p>\n

The most heartfelt purpose might be to pinky swear, which is when pinkies are locked together to confirm a deep commitment to whatever thought or act is being considered.<\/p>\n

The pinky swear
\u00a9 Meredith Mullins<\/p><\/div>\n

Cultural Diversity<\/h4>\n

It\u2019s clear that wordplay related to our human digits comes from diverse places of origin and relates to the size, shape, and use of each finger. It\u2019s also clear that the use of fingers, especially as signs and symbols can vary based on cultural traditions.<\/p>\n

What is the “Oh, I see” moment?\u00a0<\/strong>For any savvy traveler, just be sure you study the culture before you start using the expressive power of your hands.<\/p>\n

The peace sign has become universal. If you reverse your palm, however,
it is an insult in many parts of the world.
\u00a9 Meredith Mullins<\/p><\/div>\n

As Nelson Mandela said, \u201cIt\u2019s in your hands to make the world a better place.\u201d<\/p>\n

Comment<\/a><\/i>\u00a0on this post below, or inspire insight with your own\u00a0OIC Moment\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Special thanks to Jeanette and Christine for making this story possible.<\/em><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":null,"protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":38280,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[99,102,95,227],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-38252","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-heritage-culture","category-culture-language","category-wordplay-language","category-worldwide-mappoints"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.oh-i-see.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38252","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.oh-i-see.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.oh-i-see.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.oh-i-see.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.oh-i-see.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=38252"}],"version-history":[{"count":35,"href":"https:\/\/www.oh-i-see.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38252\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":38314,"href":"https:\/\/www.oh-i-see.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38252\/revisions\/38314"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.oh-i-see.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/38280"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.oh-i-see.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=38252"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.oh-i-see.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=38252"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.oh-i-see.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=38252"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}