In these two areas of the world (Northwestern Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean on the map in the video), there are very weird and interesting aspects of speech, and I say the word weird in the most loving way possible.
So in the blue zone: Southern Europe, Balkans, Middle East, etc., in some countries there is an informal way of saying no just by clicking the tongue (audio example in the video.) It’s different from clicking multiple times to express disapproval or anything. No, it’s just one click. And I think it’s ‘genetically’ linked to raising your head with it. Because when I use it it feels like my head tilts backwards on its own.
Now in the red zone, some will say yes while inhaling (audio example in the video.) Or simply inhaling means yes. This is called a pulmonic ingressive. When I first moved to Ireland, I thought I moved to a nation of people with asthma. Anyone I spoke with went, yeah (while inhaling). Although it meant less of a ‘yes’ and more of a ‘yes, I’m listening to you, please continue.’
And as is often the case with these things, many people aren’t even aware that they’re doing it. But imagine someone making some piece of percussive music around this, and it’d be just people from different areas having a confusing nonverbal argument.
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