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Body Language Humor

by Don L. F. Nilsen and

Alleen Pace Nilsen

Association of Applied and Therapeutic Humor

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Avery Nilsen, Our GrandsonAt the 2014 AATH Convention

(Association of Applied and Therapeutic Humor) Red Skelton Museum in Vincennes, Indiana

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AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE

• Contrast sign language and finger Contrast sign language and finger spelling.spelling.

• Iconic Sign Language: Male-Female, Iconic Sign Language: Male-Female, Past-Future, Hand shape, Location, Past-Future, Hand shape, Location, Movement, Palm Orientation, Finger Movement, Palm Orientation, Finger SpellingSpelling

American Sign Language:Finger Spelling vs. Signing

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Arizona Politics

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Justin Timberlake and Santa Claus: “Cup O’ Soup”:

http://www.wat.tv/video/justin-timberlake-cup-soup-d1y0_2ftur_.html

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In Flags: The Peace SymbolNuclear Disarmament (N & D)

FACE

• Frown• Giggle• Grimace• Grin• Guffaw• Laugh• Scowl• Smile• Smirk• Snarl

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THE BABY’S EVIL EYE:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBSYD0dQCAw

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Doppelgangers: The Evil Eye

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Red Skelton

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HEAD

• Flutter eyelashes• Grit teeth• Hold nose• Nod head (yes)• Raise eyebrows• Shake head (no)• Stick out tongue• Wink• Wrinkle nose• Yawn

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LIE TO ME:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgRJ7-s0u7c

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SHOULDERS

• Rolling shoulder suggestively

• Shrugging shoulders in disbelief or wonderment

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The Juggling Politician

https://www.youtube.com/embed/n6mbW-jMtrY?rel=0

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HANDS, FINGERS & THUMB

• Applauding• Extending pinkey• Crossing fingers (to lie)• Giving the finger• Holding hands• Pointing• Shaking hands (note

gender & ethnic differences)

• Thumbing a ride• Thumbs up• Twiddling thumbs

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American Sign LanguageApplauding

Louis (Sachmo) Armstrong: “What a Wonderful World!”:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZ5MJqB9myA

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Sun Devils and Nerd Fighters

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Uncle Sam Recruitment Poster

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• Here is Uncle Sam’s pointing finger.

• This is a rude gesture in some cultures.

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DAVE CHAPPELLE’S THUMB

• Chappelle tells about a high-jacked airplane in which he sees another Black male and they do a thumbs up to each other.

• “We were just communicating that we understood the situation. We were both seeing the same thing. What we understood was simply—terrorists don’t take black hostages.

The Thumbs-Up Strawberry

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ARMS

• Limp wrist• Raise hand in class• Sign of the cross• Waving hand (note

gender differences)• Sports Signals (See

the next slide)

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SPORTS BODY LANGUAGE

• BASEBALL: Fair Ball, Foul Ball, Home Run, Out, Strike

– Plus Signals from the Catcher to the Pitcher, to the Infield, and to the Outfield

– Plus Coach Signals for the Batter, from the First-Base Coach, and from the Third-Base Coach

• BASKETBALL: Basket Counts, Basket Doesn’t Count, Blocking Foul, Held Ball, In Bounce, Moving Screen, Offensive Fowl, Out of Bounds, Time Out

• FOOTBALL: Clipping, Face Mask, Illegal Celebration, Illegal Procedure, Late Hit, Offside, Pass Interference, Roughing the Kicker, Roughing the Passer, Safety, Touchdown, Unnecessary Roughness

– Plus Metaphors related to most of these expressions like hardball softball and ballpark figure.

LEGS & FEET

• Crossing legs (note gender & ethnic differences)

• Sitting on a park bench

• Sitting on a bus seat

• Slapping knee while laughing

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MINISTRY OF SILLY WALKS:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqhlQfXUk7w

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SPACE BUBBLES:

• Asian vs. Latin American

• Doorway, Subway, Elevator

• University of Texas: Texas Tower Sniper

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The University of Texas Shooterhad the space bubble of

a paranoid.

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TIME EXPECTATIONS

• Latin American vs. Mormon

• Cocktail Party vs. Dinner vs. Class

UNINTENTIONAL BODY LANGUAGE

• blinking• blushing• cowering• cringing• shuddering• trembling• twisting hair• weeping

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Tim Conway as a Dentist:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfTyEtVIe84

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BODY METAPHORS:• To be on your toes• To be stuck up• To be up in arms• To break a leg• To count noses• To foot the bill• To have your tongue in your

cheek• To keep a stiff upper lip• To keep your chin up• To play it by ear• To put your foot in your mouth• To see eye to eye• To shake a leg• To throw in the towel

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Total Relaxation

Mr. Bean Getting Up Late for the Dentist:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VumrpkL6RS0

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Exuberance and Sadness:First Day of School

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Doppelgangers and Body DoublesRichard Nixon

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James Carville

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John McCain

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Hillary Clinton

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Julianne Moore as Sarah Palin

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Sarah Palin and Tina Fey

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Tina Fey as Sarah Palin:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tr0_x2lxRdc

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Tina Fey as Sarah PalinAmy Poehler as Hillary Clinton

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Tina Fey as Sarah Palin and Amy Poehler as Hillary Clinton:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ul-3JDAnqjI

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Body Language Plus Intonation

• Use only the words “John” and “Marsha” to indicate the following:

• Anger vs. Fear

• Resignation vs. Exuberance

• Sadness vs. Surprise

• Pretentiousness vs. Aloofness

• Hate vs. Passion

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Desire

Happiness

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Friendship

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Love

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Full-Body Language

3-YEAR-OLD CONDUCTING BEETHOVEN’S 5th SYMPHONY:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0REJ-lCGiKU

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Amusement and Antipathy

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Enthusiasm vs. Arrogance

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Total Involvement

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EGG TRICK: Tom DeLuise and Johnny Carson:

http://www.milkandcookies.com/link/138148

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PARALANGUAGE• Giddyup (plus lateral click)• Hiss• Huh? • Raspberry (Bronx Cheer)• Shush• Swearing (*&#@+&%$@~*)• Tsk tsk• Uchhhhh• Uh huh (yes & no)• Wolf whistle• Yuchhhh

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SLAPSTICK ON “CHEERS”:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1kbn-LOpes

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EXPLAIN HOW THE FOLLOWING GESTURES ARE INTERPRETED DIFFERENTLY IN DIFFERENT COUNTRIES

• Biting your thumbnail• Kissing someone on

the cheeks• Putting your hands on

your hips• Using arm gestures• Using eye gestures• Using finger gestures• Using hand gestures• Using lip gestures

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Age Differences

Social In-Bonding

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SILENT MONKS SINGING “HALLELUIA CHORUS”:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCFCeJTEzNU&feature=related

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Social Out-Bonding

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Point of View

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Physical Workout Dance Humor:

http://cdnapi.kaltura.com/index.php/extwidget/openGraph/wid/0_u0r71mg5

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Parody

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Photobombing

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SEND IN THE CLOWNS! (Frank Sinatra, et. al.):

http://www.yourememberthat.com/media/10939/Send_In_The_Clowns/#.VBdREfnIY9Y

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Four Really Talented Ladies:

http://www.reshareworthy.com/amazing-quartet-blew-audience-away/#HlDc3TMGOGULZGi4.01

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