Head shake

As head shaking, a fast, rhythmic sideways movement of the head in animals is called, the able are ( sternocleidomastoid ) due to cervical vertebrae and the corresponding neck muscles.

In animals, the head shaking for different purposes can be used, for example as part of the courtship (with swans and ducks) or the Totschütteln at predators. In humans, the shake of the head serves as a communication tool and means almost internationally a negation, a movement that can even be observed in people born deaf-blind.

The head shaking is also understood as a gesture for a generally negative attitude or " disbelief "; in written form and purely symbolic of a negative opinion. Example: Title from the "taz Berlin locally " from April 1, 2004 " headscarf law to shake of the head ."

In some cultures, such as Bulgaria, northern Greece, India, Finland and Sri Lanka, on the other hand slight shake of the head is seen as consent, whereby upon movement of the head bulk Lens in India yet distinguished whether the shaking motion about the longitudinal axis or along the aligned forward horizontal axis ( shaking head ) is done.