Body Language Humor

by Don L. F. Nilsen and

Alleen Pace Nilsen

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Association of Applied and
Therapeutic Humor

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 Avery Nilsen, Our Grandson
At 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
spelling.

Iconic Sign Language: Male-Female,

Past-Future, Hand shape, Location,
Movement, Palm Orientation, Finger
Spelling

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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 Symbol
Nuclear Disarmament (N & D)

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 FACE
Frown
Giggle
Grimace
Grin
Guffaw
Laugh
Scowl
Smile
Smirk
Snarl
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 THE BABYS 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 American Sign Language
Crossing fingers (to lie) Applauding

Giving the finger

Holding hands
Pointing
Shaking hands (note
gender & ethnic
differences)
Thumbing a ride
Thumbs up
Twiddling thumbs
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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
Here is Uncle Sams
pointing finger.

This is a rude
gesture in some
cultures.

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DAVE CHAPPELLES 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 simplyterrorists dont take black
hostages.

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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 Doesnt 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.

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 LEGS & FEET
Crossing legs (note
gender & ethnic
differences)

Sitting on a park
bench

Sitting on a bus seat

Slapping knee while

laughing 28
 MINISTRY OF SILLY WALKS:

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

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 SPACE BUBBLES:
The University of Texas Shooter
Asian vs. Latin had the space bubble of
American a paranoid.

Doorway, Subway,
Elevator

University of Texas:
Texas Tower Sniper

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 TIME EXPECTATIONS

Latin American vs. Mormon

Cocktail Party vs. Dinner vs. Class

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 UNINTENTIONAL BODY LANGUAGE

blinking
blushing
cowering
cringing
shuddering
trembling
twisting hair
weeping 32
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 Total Relaxation
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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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 Doubles
Richard 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 Palin
Amy 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

Desire
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Happiness

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Friendship

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Love

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 Full-Body Language

3-YEAR-OLD CONDUCTING BEETHOVENS 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 Age Differences
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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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/#.V
BdREfnIY9Y

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 Four Really Talented Ladies:

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

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