Does anyone know where this originated? When it was first used? How it came to mean 'come-here'

Just wondering if it was a native thing to Isaan that later came to be part of Thai society at large.

If you mean the palm-down beckon, it's an Asia wide thing, first saw it in Korea (my first Asian country).

Looks like a British style GOODBYE

Looks like a British style GOODBYE

That's what I mean, palm down, flap hand up and down at the wrist, or by way of variation, palm down beckon with all fingers to 90^o down.

I wonder what the origin is, such an opposite gesture to our wave and fluttering like a bird. Perhaps it came from bird observation?

Well Greeks say NO with a head nod.

if you turn you're hand upwards...In Asia it supposed to mean....Do you want to fight me...Thats how i had it simply explained....

Thais communicate with many gestures.

Especially with the head.

Different nods, tilts and a kind of pointing with the nose.

Unfortunately difficult of discribe well in text.

I have learned it from my wife and we use it often.

I get a kick out of it.

Have others learned these gestures?

I refer to it as 'head speak".

Sounds weird, but when I asked this question in Burma, I was told the palm up gesturing was for beckoning animals, so palm down for humans only.....

It would be a good idea to learn them all - good and bad - in the country where you are living.

I think the Italians have more than anyone else. Dirty ones anyway.

I use the middle finger when i want something.

Sounds weird, but when I asked this question in Burma, I was told the palm up gesturing was for beckoning animals, so palm down for humans only.....

That's interesting. The best way to beckon an animal is palm down and fingers limp and down. It's non-threatening and invites the animal to sniff and investigate.

Or, beckon a horse or cow palm up and cupped and full of grain, lol.

If you mean the palm-down beckon, it's an Asia wide thing, first saw it in Korea (my first Asian country).

.

It's done in Latin America too. Fingers up has sexual connotations.

I've found myself doing it, trying to get taxis in Bangkok...... must look a right bell end.

My straight friends call it the "fag" wave. Gay friends call it the "sissy" wave to differentiate the butch ones.

Hand gestures....... No worries, just be very careful with using the 'lips' to point......Just saying.

Well Greeks say NO with a head nod.

They also use the same gesture of palm down waving of the hand to beckon people. And actually, it's not a nod to say no, it's a slight jerking up of the chin, usually accompanied by a low "Tsk!"

It says "come. I have money." If there was no money involved its generally ignored. I like the opposite scenario when you get clapped at.

Hand gestures....... No worries, just be very careful with using the 'lips' to point......Just saying.

The Navajo think it is very bad to point at something with the finger or hand. For them, they point with their lips.

The study of gestures across cultures is really fascinating.

It would be a good idea to learn them all - good and bad - in the country where you are living.

I think the Italians have more than anyone else. Dirty ones anyway.

..Dirty who ?

- What is the dirtiest part of your body ? -

-Your mind -

( F. Zappa )

I agree with the first part of the post

Hand gestures....... No worries, just be very careful with using the 'lips' to point......Just saying.

The Navajo think it is very bad to point at something with the finger or hand. For them, they point with their lips.

The study of gestures across cultures is really fascinating.

I don't think there is a culture where pointing with a finger, usually the index, is considered polite.

We Italians have a fame about gesturing a lot while talking, well, that's maybe true, but you can see the level of knowledge or ignorance through the gestures.

Polite Italians, unless too drunk, don't point fingers, they just roll their eyeballs

I think Bela Lugosi did it best;

www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVPxAgy7lBA

My tablet won't upload the full link.

If you mean the palm-down beckon, it's an Asia wide thing, first saw it in Korea (my first Asian country).

It's also the same throughout the Pacific.

Our beckon is an upward gesture, theirs is almost mimicking paddling by hand....which could be an ancient root of it?

Sounds weird, but when I asked this question in Burma, I was told the palm up gesturing was for beckoning animals, so palm down for humans only.....

From my understanding, they think the same in Vietnam.

Two off topic posts removed.