Paralinguistic knee bend

[conuly]

Sometimes when people are talking in real life, or you can see this on TV shows and in movies, they do a very quick knee bend. Why do we do this? Sufficient googling answered the question of "Why do we click our tongues" (it's a discourse marker, thanks) but I haven't narrowed this one down yet and I can't figure it out by reasoning and observation of my own and others' behavior.

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Comments

[james]

I have never in my life seen or done a knee bend while talking, grew up in Oklahoma, lived on the west coast (various places) and some time in Atlanta and Florida. I have never seen it on tv or movies either? So...maybe a regional thing? Cultural?

[conuly]

I have never seen it on tv or movies either?

I'll find you some clips, because I'm sure you have. You just didn't notice and don't remember. What do you watch?

[james]

...are you asking me to list every tv show and movie I've seen since 1970??

[conuly]

(Edit before I go to bed: Gotta be from Western media, preferably American - can't risk muddying the waters with crosslinguistic noise.)

[zavodilaterrarium]

Not sure I can immediately picture a specific movement involving the knees that I wouldn't chalk up to a consequence of how they're standing/sitting or restlessness... Would appreciate a clip!

[conuly]

I will absolutely send you some at the end of my insane why did I agree to this three shifts over two days. Or at least I'll tell you where to find them - I'm not sure how to make my own clips if they don't exist on the internet already....

[zavodilaterrarium]

Best of luck with the shifts :slouch:

[lilysea]

Could it be a blood circulation/anti-fainting measure?

People with POTS/blood volume issues often move their legs while standing for this reason.

[conuly]

No, definitely not. The one thing I am (mostly?) certain of is that it typically occurs at the end of a conversational turn in a friendly setting. It's communication. I just don't know what it's doing.

[pauamma]

This is intriguing.

[cimorene]

I'm picturing a gesture that involves a slight knee bend and means maybe something like "welp, free to catch up but I guess I'd better go..."? But I think this gesture is more of a subtle lean in the direction they intend to travel, often with a head tilt or gesture over the shoulder.