Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for 602.21 returned 105 results.
MAILTRUCK
WHEN YOU SEE A RED, WHITE, AND BLUE MAIL TRUCK, YOU
MAKE A WISH AND CROSS YOUR FINGERS UNTIL YOU
SEE A DOG OR ANOTHER MAILTRUCK AND YOUR WISH WILL
COME TRUE.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
Date learned: 11-22-1968
WHEN TWO PEOPLE ACCIDENTALLY SAY THE SAME THING, THEY
LINK LITTLE FINGERS, SHAKE THEIR HANDS UP AND DOWN
AND SAY "NEEDLES AND PINS," AND MAKE A WISH. THEY
BREAK THE LINK WITH A CHOPPING MOTION WITH A FREE
HAND. AFTER THIS, THEY SAY "MAY YOUR WISH COME TRUE!"
Submitter comment:
MY PARENTS REMEMBER DOING THIS WHEN THEY WERE
CHILDREN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | 602 Body Parts BELIEF -- Prayer SPEECH -- Wishes Wants Desires Predictions |
Date learned: 09-27-1971
BY WINDING ONE'S ARM AND HAND IN FRONT OF HIM IN A
FORWARD MOTION IS MEANT TO END A BROADCAST. (MEANS:
WIND IT UP).
Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED FROM T. V. {TELEVISION}
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | 602 Body Parts SPEECH -- Instructions Directions |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
IN A RADIO OR TELEVISION STUDIO SITUATION ONE OR TWO
HANDS RAISED IN THE AIR WITH THE PALMS FACING THE
PERSON ON THE AIR INDICATES TO THAT PERSON TO GET
READY OR TO STAND BY FOR ANOTHER SIGNAL TO COME.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT IS IN THE FIELD OF COMMUNICATIONS AND
HAS USED THIS GESTURE AND HAS SEEN OTHERS USE A
GESTURE OF SIMILAR NATURE WHEN SPEAKING DURING AN
"AIR SITUATION" IS PROHIBITED.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
James Callow Keyword(s): BROADCASTING
| Subject headings: | 602 Body Parts CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Work Commerce Business SPEECH -- Instructions Directions |
Date learned: 11-01-1971
THE DRAWING APART OF TWO HANDS AS IF PULLING TAFFY MEANS
TO SLOW DOWN OR TO STRETCH OUT.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT USES THIS WHEN HE'S TALKING. HE USES THIS
WHEN HE IS TRYING TO PROLONG A MOMENT WHILE TRYING
TO FIND THE RIGHT WORDS TO SAY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): BROADCASTING?
| Subject headings: | 602 Body Parts CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Work Commerce Business SPEECH -- Instructions Directions |
Date learned: 10-03-1971
IN THE FIELD OF COMMUNICATIONS WHEN SPEAKING IS NOT
ALLOWED DURING AN "AIR SITUATION" THE INDEX FINGER
WHEN POINTED AT THAT PERSON GOING TO BE ON "THE AIR"
BY USE OF THE WHOLE FOREARM IN BENDING AT THE
ELBOW, MEANS THE PERSON CAN BEGIN, OR START.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT IS IN THE FIELD OF COMMUNICATIONS AND
HAS USED THIS SIGNAL TO INSTRUCT A PERSON WHO IS ON
THE AIR TO BEGIN.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
Keyword(s): COMMUNICATIONS? CLEAR AS MUD.
James Callow Keyword(s): BROADCASTING
| Subject headings: | 602 Body Parts CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Work Commerce Business SPEECH -- Instructions Directions |
Date learned: 10-31-1971
MUSIC GESTURE
IN MUSIC WHEN THE MAESTRO TAKES ONE HAND (OPPOSITE THE
HAND HOLDING THE BATON) WITH PALM UP AND MOVES THE
HAND IN AN UPWARD MOTION, HE IS SIGNALING THE
ORCHESTRA FOR MORE VOLUME.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT IS A CONDUCTOR OF THE WINDSOR SYMPHONY
ORCHESTRA. HE HAS USED THIS GESTURE REPEATEDLY
IN CONCERT PERFORMANCES.
Where learned: CANADA ; WINDSOR
| Subject headings: | 602 Body Parts CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of quantity or weight SPEECH -- Instructions Directions |
Date learned: 11-10-1971
IN A CLEVELAND FOUNDRY THE MOTION WITH THE HANDS OF
BREAKING A SMALL STICK AND POINTING UP OR DOWN THE
LINE MEANT A BREAKDOWN UP OR DOWN THE LINE.
Where learned: OHIO ; CLEVELAND
| Subject headings: | 602 Body Parts CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Work Commerce Business SPEECH -- Instructions Directions |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
IN A CLEVELAND FOUNDRY THE MOTION WITH THE HANDS
OF BREAKING A SMALL STICK AND POINTING TOWARD
YOU MEANT TAKE A BREAK.
Where learned: OHIO ; CLEVELAND
| Subject headings: | 602 Body Parts CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Work Commerce Business SPEECH -- Instructions Directions |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
IN A CLEVELAND FOUNDRY A GESTURE FOR OVERTIME IS GIVEN
AS A RIGHT HAND CURVING "OVER" THE OUTSTRETCHED LEFT
HAND. THIS PART OF THE GESTURE IS ACCOMPANIED BY
THEN RAISING THE NUMBER OF FINGERS CORRESPONDING
TO THE NUMBER OF HOURS OF OVERTIME.
Where learned: OHIO ; CLEVELAND
| Subject headings: | 602 Body Parts CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Work Commerce Business BELIEF -- Number Counting beliefs SPEECH -- Instructions Directions |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
IN THE FACTORY WHERE I WORKED THIS SUMMER, IT WAS
A WELL KNOWN GESTURE TO POINT ONE'S INDEX FINGER
UP IN THE AIR AND ROTATE IT TO INDICATE STARTING
THE MACHINE BACK UP AFTER A JAM-UP OR BREAKDOWN.
Where learned: Sterling Heights ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | 602 Body Parts CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Work Commerce Business SPEECH -- Instructions Directions |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
IN THE FACTORY WHERE I WORKED THIS SUMMER, ONE WOULD
GESTURE A NEED TO VISIT THE LAVATORY AND FOR THE
HELPER AT THE OTHER END OF THE MACHINE TO WATCH IT
IN HIS ABSENCE BY: (1) IMITATING THE MOVEMENT OF
UNZIPPING HIS PANTS AND (2) POINTING HIS INDEX AND
MIDDLE FINGERS OF ONE HAND AT HIS EYES AND THEN BACK
TO THE MACHINE.
Where learned: Sterling Heights ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | 602 Body Parts CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Work Commerce Business CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time Routine activity SPEECH -- Instructions Directions |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
HOW SHORT YOU ARE
AN ENLISTED MAN'S GESTURE INDICATED THE LENGTH OF TIME
LEFT IN SERVICE. IT CONSISTS IN EXTENDING THE THUMB
AND FOREFINGER, REST OF THE FINGERS CLOSED IN A FIST.
THE AMOUNT OF SPACE BETWEEN THE TWO FINGERS IS
PROPORTIONAL TO THE AMOUNT OF TIME.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GARDEN CITY
| Subject headings: | 602 Body Parts CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of quantity or weight SPEECH -- Instructions Directions |
Date learned: 09-14-1968
RIGHT HAND IS RAISED VERTICALLY AT THE ELBOW AND THE
INDEX FINGER OF THAT HAND IS OUTSTRETCHED. THEN WITH
THAT FINGER A ROTARY MOTION IS MADE.
Submitter comment:
THIS IS A HAND SIGNAL A CREW CHIEF GIVES TO A PILOT
MEANING THAT HE SHOULD TURN ON HIS ENGINE. INFORMANT
SAW THIS GESTURE USED WHILE ON AIRCRAFT CARRIER
KENNEDY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | 602 Body Parts SPEECH -- Instructions Directions |
Date learned: 10-17-1970
A HAND HELD UP PALM UP MEANS STOP.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | 602 Body Parts SPEECH -- Instructions Directions |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
TO CALL A PERSON TOWARD YOU, YOU WIGGLE YOUR FOREFINGER
TO{WARD} YOURSELF.
Submitter comment: LEARNED IN COLOMBIA, FROM LIVING THERE.
Where learned: SOUTH AMERICA ; BOGOTA ; COLOMBIA
James Callow Keyword(s): COME HITHER GESTURE
| Subject headings: | 602 Body Parts SPEECH -- Instructions Directions |
Date learned: 06-12-1967
THERE IS A BRASILIAN GESTURE IN WHICH ONE TAKES HIS
RIGHT HAND AND THROWS IT OUT, THEN DOWN, AND THEN
BACK QUICKLY WHICH MEANS "COME HERE."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROSEVILLE
Keyword(s): BRAZIL ; SOUTH AMERICA
James Callow Keyword(s): COME HITHER GESTURE
| Subject headings: | 602 Body Parts SPEECH -- Instructions Directions |
Date learned: 02-19-1970
DRIVING--TURN SIGNAL
LEFT ARM EXTENDED OUT WINDOW WITH FOREARM AT A
90 DEGREE ANGLE WITH BICEP MEANS RIGHT TURN.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN ; PARENTS
James Callow Keyword(s): AUTOMOBILE ; POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | 602 Body Parts CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank SPEECH -- Instructions Directions |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
LEFT ARM STRAIGHT OUT THE WINDOW MEANS LEFT TURN.
Submitter comment: LEARNED FROM PARENTS.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
Keyword(s): DRIVING TURN-SIGNAL ; MANUAL
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | 602 Body Parts CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank SPEECH -- Instructions Directions |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
DRIVING--TURN SIGNAL
ARM STRAIGHT DOWN MEANS SLOW UP OR STOP.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN ; PARENTS
James Callow Keyword(s): AUTOMOBILE ; POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | 602 Body Parts CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank SPEECH -- Instructions Directions |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN