Showing the tongue: what does it mean?

Our expert reveals all the secrets:

<< ‘showing the tongue’ is a facial expression involving the momentary protrusion of the tongue between the lips. Often used by children, the use of this gesture is also observed in gorillas and other anthropomorphic¹ primates. In body language manuals and courses, ‘showing the tongue’ is often associated with cognitive states of disagreement with what was said, disbelief, displeasure, or uncertainty. These manuals argue that the gesture may represent a signal intended to modify, counteract, or contradict a verbal observation.

But is this really so?

This interpretation is often just a false myth, aimed more at explaining how certain cause-effect relationships are in fact anything but objective.

It is always inadvisable to give such a clear-cut meaning to any gesture, without properly considering other very important information coming from the other communication channels of the interlocutor, as well as, of course, considering the context in which the non-verbal signal is emitted.

Just think that, from an ethological and psychological point of view, the same mimic can also be used as an emblem to tease someone (“making the bad language”, typical in children)² or to flirt in a daring and provocative way (licking one’s lips, in an evident way, looking at or winking at the interlocutor who is the object of our attention).

The same non-verbal act also has many other meanings depending on the culture of the subject emitting it.

The ‘licking of the lips’ can also be manifested when the person feels great anxiety, but also when he or she is completely relaxed (a lip-licking, performed in tranquillity, as in the presence of people with whom he or she is very familiar).

It may also accompany a mimicry of disgust or nausea.

So how can we understand what the correct meaning of this non-verbal signal is?

All non-verbal signals can only be interpreted by asking the right questions to our interlocutor. Having a falsificationist approach (which considers the formulation of hypotheses that are then verified through appropriate investigation), allows us to avoid errors of judgement and increase our relational competence by reducing preconceptions and prejudices that can limit our emotional intelligence.>

Diego Ingrassia

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1 Smith, W., Chase, J., & Lieblich, A. K. (1974). Tongue showing: A facial display of humans and other primate species. Semiotics, 11(3), 201-246.

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2 Stern, D. N., & Bender, E. P. (1974). An Ethological Study of Children. In Sex differences in behavior: a conference (p. 233). Krieger Pub Co.

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3 Morris, D. (1994). Bodytalk: the meaning of human gestures. Crown Publishers.

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4 Ekman, P. (2011). The faces of lies. Giunti Editore.

5 Smith, W., Chase, J., & Lieblich, A. K. (1974). Tongue showing: A facial display of humans and other primate species. Semiotics, 11(3), 201-246.

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