This is something between a question and a shower thought. People use air quotes to stimulate “quoting” a word or short phrase in the middle of a sentence. Are there any other punctuation marks that can be stimulated this way? And in particular, is there a gesture for parentheses (like this)?
If not, then why not? How did quotes get special treatment?
And if yes - how many people would actually understand what those other gestures mean? (I am reminded of that scene from Friends where Joey admits he doesn’t know what air quotes mean)
Image taken from Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_quotes / https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Airquotes.gif
You turn to the side and talk to the camera.
You might be onto something.
I usually turn my head one way and stage whisper the parentheticals.
Back of hand to side of mouth side comment thing
It’s a bit theatrical, but the closest thing feels like cupping a hand to the side of your mouth like you’re saying something sotto voce. It only really works if you have a reason to downplay what you’re saying rather than just any random aside though.
For body language more generally, you could just take a half step to the side with a bit of a head tilt or wave of the hand (feels more natural for something like a monologue though).
I like it!
I don’t think this is about punctuation marks, this is about tone. It’s about “tone.” beCaUse IT’s aBOuT toNE. BECAUSE IT’S ABOUT FUCKING TONE!
English does a lot with how you say something. I didn’t give her the money. Try saying that phrase and stress a different word each time. If you see it written down, you are missing an awful lot if you’re unlucky
Air quotes don’t really need an accompanying gesture to make them be understood. Giving the gesture anyways is just making sure people don’t misunderstand it. And we are used to this doublespeak from our elected leaders. So adding “in air quotes” in speech and gesture is often a dig, a comedic device, and a deliberate act to fraternize with the other people who know what’s up.
Really good comment, although the correct sentence for this demonstration is “I never said I fucked your sister”
If you sign “quote” in ASL it looks like this. You are secretly learning sign language
Noooooo stop educating me against my will!!!
This Victor Borge skit immediately came to my mind at the question.
No because there is no need. Air quotes indicate that you are quoting someone elss. You are speaking someone else’s words.
A sentence with a parenthetical clause is still gramatically valid without the marks to offset the clause. The is no need to indicate it visually.
Air quotes almost never mean literally quoting someone else. I’d say it signifies that the speaker doesn’t agree with the words they are saying. Per Wikipedia: “Air quotes are often used to express satire, sarcasm, irony or euphemism and are analogous to scare quotes in print.”
Air quotes almost never mean literally quoting someone else.
The very wikipedia article you are quoting says that’s exactly what air quotes are right in the opening paragraph. As it says, air quotes are used in speech as quotation marks are using in print. You’re not wrong that its often about the sarcasm, etc but it is primarily in relation to another’s speech.
It also includes this reference which describes the sarcastic use of air quotes as “a snide, easy way to discredit or distance oneself from the other side’s words”
