Little finger unmasked: Not Game of Thrones

Digitus minimus manus, otherwise known as the fifth digit, fourth finger, and ‘pinky’, is absolutely useless. It is composed of arteries, veins, nerves, skin, bone muscular and other tissues. Yet here we are, the most evolved of all known species, and we have a useless appendage that just hangs around doing nothing.

Research, initially diverts us to Petyr Baelysh, or ‘Littlefinger,’ in the HBO ‘Song of Ice and Fire series, ‘The Game of Thrones,’ as a deceptive, manipulative, wonderfully drawn and portrayed character, who Aiden Gillen plays with just the right balance of humour and earnest devotion that sees him both admired and hated at the same time.

You see, my little finger can’t even occupy my attention for long, and I digress.

Whatever brought my attention to such a topic? Maybe because I have a big coffee mug, with a big handle, yet when I pick it up, my little finger doesn’t fit inside that handle, but just curls up anonymously. Or when I have a cup of tea with more delicate china, my little finger sticks out in some manner that appears to suggest it has more status than my other digits. What’s that all about?

Concerned, I pick up a pen, and notice that again, ‘pinky’ just hides itself away from sight, and achieves nothing! Ruler, eraser, book, dictionary… nothing! I look down at my keyboard and type a few sentences, and note with dismay that I don’t use either ‘pinky’ finger at all. I am a pretty limited typist, but that’s not the point is it

Useless? A number of feudal societies, or gangs, have a history of mutilation of the little finger in order to demonstrate fealty, precisely because they appear useless, and especially in battle, brutality and fighting, whether you have a ‘pinky’ or not, isn’t going to make a skerrick of difference! The notorious Yakuza, of Japan, mutilated the little finger as a disciplinary measure, known as ‘Yubitsume,’ apparently.

So, I’m concerned by now, and pick up a knife, fork and spoon, but the nearest thing I can find to reassurance is that my pinky may have a minor role in preventing the knife and fork from slipping out of the bottom of my hand. Does this mean that redemption is at hand? Hmmm, that’s a turn of phrase in itself isn’t it?

A friend said, “I can’t do without my ‘pinky.’ It’s absolutely perfect for cleaning the wax out of my ears, picking my nose, and getting a speck of dust out of my eyes.” Yet another reminded me that Mike Myers, in the “Austin Powers” movie both demonstrated the extended digit as an affectation of his ‘English-ness,’ and in his ‘Mini-Me characterisation, used it as a toothpick.

Yet another said, “Well Ray, if I don’t have a little finger on each hand I will only be able to indicate four or eight, and as far as counting goes, it’s so much easier to count in tens than eights. Eight, sixteen, twenty-something, thirty-something…” Duh! I should add that he’s no mathematician.

I consulted other colleagues here at the university, and was offered a light at the end of the tunnel. I was very reliably informed that little kids at school, throughout the Pan-Indian region, extend their little finger to advise the teacher that they need to use the bathroom, and girls and young women often offer the ‘straight’ little finger sign to show that they are, “in a bad mood with you, not talking to you, and am ‘cutting off ’ communication for now.”

Apparently, when such ‘banishment’ is complete the female will return to the person given the sign, with their little finger extended towards you in apology or appeasement, and one is expected to then return the gesture by touching the two little fingers in a like manner. In Algeria, among young women, the exact same process is also taken as a form of apology.

In Sudan, men extending their little fingers towards each other either results in both acceding to the other and resolving not to fight, or, if things deteriorate, one twists their finger around the other’s, and they are ready to fight. In Jordan, among children, it may not result in fisticuffs, but certainly sends the message that one is ‘not happy’ with the other.

I was coming to terms with a more global appreciation of the mini-digit when yet another colleague advised me that in Japan, it is a recognised code, or signal, of explanation by men that the woman who is accompanying them is not their wife, but a girlfriend, or mistress. I thought that was it, and then just asked a passing student if the little finger was important? “Of course, teacher,” she replied, almost looking offended, “If I can’t do this (extending her thumb and little finger to her ear in the universal ‘phone’ gesture) I can’t tell my friends to call me.”

Man, did I ever feel dumb, old, and stupid, all at once? So, it seems that though appearances may offer one thing, practicalities may offer another, often cultural, well-hidden meaning, and all things do not mean the same to all people. Amusing, interesting, disturbing, and enlightening, it’s cultural awareness in a nutshell.