I was discussing the finer points of the European Economic Community with Evan this evening (what, you don’t have such conversations with your three month old? And you’re expecting them to be able to get into university? Well, it’s your child I suppose). During the course of the discussion I noticed that as he was gurgling at me he was rolling the sides of his tongue up, a feat that I have never been able to perform.
I have been told in the past that this is a hereditary, genetic ability, Kerry is able to do it so Evan must have inherited the talent from her. A little bit of web surfing however has cast some doubt on this theory:
Back in 1952 “Matlock” (scientists, like detectives, go by last name) concluded that identical twins don’t always share the tongue-rolling trait. In 1975 “Martin” demonstrated that identical twins are no more likely to share tongue-rolling than are fraternal twins. In 1983 a Hungarian named Forrai found no genetic basis for tongue-curling — or hand-clasping or arm-folding. And studying the Greeks of Thessaloniki in 1982, Cruz-Gonzalez established that while dry ear wax and attached ear lobes are recessive traits, which means you need the gene from both your parents, the genetic basis for tongue-rolling was less clear.
So, if it’s not genetic, then I might be able to teach myself to do it! I hereby pledge to spend at least three hours a day trying to perfect this elusive skill. Perhaps I should keep a video diary:
My son picked that same skill up from his mom as well. I think it is genetic.
I’ve been told my tongue can do other magical things…we’ll just leave it at that.
btw, you should put the video up on a dating site…just to see what comments you get.
“A Quick Guide On How to Teach Yourself to Roll Your Tounge.”
You will need;
1xhuman toungue (attached).
1xmouth.
1xbar of choclate.
STEP1
Stick you toungue out as far as possible, all the while making it as flat as you can.
STEP2
Slowly close your mouth as if about to whistle whilst maintaining flat protuding toungue practiced in STEP1.
STEP3
You can now roll your toungue. Eat chocolate bar to celebrate.
Coming Soon - “A Quick Guide On How To Lick The Outside Of Your Elbow.”
That must be why my brother Greg has not blogged for awhile(more like forever),he has been to busy practicing the tongue roll.
This is great, now Greg has stopped blogging I’m getting all his readers!
Now all I need to do is persuade Dooce to stop too and I’ll be able to retire and live off selling advertisisng space!
yes, we all watched dooce clean her house this week? is there somethin wrong with us?!
awesome video, dan! thanks for the laugh!! i too can roll my tongue. i have another even more amazing feat—i can fold it in half, front to back. i had our photographer at work take a photo of my talent several weeks ago, but i have yet to see the image…
I too can roll my tongue and along with bon bon I can also fold my tongue backwards on to itself! Such a talent!
yay! kindred spirits! lol!!
I’d be more impressed if you could fold it back to front.
So what is Evan’s position on the EEC? Is he pro or anti Europe? *grin*
I was always jealous of the double jointed people at school - they could make people go ‘eurgh’ really easily. Sadly I am neither double jointed or able to roll my tongue but I can make people go ‘eurgh’.
And you take great pleasure in it too Morticia :)
I just taught myself how to roll my tongue tonight. My whole family could do it, but I was never able to until tonight.