My answer probably has more to do with why we don't use the left hand.
Specifically, the left is considered the "bad" or "evil" side of the body;
hence, the word "sinister" from the Latin sinister for left or left-hand.
(Check the OED for further discussion on this point.) My apologies to all
you lefties out there, including Presidents Bush and Clinton, but this
apparently is a belief of long standing throughout the world.
The use of the right hand probably also relates to the idea of the right
hand as usually being the stronger hand (most people are right-handed),
the offering of the right hand "as a symbol of friendship or alliance"
(OED), the right side as the position of honor, and so on. Even in Roman
times, salutes were customarily rendered with the right hand.
Hope this helps!
Ann Davidson
dls@hslc.org
On Fri, 28 Feb 1997, Laura Ray wrote:
> Now here's a fun question - it's too late on Friday to
> continue this and thought I'd leave it to the list for the
> weekend. Does anyone know why we traditionally raise our
> right hand to take an oath (eg, a witness taking an oath
> before testifying)? I have found information on the
> "corporal oath" where one lifts up one or more arms invoking
> God's vengeance if one violates the oath being taken, but
> have not found specific reference to the right hand. Any
> ideas?
>
> Many thanks,
> Laura Ray
>
> *************************************************************
> Laura E. Ray, MA, MLS
> Media/Reference Librarian
> Cleveland-Marshall College 216-687-6880
> of Law Library FAX 216-687-5098
> 1801 Euclid Avenue
> Cleveland, OH 44115 laurar@jaslan.csuohio.edu
> *************************************************************
> Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery
> None but ourselves can free our minds ...
> *************************************************************
>
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Wed Nov 14 2007 - 20:49:31 PST