Changes

Some people prefer different activities with different hands; for example, one might throw a ball with the left hand but bat a ball right-handedly. This is sometimes classified as ''cross-handedness'', but more often handedness is determined by the hand with which one uses to write; for example, even if one prefers his or her left hand for a majority of activities, if he or she writes with the right hand he or she would be considered right-handed.

Some people prefer different activities with different hands; for example, one might throw a ball with the left hand but bat a ball right-handedly. This is sometimes classified as ''cross-handedness'', but more often handedness is determined by the hand with which one uses to write; for example, even if one prefers his or her left hand for a majority of activities, if he or she writes with the right hand he or she would be considered right-handed.

Historically (prior to the early 20th century in the United States and even through the late 20th century in some parts of the world), left-handedness has been considered to be a disability and teachers have often encouraged children to take up activities with the right hand even if it does not feel natural for a child; this can lead to several documented developmental difficulties. Many recorded instances of ambidextrousness have occurred from originally left-handed people who were forced to take up right-handedness because of societal pressures, and it is still considered rude to perform certain tasks with the left hand (such as eating or shaking hands) in many parts of the world. Because so few people in the world are left-handed, a vast majority of objects in the world are designed for use by right-handed people exclusively (for example, the text on a pen is usually printed so that it is readable when the pen is held with the right hand).

Historically (prior to the early 20th century in the [[United States]] and even through the late 20th century in some parts of the world), left-handedness has been considered to be a disability and teachers have often encouraged children to take up activities with the right hand even if it does not feel natural for a child; this can lead to several documented developmental difficulties. Many recorded instances of [[ambidextrous]]ness have occurred from originally left-handed people who were forced to take up right-handedness because of societal pressures, and it is still considered rude to perform certain tasks with the left hand (such as eating or shaking hands) in many parts of the world. Because so few people in the world are left-handed, a vast majority of objects in the world are designed for use by right-handed people exclusively (for example, the text on a [[pen]] is usually printed so that it is readable when the pen is held with the right hand).

==Handedness Bias==

==Handedness Bias==

===In Language===

===In Language===

The handedness bias is reflected in the languages of the world. In many Western languages, the word for "right" (as in the direction) is often a synonym for "correct" with connotations of authority and justice: ''recht'' in [[German]], ''droit'' in [[French]], ''derecho'' in [[Spanish]], ''direito'' in [[Portuguese]], and in several [[Slavic languages]]. In many other languages, "right" is associated with skill while "left" is associated with clumsiness: the [[Latin]] term for right-handed is ''dexter'' as in [[dexterity]], ''diestro'' in Spanish and ''destro'' in Italian both mean "right-handed" and "skillful," and the Irish ''deas'' means "right side" and "nice". On the other hand, the French ''gauche'' means "left" and "clumsy", as does the Italian word ''maldestro'' and the Dutch word ''links''. English, Dutch, German, Bulgarian, and Czech all have some variation of the idiom "to have two left feet" (in some languages two left hands), meaning to be clumsy. The word "ambidextrous" reflects this as well: it comes from the Latin "dexter," so it could be translated as "having two right hands."

The handedness bias is reflected in the languages of the world. In many Western languages, the word for "right" (as in the direction) is often a synonym for "correct" with connotations of authority and justice: ''recht'' in [[German]], ''droit'' in [[French]], ''derecho'' in [[Spanish]], ''direito'' in [[Portuguese]], and in several [[Slavic languages]]. In many other languages, "right" is associated with skill while "left" is associated with clumsiness: the [[Latin]] term for right-handed is ''dexter'' as in [[dexterity]], ''diestro'' in Spanish and ''destro'' in Italian both mean "right-handed" and "skillful," and the [[Irish]] ''deas'' means "right side" and "nice". On the other hand, the [[French]] ''gauche'' means "left" and "clumsy", as does the [[Italian]] word ''maldestro'' and the Dutch word ''links''. English, Dutch, German, Bulgarian, and Czech all have some variation of the idiom "to have two left feet" (in some languages two left hands), meaning to be clumsy. The word "ambidextrous" reflects this as well: it comes from the Latin "dexter," so it could be translated as "having two right hands."

In some languages "left" is even associated with the concept of evil. The English word ''sinister'', the Italian word ''sinistra'', and the Spanish word ''siniestra'' all come from the Latin word ''sinestra'', which originally meant "left" but often took on the colloquial meaning "unlucky" and in their respective languages all mean both "evil" and "left" (although the latter meaning is archaic in English and somewhat rare in Spanish). The [[Chinese]] adjective meaning "left" (左 or "zuǒ") also means "improper."

In some languages "left" is even associated with the concept of evil. The English word ''sinister'', the Italian word ''sinistra'', and the Spanish word ''siniestra'' all come from the Latin word ''sinestra'', which originally meant "left" but often took on the colloquial meaning "unlucky" and in their respective languages all mean both "evil" and "left" (although the latter meaning is archaic in English and somewhat rare in Spanish). The [[Chinese]] adjective meaning "left" (左 or "zuǒ") also means "improper."