WEBVTT 1 00:00:02.000 --> 00:00:04.023 Welcome to Read Listen Draw! 2 00:00:04.023 --> 00:00:07.663 Let’s discover Twenty-Five Facts About Left-Handed People. 3 00:00:07.663 --> 00:00:08.068 1. 4 00:00:08.068 --> 00:00:14.540 Handedness is the hand a person usually prefers for skilled activities such as writing or throwing. 5 00:00:14.540 --> 00:00:14.945 2. 6 00:00:14.945 --> 00:00:18.181 A hand preference is not an unbreakable rule. 7 00:00:18.181 --> 00:00:21.821 Many people use the other hand for some jobs. 8 00:00:21.821 --> 00:00:22.226 3. 9 00:00:22.226 --> 00:00:30.316 Someone who prefers different hands for different tasks is called mixed-handed, while ambidextrous means similarly skilful with either hand. 10 00:00:31.900 --> 00:00:32.309 4. 11 00:00:32.309 --> 00:00:41.313 A huge review of studies estimated that about ten point six percent of people are left-handed—roughly one person in ten. 12 00:00:41.313 --> 00:00:41.722 5. 13 00:00:41.722 --> 00:00:48.680 The number changes a little depending on how researchers measure handedness and which activities they ask about. 14 00:00:48.680 --> 00:00:49.089 6. 15 00:00:49.089 --> 00:00:56.455 Culture matters too, because people in some places and times were discouraged from saying they were left-handed. 16 00:00:58.025 --> 00:00:58.426 7. 17 00:00:58.426 --> 00:01:05.251 Hand preference begins developing before birth; some babies already favour one thumb when sucking in the womb. 18 00:01:05.251 --> 00:01:05.652 8. 19 00:01:05.652 --> 00:01:12.477 Left-handedness can run in families, but parents do not simply pass it on like eye colour. 20 00:01:12.477 --> 00:01:12.878 9. 21 00:01:12.878 --> 00:01:15.689 There is no single left-handed gene. 22 00:01:15.689 --> 00:01:20.104 Many genes, together with early development and environment, help shape handedness. 23 00:01:20.104 --> 00:01:20.506 10. 24 00:01:20.506 --> 00:01:26.929 Twins are a little more likely than single-born people to have an uncommon hand preference. 25 00:01:28.450 --> 00:01:28.869 11. 26 00:01:28.869 --> 00:01:35.153 The brain has two connected halves called hemispheres, and both work together during everyday activities. 27 00:01:35.153 --> 00:01:35.572 12. 28 00:01:35.572 --> 00:01:43.531 Most left-handed people still use the left hemisphere more for language, just as most right-handed people do. 29 00:01:43.531 --> 00:01:43.950 13. 30 00:01:43.950 --> 00:01:48.558 Being left-handed does not mean someone is completely right-brained. 31 00:01:48.558 --> 00:01:48.977 14. 32 00:01:48.977 --> 00:01:57.356 It also does not automatically make a person more creative, clever or artistic—those abilities use networks across the brain. 33 00:01:58.925 --> 00:01:59.352 15. 34 00:01:59.352 --> 00:02:07.032 Many everyday objects were designed for the right-handed majority, including some scissors, can openers and school desks. 35 00:02:07.032 --> 00:02:07.459 16. 36 00:02:07.459 --> 00:02:17.699 Left-handed scissors reverse the blades and often shape the handles differently, helping the user see the cutting line and make a clean cut. 37 00:02:17.699 --> 00:02:18.126 17. 38 00:02:18.126 --> 00:02:25.806 Some tools are reversible or designed for either hand, so many people can use the same object comfortably. 39 00:02:27.425 --> 00:02:27.821 18. 40 00:02:27.821 --> 00:02:33.369 Left-handed writers may turn or tilt their paper to find a comfortable position. 41 00:02:33.369 --> 00:02:33.765 19. 42 00:02:33.765 --> 00:02:43.274 Wet ink can smudge when a writing hand passes over fresh words, so pencils, quick-drying pens and a good page angle can help. 43 00:02:43.274 --> 00:02:43.671 20. 44 00:02:43.671 --> 00:02:53.180 In the past, some left-handed children were forced to switch hands at school, but choosing the comfortable natural hand is now widely accepted. 45 00:02:54.725 --> 00:02:55.213 21. 46 00:02:55.213 --> 00:03:05.471 Left-oriented players appear more often than expected in some fast, face-to-face sports, such as tennis, fencing and baseball. 47 00:03:05.471 --> 00:03:05.959 22. 48 00:03:05.959 --> 00:03:16.216 One possible advantage is surprise: players practise against right-oriented opponents more often, so a left-oriented opponent may feel unfamiliar. 49 00:03:16.216 --> 00:03:16.705 23. 50 00:03:16.705 --> 00:03:22.077 That does not mean every left-hander is better at sport. 51 00:03:22.077 --> 00:03:25.497 Practice, coaching and enjoyment matter far more. 52 00:03:25.497 --> 00:03:29.404 Many activities also give both hands different jobs. 53 00:03:30.925 --> 00:03:31.366 24. 54 00:03:31.366 --> 00:03:40.637 International Left Handers Day is marked on the thirteenth of August to celebrate left-handers and draw attention to everyday design. 55 00:03:40.637 --> 00:03:41.079 25. 56 00:03:41.079 --> 00:03:45.052 Left-handed people are as varied as everyone else. 57 00:03:45.052 --> 00:03:49.467 Handedness does not decide a person’s personality, talents or future. 58 00:03:49.467 --> 00:03:54.323 A thoughtful classroom offers space and tools for different hand choices. 59 00:03:54.323 --> 00:03:56.530 Which fact will you draw?