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While it's impossible to pinpoint an exact origin, Take Our Word For It notes that clapping for praise has been around since at least the Middle Ages. Early mentions of the practice coincide with the advent of public performances, usually by traveling bands of actors in town squares. Metafilter says that folks have been clapping for joy since Biblical times. According to Yahoo! Reference, the word "clap" comes from the Old Norse "klappa." It's a classic example of onomatopoeia. Some believe clapping may have been inspired
by the percussion instruments used in early public ceremonies, while others note the act appears to be an instinct in babies. In many cultures, however, clapping isn't necessarily associated with praise. In Tibet, it's used to shoo away evil spirits. And in other cultures, foot stomping is considered the appropriate response to a great performance. Now that we have that settled, we can get back to pondering the sound of one hand clapping. Any help is welcome.
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