Sign Language Among North American Indians Compared With That Among Other Peoples And Deaf-Mutes eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 430 pages of information about Sign Language Among North American Indians Compared With That Among Other Peoples And Deaf-Mutes.

Sign Language Among North American Indians Compared With That Among Other Peoples And Deaf-Mutes eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 430 pages of information about Sign Language Among North American Indians Compared With That Among Other Peoples And Deaf-Mutes.

FOUR YEARS AGO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AGREED TO BE FRIENDS WITH US, BUT THEY LIED. THAT IS ALL.

(1) Place the closed hand, with the thumb resting over the middle of the index, on the left side of the forehead, palmar side down, then draw the thumb across the forehead to the right, a short distance beyond the head—­white man, American, Fig. 329.

[Illustration:  Fig. 329.]

[Illustration:  Fig. 330.]

(2) Place the naturally extended hand, fingers and thumb slightly separated and pointing to the left, about fifteen inches before the right side of the body, bringing it to within a short distance—­with us, Fig. 330.

(3) Extend the flat right hand to the front and right as if about to grasp the hand of another individual—­friend, friends, Fig. 331.  For remarks connected with this sign see pp. 384-386.

[Illustration:  Fig. 331.]

(4) Place the flat right hand, with fingers only extended, back to the front, about eighteen inches before the right shoulder—­four [years], Fig. 332.

[Illustration:  Fig. 332.]

(5) Close the right hand, leaving the index and second fingers extended and slightly separated, place it, back forward, about eight inches before the right side of the body, and pass it quickly to the left in a slightly downward curve—­lie, Fig. 333.

[Illustration:  Fig. 333.]

(6) Place the clinched fists together before the breast, palms down, then separate them in a curve outward and downward to their respective sides—­done, finished, “that is all", Fig. 334.

[Illustration:  Fig. 334.]

SIGNALS.

The collaborators in the work above explained have not generally responded to the request to communicate material under this head.  It is, however, hoped that by now printing some extracts from published works and the few contributions recently procured, the attention of observers will be directed to the prosecution of research in this direction.

The term “signal” is here used in distinction from the signs noted in the DICTIONARY, extracts from which are given above, as being some action or manifestation intended to be seen at a distance, and not allowing of the minuteness or detail possible in close converse.  Signals may be executed, first, exclusively by bodily action; second, by action of the person in connection with objects, such as a blanket, or a lance, or the direction imparted to a horse; third, by various devices, such as smoke, fire or dust, when the person of the signalist is not visible.  When not simply intended to attract attention they are generally conventional, and while their study has not the same kind of importance as that of gesture signs, it possesses some peculiar interest.

SIGNALS EXECUTED BY BODILY ACTION.

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Sign Language Among North American Indians Compared With That Among Other Peoples And Deaf-Mutes from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.