Deaf-mute natural signs: 

Point to the person spoken to and slightly nod the head, with an inquiring look. (Ballard.)

Point with the forefinger, as if to point toward the second person, at the same time nod the head as if to say “yes.” (Ziegler.)

The following was obtained at Washington during the winter of 1880-’81 from Ta-ta[n]-ka Wa-ka[n] (Medicine Bull), a Brule Dakota chief; by Dr. W.J.  HOFFMAN.

I AM GOING HOME IN TWO DAYS.

(1) Place the flat hands in front of and as high as the elbows, palms down, pass each hand across to the opposite side of the body, the right above the left crossing near the wrist at the termination of the gesture (night), repeat in quick succession—­nights, (2) elevate the extended index and second finger of the right hand, backs to the front—­two, (3) place the tips of the extended and joined fingers of the right hand against the breast—­I, (4) after touching the breast as in the preceding, pass the extended index from the breast, pointing downward, forward nearly to arm’s length, and terminating by holding the hand but continuing the motion of the index until it points forward and upward—­am going to, (5) throw the clinched right fist about six inches toward the earth at arm’s length after the completion of the preceding gesture—­my home.

ANALYSIS.

Ha[n]-he’-pi | no[n]’-pa |  mi’-ye  | ti-ya’-ta | wa-gle’-kta.
(1)       |    (2)    |   (3)    |   (5)     |    (4)
nights     |    two    |    I     |  my home  | am going to.

It will be noticed that the gesture No. 4, “am going to,” was made before the gesture No. 5, “my home,” although the Dakota words pronounced were in the reverse order, showing a difference in the syntax of the gestures and of the oral speech in this instance.  The other gestures, 1, 2, and 3, had been made deliberately, the Dakota word translating each being in obvious connection with the several gestures, but the two final words were pronounced rapidly together as if they could not in the mind of the gesturer be applied separately to the reversed order of the signs for them.

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The same authority obtained the above sentence in Ponka and Pani, together with the following signs for it, from individuals of those tribes.  Those signs agreed between each other, but differed from the Dakota, as will be observed, in the signs to my house, as signifying to my home.

(1) Touch the breast with the tips of the extended fingers—­I.  This precedes the signs for Nos. 2, 3, 4, and 5, which correspond to Nos. 1, 2, 3, and 4 of the Dakota; then follows:  (6) place the tips of the extended fingers of the flat hands together, leaving the wrists about six inches apart—­lodge, (7) and conclude by placing the clinched fists nearly at arm’s length before the body, the right several inches above the left, then throw them toward the ground—­about six or eight inches—­the fists retaining their relative positions—­my, mine.