Sign Language Among North American Indians Compared With That Among Other Peoples Part 37

Lean forward, and, holding the hands concavo-convex, draw them up over the limbs severally, then cross on the chest as wrapping a blanket.

The arms are then extended before the body, with the hands in type-position (W), to a height indicating a large pile. The right hand then sweeps outward, showing a negative state of mind. The index of right hand finally touches the chest of the second party and approaches the body, in position (I), horizontal. (_Oto and Missouri_ I.) "Something to put on that I don't want from you."

QUESTION. SEE ALSO THIS t.i.tLE IN EXTRACTS FROM DICTIONARY.

Hold the extended and flattened right hand, palm forward, at the height of the shoulder or face, and about fifteen inches from it, shaking the hand from side to side (at the wrist) as the arm is slightly raised, resembling the outline of an interrogation mark (_?_) made from below upward. (_Absaroka_ I; _Dakota_ V, VI, VII; _Hidatsa_ I; _Kaiowa_ I; _Arikara_ I; _Comanche_ II, III; _Pai-Ute_ I; _Shoshoni and Banak_ I; _Ute_ I; _Apache_ I, II; _Wichita_ II.)

---- What? What is it?

First attract the person's notice by the sign for _attention_, viz: The right hand (T) carried directly out in front of the body, with arm fully extended and there moved sidewise with rapid motions; and then the right hand, fingers extended, pointing forward or outward, fingers joined, horizontal, is carried outward, obliquely in front of the right breast, and there turned partially over and under several times.

(_Dakota_ I.)

---- What are you doing? What do you want?

Throw the right hand about a foot from right to left several times, describing an arc with its convexity upward, palm inward, fingers slightly bent and separated, and pointing forward. (_Dakota_ IV.)

---- When?

With its index extended and pointing forward, back upward, rotate the right hand several times to the right and left, describing an arc with the index. (_Dakota_ IV.)

---- What are you? i.e., What tribe do you belong to?

Shake the upright open right hand four to eight inches from side to side a few times, from twelve to eighteen inches in front of the chin, the palm forward, fingers relaxed and a little separated. (_Dakota_ IV.)

It must be remarked that in the three preceding signs there is no essential difference, either between themselves or between them and the general sign for QUESTION above given, which can be applied to the several special questions above mentioned. A similar remark may be made regarding several signs given below, which are printed in deference to collaborators.

Pa.s.s the right hand from left to right across the face. (_Kutine_ I.)

---- What do you want?

The arm is drawn to front of chest and the hand in position (N 1), modified by palms being downward and hand horizontal. From the chest center the hand is then pa.s.sed spirally forward toward the one addressed; the hand's palm begins the spiral motion with a downward and ends in an upward aspect. (_Oto_ I.) "To unwind or open."

---- Whence come you?

First the sign for _you_, viz: The hand open, held upward obliquely, and pointing forward; then the hand, extended open and drawn to the breast, and lastly the sign for _bringing_, as follows: The hand half shut, with the thumb pressing against the forefinger, being first moderately extended either to the right or left, is brought with a moderate jerk to the opposite side, as if something was pulled along by the hand. (_Dunbar_.)

---- Who are you? or what is your name?

The right or left hand approximates close to center of the body; the arm is flexed and hand in position (D), or a little more closed. From inception of sign near center of body the hand slowly describes the arc of a quadrant, and fingers unfold as the hand recedes. We think the proper intention is for the inception of sign to be located at the heart, but it is seldom truly, anatomically thus located. (_Oto_ I.) "To unfold one's self or make known."

---- Are you through?

With arms hanging at the side and forearms horizontal, place the fists near each other in front of body: then with a quick motion separate them as though breaking something asunder. (_Sahaptin_ I.)

---- Do you know?

Shake the right hand in front of the face, a little to the right, the whole arm elevated so as to throw the hand even with the face, and the forearm standing almost perpendicular. Princ.i.p.al motion with hand, slight motion of forearm, palm out. (_Sahaptin_ I.)

---- How far is it?

Sign for DO YOU KNOW? followed with a precise movement throwing right hand (palm toward face) to a position as far from body as convenient, signifying _far_; then with the same quick, precise motion, bring the hand to a position near the face--_near_. (_Sahaptin_ I.)

---- How will you go--horseback or in wagon?

First make the sign for DO YOU KNOW? then throw right hand forward--_go_ or _going_; then throw fore and middle fingers of right astride the forefinger of the left hand, signifying, _will you ride?_; then swing the forefingers of each hand around each other, sign of _wheel running_, signifying, _or will you go in wagon_? (_Sahaptin_ I.)

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 302.]

---- How many?

After making the sign for _question_, touch the tips of as many of the extended and separated fingers of the left hand held in front of the body upright, with back outward, with the right index as may be necessary. (_Dakota_ I.) "Count them off to me--how many?"

Place the left hand carelessly before the breast, fingers extended and slightly separated, back to the front, then count off a few with the extended index, by laying down the fingers of the left, beginning at the little finger, as in Fig. 302. In asking the question, the sign for _question_ must precede the sign for _many_, the latter being also accompanied by a look of interrogation. (_Shoshoni and Banak_ I.)

---- Has he?

_Deaf-mute natural sign_:

Move to and fro the finger several times toward the person spoken of (_Larson_.)

---- Have you?

_Deaf-mute natural sign_:

Move the finger to and fro several times toward the person to whom the one is speaking. (_Larson_.)

---- Are you?

_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 Was.h.i.+ngton during the winter of 1880-'81 from Ta-tan-ka Wa-kan (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, pa.s.s 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, pa.s.s 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_.

a.n.a.lYSIS.

Han-he'-pi | non'-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 p.r.o.nounced 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 p.r.o.nounced 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.