908 Dynamic Theory. 



movements and pose of his tail and limbs, as early as by his bark and 

 whine. When expressive signs are used by a dog, or other intelligent 

 animal, they are seldom exclusively vocal. It is the same when the ex- 

 pressions first become purposive. The vocal speech of the savages is 

 poor, and was still more so in the beginning, and the necessity they 

 were under to supplement and illustrate it by gesture speech, is not 

 easily appreciated by those accustomed only to a complete vocal lan- 

 guage. Clark expresses the opinion that in the earliest stages of pur- 

 posive language, gestures were in greater requisition than articulate 

 sounds. The final triumph and "survival" of the latter, however, in- 

 dicates their title to be called the " fittest " in the long run. The sign 

 language has become, like the vocal languages, largely metaphorical, 

 because advanced ideas are not expressible without the help of meta- 

 phor. The following description of some of the Indian signs I take 

 from Capt. Clark's "Indian Sign Language:" 



Grass: Hold arms straight down in front of body, turn the backs of the hands down, 

 and allow the fingers and thumbs well separated to point upward like spears of grass. 



Trees : Same as for grass, except that the hands are held as high as the shoulder. For 

 one tree, after making the sign for trees, hold up index of right hand. 



Grow: With the right hand near the ground, back down, point upward with index, 

 rest of the hand being closed, then raise the hand in slight jerks. 



Mule: Hold the hands on each side of the head, palms in front, then throw the hands 

 back and forth by twisting the wrist. Deaf mutes use the same sign. 



Horse : Hold the left hand on edge, breast-high, pointing outward, then place right 

 index and second fingers astride of left index. 



Ride : With hands in position for horse, make vertical motion to imitate the canter or 

 lope. 



Dismount : Make sign for horse, then lift right hand, carry to right and lower it ; repeat 

 for more than one. 



Water: Make sign as if drinking out of the right hand, tipping it toward the mouth 

 like a cup. 



Fish : Make sign for water, then with right hand on edge, waist-high, move it forward 

 with waving motion. 



Bird.: Hold hands breast-high, palms outward, then flap them forward and down- 

 ward, slowly or rapidly, according to the bird represented. 



Fire: Hold right hand down in front, palm up, with first three finger nails pressed 

 against the thumb, then snap the fingers upward, raising hand a little, repeating a few 

 times. 



Parturition : Hand is held open with palm inward, close to the body in front, then 

 moved downward and outward on a curve. 



Female: Make motion of combing hair on each side, with fingers made into a comb. 



Male: Right hand, back up, is held in front of body, index pointing forward and up- 

 ward, rest of hand closed. 



Daughter: Sign for parturition and female. 



Son : Sign for parturition and male. 



Day: Hold open hands, breast-high, in front, four inches apart, pointing to front, backs 

 up. Then with each hand describe a sweeping curve to right and left simultaneously, 

 gradually turning the hands over and bringing them nearly to starting place, palms up. 



Cloud : Hold the open hands in front, and higher than the head, backs up, edges touch- 

 ing, then sweep the hands apart to right and left, each describing about one-fourth of a 

 circle, ending a little below the level of the shoulders. Often one hand only is used. 



Heart: The edge of the right hand, with index finger and thumb pointing downward, 

 and back up, is pressed against the region of the heart. 



Sun: A circle is made by index and thumb of right hand but not closed by an inch. 

 Move hand in a nearly vertical orbit from east to west. Time of day is indicated by 

 thrusting hand as above, toward a position of the sun on such orbit. 



Winter: Close the hands and hold them a little apart, in front of the neck, fore, rms 



