Language. 909 



nearly vertical, then give the hands a shivering motion. This is also a sign for year. 

 The same sign, with the addition of drawing in the shoulders and shivering the arms, 

 stands for cold. 



Exterminated or wiped out: Hold left hand palm up, then draw the right hand palm, 

 down over it from left to right, and passing some inches beyond. 



Bald : Touch the hair of the head, then make sign for wiped out. 



To Hide : Hold left hand in front of left breast, back up ; then pass the right hand, back 

 up, under and a little beyond the left. 



Die : The conception of this sign is going under. The left hand is held in front on 

 edge, back out, and the right closed, except the index, is passed under it close, so as to rub. 



Perhaps, Doubt, &c., are conceived of as two hearts, and signs represent that idea. 



Lie : Conception is of two tongues, or a forked tongue. The index and second finger of 

 right hand are spread apart, the rest of the hand closed, then hand is moved past the 

 mouth towards the left, and'then downward a little. Also used for mistake. 



Think, is conceived of a something drawn from the heart; the right hand closed, ex- 

 cept index, is moved horizontally from the heart to the front. 



Good, is something level with the heart, and sign expresses that idea. 



Generous : Signs are made for heart, and for good or big. 



Excite, is conceived of as a heart in a flutter. Sign for heart, then with hand and 

 fingers all pointing up, make tremulous, waving motion. 



Sad, is heart laid on the ground. Make sign for heart, then sweep the hand from this 

 position to right and downwards, turning up the palm and partly compressing the hand. 



Mean : Signs are made for heart and small. 



Glad, is daylight in the heart, and the signs are for heart and day. 



Mean, Selfish, &c., are expressed by compressed heart; signs are for heart and small. 



Gloomy: Make sign for clouds, then lower the hands near to the head, the conception 

 being that clouds press down upon one ; much used to express despondency. 



Crazy or foolish, is brain in a whirl, and sign represents that idea. 



Bad, is something suddenly thrown away. Closed hands are held up and suddenly 

 opened and thrown outward with repelling gesture. A little variation from this expresses 

 Abandoned- 

 Ashamed, is expressed by gestures representing the drawing of the blanket over the 

 face. Open hands, backs outward, are held before the face, then made to pass each other 

 partly by twisting the wrists. 



Moon : Make sign for night and for sun. 



Month: Make sign for moon and for die. The moon dies. Sometimes the sign for 

 wiped out is used instead of die. 



Thunder: Make sign for bird and for /fre. 



Hunger: Cuts one in two. The edge of open right hand, back down, is pressed against 

 the stomach, then drawn back and forth to represent sawing. 



In the foregoing I have abbreviated the directions to save room. In 

 practice the minute observance of details is of the same value as correct 

 spelling in writing. Nothing can exceed the beauty of some of the 

 metaphors employed, nor the grace with which the wild red men execute 

 the gestures as I have seen them do. Capt. Clark has performed an ex- 

 ceedingly valuable work in preserving what will soon be a dead language. 



The sign language, like vocal languages in their infancy, endeavors 

 to imitate the object to be represented as far as practicable, and is both 

 natural and ingenious in seizing upon some obvious characteristic in the 

 thing itself or in our relationship to it ; as, for example, in the signs 

 for " mule " and " horse " respectively, and in those for bird, fire, rain, 

 snake, snow, water, fish, &c. When the direct imitation of the object 

 is no longer possible, resort is had to metaphor as in all vocal languages. 

 Thus, gladness is sunshine in the heart, because sunshine produces glad- 

 ness in the heart. A bad thing is something we suddenly hurl from 

 us. Lowering clouds produce in us a sense of gloominess, hence clouds 



