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Brulé
Dakota Colloquy
The following signs,
forming a question and answer, were
obtained by Dr. W.J. Hoffman, from
Ta-tan-ka Wa-kan
(Medicine Bull), a Brulé Dakota
chief who visited Washington during
the winter of 1880-'81:
Question. We went to the
department [of the interior], shook
hands with the secretary and had a
conversation with him, did you hear
of it?
(1) Extend and separate the thumb
and index, leaving the remaining
fingers closed, place the ball of
the thumb against the temple above
the outer corner of the eye, and the
index across the forehead, the tip
resting on the left temple, then
draw the index |
 |
across to the right until its
tip touches the thumb—white man,
Fig. 315; (2) Elevate the extended
index before the shoulder, palm
forward, pass it upward, as high as
the head, and forming a short curve
to the front, then downward again
slightly to the front to before the
breast and about fifteen inches from
it—chief; (3) Fingers of both
hands extended and separated; then
interlace them so that the tips of
the fingers of one hand protrude
beyond the backs of those of the
opposing one; hold the hands in
front of the breast, pointing
upward, leaving |
| the wrists about six
inches apart—lodge; (4) Place
the left hand a short distance
before the breast, palm down and
slightly arched, fingers directed
toward the right and front, then
pass the flat and extended right
hand forward, under and beyond the
left, forming a downward curve, the
right hand being as high as the left
at the commencement and termination
of the gesture—enter, entered;
(5) Clasp the hands before the body,
left uppermost—shook hands,
friendly; (6) Place the flat
right hand before the chin, palm up
with fingers directed to the left,
then pass the hand forward several
times—talk, talked to him;
(7) Reverse this motion, beginning
away from the body, drawing the hand
edgewise toward the chin several
times—talked to me; (8)
Separate the extended thumb and
index as far as possible, leaving
the remaining fingers closed, place
the hand about six inches opposite
the right ear, palm toward the head,
then pass it in a curve forward and
downward, terminating at the height
of the elbow—hear, heard; (9)
then in a continuous movement direct
the extended index at the individual
addressed, the face expressing a
look of inquiry—you.
ANALYSIS |
|
Wa-śi'-cun |
i-tan-can |
ti-el' |
ti'-ma-hel |
unk-i'-pi |
na |
|
(1) |
(2) |
|
(3) |
(4) |
|
|
White man |
chief |
lodge in |
lodge within |
we were at
that place
|
and |
|
na'-pe-un-za-pi |
na |
ki-ci |
wo-un-gla-ka-pi |
kin |
|
(5) |
|
|
(6,7) |
|
hand
we hold it,
take hold of
|
and |
to
each other |
we
talk |
the
thing |
na-ya-ḣon-hu-o
(8,9)
you hear it?
It will be observed
that the interrogation point is
placed under the last syllable, hu-o,
the latter implying a question,
though the gesture was not made to
accompany it, the gestures for
hear and you, with a look
of inquiry, being deemed sufficient
to express the desire on the part of
the speaker.
Answer. Yes, I heard of it,
but did not see it.
|
(1) Hold the
naturally closed hand before the
right side of the breast or
shoulder, leaving the index and
thumb loosely extended, then, as the
hand is thrown downward and forward,
bring the index against the inner
side of the thumb—yes. (2)
Repeat gesture No. 8—heard,
Fig. 316; (3) pass the extended
index forward from the right eye—saw;
(4) then in a continuous motion
extend all the fingers so as to
place the flat hand edgewise, and
pointing forward about twelve inches
before the right side of the breast,
and throw it outward and slightly
downward—no, not.
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 |
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ANALYSIS
|
|
Ha-u |
na-wa'-ḣon |
tka |
wan-mla'-ke |
śni |
|
(1) |
(2) |
|
(3) |
(4) |
|
Yes, |
I heard |
(but) |
I saw it. |
not. |
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