While we know our northern friends may not feel it, in the South, Spring is
here. So we thought we'd share a few of our gardening sites appropriate
for this time of the year. Along with gardening, there's grilling, and getting
ready to diet so that you can fit back into that bathing suit this summer!
Even when the specific practice of sign
language has been generally discontinued for more than one
generation, either from the adoption of a jargon or from the
common use of the tongue of the conquering English, French,
or Spanish, some of the gestures formerly employed as
substitutes for words may survive as a customary
accompaniment to oratory or impassioned conversation, and,
when ascertained, should be carefully noted. An example,
among many, may be found in the fact that the now civilized
Muskoki or Creeks, as mentioned by Rev. H.F. Buckner, when
speaking of the height of children or women, illustrate
their words by holding their hands at the proper elevation,
palm up; but when describing the height of "soulless"
animals or inanimate objects, they hold the palm downward.
This, when correlated with the distinctive signs of other
Indians, is an interesting case of the survival of a
practice which, so far as yet reported, the oldest men of
the tribe, now living only remember to have once existed. It
is probable that a collection of such distinctive gestures
among the most civilized Indians would reproduce enough of
their ancient system to be valuable, while possibly the
persistent inquirer might in his search discover some of its
surviving custodians even among Chabta or Cheroki, Innuit or
Abnaki, Klamath or Nutka.
This site includes some historical
materials that may imply negative stereotypes reflecting the culture or
language of a particular period or place. These items are presented as
part of the historical record and should not be interpreted to mean that
the WebMasters in any way endorse the stereotypes implied.
Sign Language
Among North American Indians Compared with
that Among Other Peoples and Deaf-Mutes,
1881
