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!
Less of practical value can be learned of
sign language, considered as a system, from the study of
gestures of actors and orators than would appear without
reflection. The pantomimist who uses no words whatever is
obliged to avail himself of every natural or imagined
connection between thought and gesture, and, depending
wholly on the latter, makes himself intelligible. On the
stage and the rostrum words are the main reliance, and
gestures generally serve for rhythmic movement and to
display personal grace. At the most they give the
appropriate representation of the general idea expressed by
the words, but do not attempt to indicate the idea itself.
An instance is recorded of the addition of significance to
gesture when it is employed by the gesturer, himself silent,
to accompany words used by another. Livius Andronicus, being
hoarse, obtained permission to have his part sung by another
actor while he continued to make the gestures, and he did so
with much greater effect than before, as Livy, the
historian, explains, because he was not impeded by the
exertion of the voice; but the correct explanation probably
is, because his attention was directed to ideas, not mere
words.
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
