# The Sign Language/Chapter 17

PREPOSITIONS AND CONJUNCTIONS
Among.—Hold the left bent "5" hand in front with the fingers pointing upward; with the forefinger of the right "G" hand pointing down move it in and out among the fingers of the left.
Around.—Hold the left "&" hand pointing upward and circle it several times with the forefinger of the right "G" hand pointing down.
At.—Strike the back of the left "B" hand, pointing upward, with the right "B" hand. XXI, 381.
Before (in time).—See preceding pages.
Before (in place).—Hold the open hands pointing upward, in front, one on right side, one on left, palm toward palm, and 5 or 6 inches apart; turn both hands at the same time, carrying the left to the front and the right toward self, still keeping them palm to palm.
After (in time).—See preceding pages.
After (in place).—Same as "behind;" see below.
Behind.—Place the "A" hands in front, one on right side and the other on the left, thumbs pointing upward; bring the right hand toward self around behind the left, the latter remaining stationary. To signify behind in accomplishment, draw hand back indicating one is far back. XXI, 382.
Below.—Hold the right open hand under the left, palms of both down; move the right around in a circle.
Under.—(If stationary). With the left open hand, palm down, in front, and right "A" hand between it and self, let the right hand pass down under the left. Or place the "A" hand under the left and describe a circle with it. XXI, 383.
Under.—(If in motion). Same position and movement, but carry the right hand completely under the left and let the thumb come up above its edge.
Beside.—Hold the "A" hands in front, one beside the other, thumbs pointing upward.
Beside (more).—Hold the left "&" hand in front pointing toward the right; bring the end of the right "&" hand to ​meet the end of the left, lifting it from a position in front toward the right side and then to meet the left.
Between.—Hold the left "C" hand in front, the opening up, and between the thumb and forefinger place the right "B" hand held edgewise; let the right hand move from side to side between the thumb and forefinger, striking first one and then the other. XXI, 384.
Except, But.—Holding the left "G" hand in front with the forefinger pointing upward, grasp it with the thumb and forefinger of the right "G" hand, lifting it a little. XXI, 385.
But (as a conjunction).—Cross the ends of the forefingers of the "G" hands pointing outward, and draw them apart, toward the sides.
By.—Hold the "A" hands in front, side by side, the right a little higher than the left; bend both hands toward the left, twisting them from the wrists, so the thumbs point over toward the left. XXI, 386.
For.—Place the end of the forefinger of the right "G" hand at the right side of the forehead; with a twisting motion to the hand bring it down and, pointing the forefinger straight out, push it forward some distance. XXI, 387.
From.—Crook the forefinger of the right "G" hand, and place its middle joint thus crooked against the side of the forefinger of the left "G" hand, pointing upward (K of the double alphabet), and draw it away toward self. XXI, 388.
In.—Place the right "&" hand downward into the left "O" hand.
Into.—Holding the left open hand out in front, palm down, and pointing toward the right, push the right "B" hand, palm down, from toward self down and under the left.
Of.—Hold the right "B" hand out forward from the side, pointing outward, and held edgewise; drawing the elbow slightly back, turn the hand palm down with a twisting motion; then continue to twist it until the palm is toward the right and as it assumes this position push the hand slightly toward the right and front. This sign indicates the idea of possession to some extent. Or,
(2) Hold the right "G" hand out straight from the side, pointing outward; give it a turning, twisting motion toward the inside, so the back of the hand is turned up; the forefinger describes a peculiar arch over from left to right. Or,
​(3) Hold out the right "O" hand straight from the side and somewhat elevated; twisting it with a downward motion outward bring it into the position of "F."
On.—Lay the right open hand upon the back of the left.
Upon.—Lift the right hand to the position as above.
Off.—Having placed the right open hand upon the back of the left, throw, or let it fall off.
Out.—Place the right "5" hand, pointing upward, in the left "C;" let it drop down and out of the left, the latter closing over it to "O" hand.
Out of.—(Away from). Placing the right "5" hand in the left "C," pointing it downward, lift it upward and out toward the front, and close the left hand under it to "O." For Out of in sense of "gone" see that word.
Through.—Push the right "B" hand edgewise outward between the middle and third fingers of the left, which are open and closed over against the forefinger and little finger respectively, and pointing upward. XXI, 389.
Till.—Holding the forefinger of the left "G" hand in front, pointing upward, palm to self, push the forefinger of the right "G" hand outward to and touching it, but let the right hand move slowly, and describe an arch over from self to the forefinger. XXI, 390. Or,
(2) Move the bent forefinger of the right "G" hand, palm down, forward a short distance and then drop it.
To.—Same motion, but move the right forefinger straight to the left with an upward motion.
Toward.—Same motion but not touching the left forefinger.
With.—Hold the "A" hands side by side together, thumbs up, moving them forward together a little. XXI, 391.
Without.—First sign "with," then let the hands drop away toward the sides, opening the while. XXI, 392.
Like.—Same as for "same," see preceding pages.
Against.—Strike the palm of the left hand with the end of the right "B" hand, holding the left hand so the right is thrown straight outward toward the left. XXI, 378.
About.—Hold the left "&" hand out, pointing to the right, and around it circle the forefinger of the right "G" hand, pointing to the left. XXI, 380.
Note: About, in sense of "almost" or "nearly" is signed like these words, as the signs always stand for the idea and not the word itself.
​Above.—Touch the back of the open left hand, pointing outward, toward the right with the end of the open right, lift the latter away, and holding it still flatwise, let it describe a circle in the air. And,
(2) In the sense of "more than:" Place the end of the right bent hand, palm down, on the end of the open left hand, the right several inches above the left, drawing it first a little toward you and then directly above its original position. Note that you indicate an excess.
Across, Over.—Holding the left "B" hand out, palm down and pointing toward the right, pass the right "B" hand edgewise across the back of the left. XXI, 379.
Plate XXI.