Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1883-08-02
SIGN LANGUAGE.
The Manner In which Deaf and Dumb
People Talk.

People Talk.
No one seeing the sign language can
help admiring its beauty and graceful
ness. This language is very simple,
and any one taking the trouble to
study it with one of the speaking en-
ployes at the asylum who is acquaint-
cd with it, could soon acquire it. 1t is
universal among mutes, and is founded
upon the most natural and convenient
way of initiating the forms Of objects
spoken of, or making some sign which
suggests some quality or trait of it,
whenever this is possible. Here are a
few examples of the way different
things are expressed:
Dog-Slap the right thigh just above
the knee with the right hand Gas if in
viting dog to come to you).
Girl-Close the right hand, leaving
the thumb sticking out. Pass the
thumb over the cheek a few times,
downward strokes Indicating. perhaps.
no beard.")
Boy-Close and open the thumb of
the right hand against the fingers rap
idly several times near and in front of
the forehead, the back of the hand
being upward,
/ Man-Same sign, and Immediately
raise the hand high above the head
! (indicating high boy
House Touch the points of the eX-
tended fingers and draw both hands OBJ
liquely down, the right toward the
right and the left toward the left, rs
if describing the roof.
Hat-Take off the hat and put it OH
again. If you happen to have none on,
go through the motion with the empty
hand.
Boot-EXtend the second finger OF
both hands and draw up the lee. as il
pulling on boot.
Book-Press the fingers of each
hand together, and the thumbs against
the first fingers, place the lower edges
of the hands together, and open and
! shut as a book
Cat-Moye the hands as if pulling a
mustache on both sides.
Englishman-Grasp the edge of the
left hand back of the little finger with
the right hand, the back of both being
up.
German-EXtend the fingers of both
hands and cross the edges of the wrists,
the right one up; shake the fingers
slightly.
Columbus-Crook the thumb and
fingers of the right hand to form the
letter c, and shake the hand
Deaf and Dumb-Place the first fin
ger on the right hand TO the lips and
then to the ear.
State House Place the first fingers
of both hands to the right and left
temples respectively, and make the
sign of house, described above.
Penitentiary-Cross the open fingers
of both hands to make bars, and pass
the hands across the sides to indicate
stripes.
These signs are, of course, much
simpler than many others which must
be seen to be described, but they serve
to show hhe manner in which the sys.
tenn is formed. Abstract ideas are
quite as easily and rapidly expressed,
and it is astonishing to note the few
verbs and adjectives it is necessary to
spell out by letters in long converse.
tion. For instance, clapping the fin
gers of the right hand and the palm Of
the left means school; placing the
palms and fingers of both hal,Is to-
gether, prayer; waving the handker
chief in a crowd where deaf muteS are
invariably collects tlem together; to
point the fingers of the right hand at
the open palm of the left and shake
them commands pupils to study; touch.
ing the left palm with the fingers OF
the right hand and rapidly passing
them towards the head a few times
means to learn that is, taking knowl-
edge from book into the head) :
passing the right palm over the upper
end of the left fist means enough, or
filled; pressing the first, second and
third fingers of the right hand against
the chin, with the thumb and small
finger extended to the right and left
respectively, means to make mistake