=Now= (Emphatic “right now”). Hold up right G, back to right and
pointing upward about eight inches in front of the face; and, without
stopping, carry it a little to front; then stop and give a slight
rebound. Sometimes look up to make it clear that it relates to time of
day, that is, the sun’s course. Often it means _this_ as in _this day_;
_this moment_; _this night_.
Fr. _maintenant_; Ger. _jetzt_.
[Illustration]
=Numbers= and =Counting=. Up to _ten_ as shown on the fingers at the
foot of previous page and this.
For 20—Sign 10, close the hands, then repeat it.
For 25—Sign 20, then drop left, close right, and sign 5.
For 30—Sign 10 three times; or else as below.
[Illustration]
For 20, etc., sign 10, then hold out left 5 hand pointing forward and
draw right G along each finger from base to tip; each finger so
pointed stands for 10.
If over 50, do same with right hand and left index till enough tens
are shown.
[Illustration]
For 100—Both 5 hands held up, palm forward, thumb tips touching, low,
opposite right shoulder; swing in a vertical arch to low opposite left
shoulder. This mode of multiplying by ten may be applied to other
numbers.
For 1,000—Sign 100 and on flat hands spread and pointing forward, palm
down, with index of other hand show number of hundreds as above.
[Illustration]
=Numbers= or =Counting=. Or, with the thumb of the same hand, touch each
of the finger tips in succession. (Popular and sometimes used by
Cheyennes.)
Fr. _les nombres_, _les numéros_, _compter_; Ger. _die Zahlen_,
_zählen_.
[Illustration]
=Numbers ordinal.= Point at or indicate the person or thing; then turn
down the first finger for 1st and the second finger for 2d and so on.
Also see _First_, _Next_, and _Last_.
=Numeral Sign=, =Arithmetic=, or =Counting=. Hold the left 5 hand, palm
up, fingers a little bent; with right G turn one or two left fingers
down on left palm.
The Deaf mode is the figure-sign, then, without changing position of arm
or hand, give the hand a twisting jerk from the wrist, which swings it
in a small circle.
Fr. _les nombres ordinaux_; Ger. _die Ordinalzahlen_.
=Nun.= Sign _Woman_, _Black_, _Hat_.
Fr. _la religieuse_; Ger. _die Nonne_.
O
[Illustration]
=Oath= or =Swear=. Tap the chest with the tips of the flat right hand,
then hold it at head height, palm forward. (Sheeaka.) Sometimes point to
Heaven and Earth, then hold up flat right hand. (C) Neither is Cheyenne,
but both are understood by them. See _Promise_. With right G make a
small cross over the heart. (Pop.)
Fr. _le serment_, _jurer_; Ger. _der Eid_, _schwören_.
=Obey.= Make sign for _Listen_. For emphasis add _Yes_. _Disobey_ is
putting the flat hands over the ears.
Fr. _obéir_; Ger. _gehorchen_.
=Obliged to.= See _Have to_. (C)
=Ocean.= Sign _Water_ and _Very broad_. Some add _Salt_.
Fr. _l’océan_; Ger. _der Ozean_.
[Illustration]
=Of= (That from that). Hold right G hand out straight from right side,
palm up; rotate the hand so the index tip describes a small half-circle
inward and finally the palm is down. (D) Compare _Luck_.
Fr. _de_; Ger. _von_.
=Offer= or =Propose=. Hold the flat hands, palms up, near you, then move
forward as though offering something. (Blackfoot.) The Cheyennes sign
_Want_ and _Give_.
Fr. _offrir_, _proposer_; Ger. _anbieten_, _vorschlagen_.
=Office.= Sign _Writing House_.
=Officer.= Sign _Chief_; or, if military, sign _Chief_, _Soldier_. Or
indicate with the right index on the left shoulder or arm the insignia
of the particular rank.
Fr. _l’officier_; Ger. _der Beamte_, _der Offizier_.
=Offspring.= See _Child_.
=Often.= See _Many times_.
[Illustration]
=Oil= (Blowing oil off surface in pot). With both L hands form a big
level circle; then tilt it low on forward side and blow across it.
(Blackfoot, but understood by Cheyennes.)
Fr. _l’huile_; Ger. _das Öl_.
[Illustration]
=Oil= or =Grease=. Hold out the flat left, thumb up; with right thumb on
palm and right index on back (others closed); rub back and forth with
short, quick jerks. Compare _Thick_, _Thin_, _Bacon_.
Fr. _la graisse_; Ger. _das Fett_.
[Illustration]
=Old= (Walking with a stick). Hold right A hand, _back to right_, about
twelve inches in front of right shoulder, about height of breast; move
the hand a little upward, to front, downward and back into its first
position on small curve, repeating motion. Compare _Lame_.
Fr. _vieux_; Ger. _alt_.
=Old Man.= Hold up the right index finger as in _Man_, then drop, crook,
and swing it in _Old_. See _Decrepit_.
Fr. _le vieillard_; Ger. _der Greis_.
=Old=, =How old are you?= Sign _Question_, _Snows_, _You_; or
_Question_, _Counting_, _Colds_, _You_.
Fr. _quel âge avez-vous?_ Ger. _wie alt sind Sie?_
[Illustration]
=On= or =Upon=. Lay the flat right hand, palm down, on back of the flat
horizontal left, palm down. Compare _At_.
Fr. _sur_; Ger. _auf_.
[Illustration]
=Once.= Dip the finger ends of the right compressed hand down against
the palm of the flat left hand, bringing it away quickly. For _Twice_,
do it twice, etc. (Sheeaka.) Compare _This_ and _Repeat_.
=Once= (One go). Sign _One_ with right G index and push it forward low
down. (So, also, _Twice_ is _Two_ pushed forward, etc.)
Fr. _une fois_; Ger. _einmal_.
=One who=, or =The man that does=. See _Doer_.
=Onion.= Sign _Potato_ and _Bad_, _Smell_.
Fr. _l’oignon_; Ger. _die Zwiebel_.
=Only.= See _Alone_.
[Illustration]
=Open.= The flat hands together, palm to palm, opened out flat as a
book. The same as _Book_ with _Writing_ omitted. Compare _Day_, _Book_,
_Shell_, and _Shut_.
Fr. _ouvrir_, _ouvert_; Ger. _öffnen_, _offen_.
[Illustration]
=Opossum.= Hold out the flat right, fingers doubled on palm, thumb
straight up; move it forward level. The thumb represents the tail. This
is an Australian sign given by E. C. Stirling. It is offered as a
suggestion and as a reminder that the Sign Language is world-wide. The
Cheyennes sign _Tree_, _Climb_, _Hang by tail_.
Fr. _l’opossum_, _le (la) sarigue_; Ger. _das Opossum_.
[Illustration]
=Opposite= or =Against=. Hold the G fingers up opposite each other,
pointing at each other. Compare =Against=.
Fr. _opposé_, _en face_; Ger. _gegenüber_.
=Or.= See _Either_. Sometimes use _Different_.
=Orderly= or =Put in order=. See _Ready_.
=Ordinal Numbers.= See _Numbers Ordinal_.
=Other.= See _Another_.
=Other side.= See _Beyond_.
[Illustration]
=Otter= (Wrapping the hair plait). With right thumb, index and middle
fingers together, others closed, describe a small spiral from near the
right ear down. Because the otter skin was the kind used in strips to
wrap the plaits of the Indians’ hair.
Fr. _la loutre_; Ger. _der (die) Otter_.
=Our.= Sign _All_, _My_.
Fr. _notre_; Ger. _unser_.
=Out of.= See _Absent_.
=Outside= or =Out of=. Make a semicircle of the left arm out level; drop
the compressed right hand without and beyond the semicircle. Compare
_In_, which it resembles, except in the last movement.
Fr. _dehors_, _hors de_; Ger. _drauszen_.
=Over= or =Above=. See _Above_.
=Overcome.= See _Kill_.
[Illustration]
=Overtake.= Hold out flat left hand at arm’s length, palm forward,
fingers pointing up; hold the right G hand near the breast, palm out,
pointing up; move it forward till it strikes the left hand. Use the left
G if only one is pursued. Compare _Arrive there_.
Fr. _atteindre_; Ger. _einholen_.
[Illustration]
=Owe= or =Debt= (Recorded and given). Write on the left palm and swing
it from _you_ to _me_ or otherwise, according to the case. (Sheeaka.)
=Owe.= Sign _Trade_, _Time_, _Money_, _Give_.
Fr. _devoir_; Ger. _schuldig sein_.
[Illustration]
=Owl.= Sign _Bird_ and _Big-eyes_; the latter by putting around each eye
a half-circle of thumb and index. (For _Horned Owl_ indicate the horns
with G hands.) For _Burrowing Owl_, sign _Owl_, _Hole_, and _Dancing_.
Fr. _la chouette_, _le hibou_; Ger. _die Eule_.
=Own.= See _Possession_.
P
[Illustration]
=Pack.= Hold out left flat hand, back to left (this is the horse); bring
right flat hand and place palm against left thumb, fingers pointing to
front (this is the right pack); raise the right hand and place palm
against upper part of left (this is the left pack); repeat these motions
quickly.
Fr. _emballer_; Ger. _packen_.
=Pain.= See _Ache_.
=Paint.= Use all the fingers of right hand as a brush painting the left
palm. Recent Cheyenne.
Fr. _peindre_; Ger. _anstreichen_, _malen_.
=Paint the cheeks.= Sign _Red_, then rub the cheeks and front of the
face with palm of flat right hand moved in small circles.
Fr. _se farder_; Ger. _schminken_.
[Illustration]
=Palsy.= Both flat hands, backs up, near breast, shaking.
Fr. _la paralysie agitante_; Ger. _die Schüttellähmung_.
=Panther.= See _Mountain Lion_.
[Illustration]
=Paper= (Square to write on). With G fingers outline a square, then make
as though to write on it with right G.
Fr. _le papier_; Ger. _das Papier_.
[Illustration]
=Parallel=, or =Side by Side=. The index fingers of G hands laid side by
side, _not_ touching and _not_ moving. Some make right index point to
left and left to right in this. Compare _Equal_, _Race_, and _Marry_.
Fr. _parallèle_; Ger. _parallel_, _gleichlaufend_.
[Illustration]
=Pardon=, =Liberate=, or =Turn Loose= (Removing a halter). Hold both L
hands, palms up, near the neck, one on each side; sweep them up, over,
forward and down, as though removing a halter; at the finish the index
fingers are pointing forward and down. Sometimes add _Go_. See _Excuse_
and _Free_.
Fr. _pardonner_; Ger. _begnadigen_.
=Part.= If _one-half_, indicate it as in the sign for that word; if
less, hold the right hand nearer end of index, according to portion
desired to be represented. See _Half_ and _Some_.
Fr. _la partie_; Ger. _der Teil_.
=Partner.= See _Mate_.
=Parturition.= See _Born_.
=Pass by.= See _Avoid_.
[Illustration]
=Past= (Time back). Make the sign for _Time_ and jerk the thumb backward
over the right shoulder, all fingers closed. (Sheeaka.) Or throw the
flat hand back over shoulder. In general, sign _Time_, _Back_. See _Ago_
and _Back_.
Fr. _le passé_; Ger. _die Vergangenheit_.
=Pasture.= See _Corral_.
=Patrol.= See _Band_.
=Pawnee.= See _Indian Tribes_.
=Pawnshop= (House of three balls). _House_ and hold left hand up with
thumb, first and second fingers pointing straight down; then make a hoop
of right thumb and index and apply it in succession to the three hanging
tips. (Pop. and acceptable to Indians.)
Fr. _le Mont-de-Piété_; Ger. _das Leihhaus_, _das Pfandhaus_.
=Pax.= See _Fins_.
[Illustration]
=Pay= (i.e., “Will you give me?” or “Will you pay?”). Hold the right
hand forward at level of waist, palm up, fingers half closed, rubbing
the tip of first finger and tip of thumb together. (Popular and
understood by Sheeaka.) The Cheyennes sign _Money_, _Give me_.
Fr. _payer_; Ger. _bezahlen_.
=Peace.= Clasp the hands in front of body.
Fr. _la paix_; Ger. _der Friede_.
[Illustration]
=Peak.= Sign _Mountain_, _Part_; then hold up high all fingers of right
hand in a point, back under.
Fr. _le pic_; Ger. _die Spitze_.
=Peas.= Sign _Plant_, then with right index and thumb as in _Little of_
tap five or six times in a row along the side of the left G.
Fr. _les pois_; Ger. _die Erbsen_.
=Pekan.= See _Fisher_.
=Penny.= Sign _Red_, _Money_.
[Illustration]
=People.= Hold up the 5 hands, points up, and add _All_. Compare
_Nation_ and _Dance_.
[Illustration]
=People.= Hold up both G hands at various heights, as in _Man_ sign.
(Sheeaka.)
Fr. _le peuple_; Ger. _die Leute_, _das Volk_.
=Pepper= (Black sprinkler). Sign _Black_, then use right O hand as tho
it held a sprinkler. A Blackfoot sign understood by Cheyennes.
Fr. _le poivre_; Ger. _der Pfeffer_.
=Perhaps.= See _If_.
=Permit.= See _Free_.
=Perplexed.= See _If_ and _Consider_.
=Petrol.= See _Spirit_.
=Period= or =Full stop=. Use _Done_ both No. 1 and No. 2.
Fr. _le point_; Ger. _der Punkt_.
=Persevere=, =Persist=, or =Stick to it.= Hold both fists near breast
and firmly push them forward once or twice. That is, sign _Push_
repeatedly.
Fr. _persister_; Ger. _beharren_.
=Person= or =Individual=. Sign _Man_.
Fr. _la personne_; Ger. _die Person_.
[Illustration]
=Photograph.= Hold out the nearly flat left hand at arm’s length, face
high, palm to you, fingers level, pointing to right; from near it, draw
back right fist, palm to left and up, thumb out straight, as though
drawing something to the eye; then near the face change the right hand
to flat, slightly curved, back forward, fingers pointing to left, and
push it forward against palm of left, as in Print.
Fr. _la photographie_; Ger. _die Photographie_.
=Picture.= Indicate the subject, then hold up both L hands to outline
bottom and two sides of a square. With imaginary pencil in right draw on
this; left remaining as it was. See _Portrait_ and _Photograph_.
Fr. _le tableau_; Ger. _das Bild_.
=Pie.= Sign _Bread_, _Round_ (i.e., with right G, indicate a horizontal
circle of proper size), and _Sweet_. Then sidewise slide the flat right
exactly over the flat left, both with palms up. A description, rather
than a sign.
Fr. _le pâté_, _la tarte_; Ger. _die Pastete_.
=Piece.= See _Little of_.
=Pig.= See _Hog_.
[Illustration]
=Pipe.= Hold out right G breast high, back down, with index curled up,
pointing forward; jerk it forward once or twice.
Fr. _le pipe_; Ger. _die Pfeife_.
=Pistol.= See _Gun_.
[Illustration]
=Pity= or =Mercy= on another (Cry or shed tears for you). Hold G hands,
palms downward, index fingers up, in front of and near heart, few inches
apart, equally advance and same height; move the hands outward and
slightly downward, or toward person. Compare _Cry_.
Fr. _avoir pitié de quelqu’ un_; Ger. _jemanden bemitleiden_.
=Pity= or =Have mercy on me= (Cry for me). Hold G hands well out in
front of body, as described above, but with backs out; bring them toward
body, slightly raising them.
Fr. _plaignez-moi_, _ayez pitié de moi!_ Ger. _haben Sie Mitleid mit
mir!_
[Illustration]
=Place= or =Put= (Verb). Hold out flat left, back up; swing compressed
right over onto it, then open the right a little. Sometimes omit flat
left, or use instead compressed left hand held points up. Compare _Bet_.
Fr. _mettre_; Ger. _stellen_, _legen_, _setzen_.
=Place= (Noun). With right G pointing down, indicate a large circle on
the ground. (A Pai-ute sign given by Mallery p. 500, also a popular
sign.)
Fr. _la place_; Ger. _der Ort_, _die Stelle_.
[Illustration]
=Plant= or =Planting=. With right fingers and thumb, open as though to
drop a seed, then closed and moved on to drop another farther, and
another, all in the same row. Compare _Animal_ and _Jump_. See _Sow_.
Fr. _planter_; Ger. _pflanzen_.
=Play= or =Recreation=. Hold up both slightly curved 5 hands, points up
and forward, palm to palm, about eight inches apart. Swing them from
side to side together, rotating them so the palms are once to front,
once to back on each swing. Compare _Dance_ and _Children_.
Fr. _le jeu_; Ger. _das Spiel_.
[Illustration]
=Playing= or =Fooling=. Hold out in front of shoulder the slightly
curved 5 hand, palm up; rotate slightly by wrist action. See _Joke_ and
_Laugh_.
Fr. _jouer_; Ger. _das Spielen_.
[Illustration]
=Plenty= (Many, piled up). Push forward with both 5 hands, palms first,
three times (i.e., sign _Many_); then raise the hands very high, palms
forward and down. (Sheeaka.) Or sign _Heap_ or _Full_. Compare _Many_.
Fr. _l’abondance_; Ger. _die Fülle_.
=Ploughing.= Hold both fists forward as though holding plough, elbows
high; and push forward. Also used for cultivation in general.
Fr. _le labourage_, _labourer_; Ger. _das Pflügen_.
=Poison-ivy= (Vine, nibbler). Sign _Vine_; that is, hold left forearm
upright, as in _Tree_, and with right G finger trace a climbing _Vine_
about it; then with thumb and first two fingers of right hand, scratch
on edge of flat left, held out back up.
Fr. _le toxicodendron_; Ger. _der Giftefeu_, _der Giftsumach_.
=Polecat.= See _Skunk_.
[Illustration]
=Policeman= or =Constable=. Place the curved right index and thumb,
little finger out, against left coat lapel. Compare _Medal_, _Brand_,
and _Name_.
Fr. _le sergent de ville_; Ger. _der Schutzmann_.
=Police-station.= Sign _Policeman_ and _House_.
Fr. _le poste de police_; Ger. _das Polizeibureau_.
=Ponder.= See _Consider_.
[Illustration]
=Poor in property= (Scraped bare). With right G finger scrape down the
left G finger held up, from tip to base, several times. Compare _Indian
Apache_, and _Shame_.
Fr. _pauvre_; Ger. _arm_.
=Poor in flesh.= See _Thin_.
[Illustration]
=Porcupine= (Prickly hair). Sign _Hair_; then with tips of right 5 hand
strike or prick the left palm, held facing the right.
Fr. _le porc-épic_; Ger. _das Stachelschwein_.
=Portrait.= Hold up the flat left hand, back forward, as though it were
a _Mirror_, then sketch on the same with an imaginary pencil, add _Face_
and indicate the person. See _Photograph_ and _Picture_.
Fr. _le portrait_; Ger. _das Bild(nis)_.
=Positive of adjectives.= See _Comparative_.
[Illustration]
=Possesses=, =Possession=, =Yours=, =His own=, =Belonging to=, etc.
(Held in the hand.) Hold right A hand, back to right, in front of the
neck, or even the forehead, and a few inches from it. Swing it forward
and down so the thumb is pointing straight forward.
Fr. _posséder_; Ger. _besitzen_.
=Potato.= Curved 5 right hand held as low as possible, back down.
Fr. _la pomme de terre_; Ger. _die Kartoffel_.
=Pour.= Hold out the left O hand, back to left, and pour into it with
the right O hand.
Fr. _verser_; Ger. _gieszen_.
[Illustration]
=Powder.= Hold out left hand, palm up; just above it, rub thumb and
finger tips of right. Or commonly omit left hand. Compare _Dust_.
Fr. _la poudre_; Ger. _das Pulver_, _der Puder_.
=Power.= See _Can_.
[Illustration]
=Prairie=, =Smooth land=, =Flat=, or =Level= (Level wide). Flat hands
side by side, palms up; then slowly wide spread on same plane. In
conversation, usually but one hand is used. Compare _Free_ and _Broad_.
Fr. _la prairie_, _la plaine_; Ger. _die Prärie_, _die grosze Ebene_.
=Prairie-chicken.= See _Grouse_.
=Prairie-dog.= Sign _Mound_, _Hole_; then push right G up through hole
and add _Talk_.
Fr. _la marmotte de la prairie_; Ger. _der Präriehund_.
=Praise.= See _Applause_.
[Illustration]
=Pray.= Lay the flat hands palm to palm, point them to the sky, then
draw down toward self; repeat. (Sheeaka.)
=Pray.= Look up, sign _Talk_ (_No. 1._) _straight_.
Fr. _prier_; Ger. _beten_.
=Present= (Time). Same as _Now_.
=Pretty.= See _Beautiful_.
[Illustration]
=Pride=, =Proud=, or =Vain=. Draw the flat hand, palm down, over face to
breast; throw back head, look up and add _Good_. (Blackfoot.) This is
their sign for _Beautiful_ with the addition of the head thrown back. Or
sign _He, Think_, _He, Big Chief_. See _Conceit_.
Fr. _la fierté_, _fier_; Ger. _der Stolz_, _stolz_.
=Priest.= Sign _Robe_ and _Black_.
Fr. _le prêtre_; Ger. _der Priester_.
=Print.= Push the back of right flat curved hand slowly and firmly
against the palm of the left curved ditto, as in _Picture_, only several
times. Compare _Quandary_, _Approach_, _Photograph_ etc.
[Illustration]
=Prison= (House of bars). Sign for _House_, then hold 4 hands up, side
by side for prison bars. Add _Man_ and _Look through_.
=Prison.= Sign _Prisoner_ and _House_.
Fr. _la prison_; Ger. _das Gefängnis_.
[Illustration]
=Prisoner= (Arrested). Clinch the fists and cross the wrists as though
bound, and press down a little.
Fr. _le prisonnier_; Ger. _der Gefangene_.
=Private.= See _Secret_.
=Produce= and =Product=. See _Result_.
[Illustration]
=Prominent= or =Conspicuous= (Stands on a hill). Sign _Hill_ up high,
then lay right G against it, pointing up, palm to self, back of right
against left hand. See _Famous_.
Fr. _éminent_; Ger. _hervorragend_.
=Promise= (Word bound). Place the forefinger of right G perpendicularly
against mouth; bring down fist and, parallel with it, the other fist,
thumbs up; strike both down together twice. (Sheeaka.) Also see _Word of
Honor_, or _Cross my Heart_.
=Promise.= Sign _Talk_ (i.e., _Word_), _Give_.
[Illustration]
=Promise=, =Sworn= (I swear). Tap the chest with tips of flat right
hand, then raise it, palm forward, and add _Talk_. (Sheeaka.) Compare
_Oath_.
Fr. _la promesse_, _promettre_; Ger. _das Versprechen_, _versprechen_.
=Proof= or =Prove=. See _Show_.
=Propose.= See _Offer_.
=Protect.= See _Defend_.
Fr. _protéger_; Ger. _beschützen_.
=Push.= The same as _Begin_, which see.
Fr. _pousser_; Ger. _schieben_.
=Put.= See _Place_.
Q
=Quality.= See _Rank_.
[Illustration]
=Quandary=, =In a fix=, =Run against=, or =Up against it=. Hold out the
curved left hand nearly at arm’s length, back forward; push the ditto
right from near the breast right out briskly and hard against the left.
Sometimes use _Against_. Compare _Approach_, which is similar, but is
slow, and right does not touch; also, _Print_, which pushes and is
repeated.
Fr. _l’embarras_; Ger. _die Verlegenheit_.
=Quarter= (But one of four). Hold up the left 4 hand, back out; then
with the right G turn the little finger down on the palm. Sometimes sign
_Half_, then again half of the tip portion.
Fr. _le quart_; Ger. _das Viertel_.
[Illustration]
=Quarrel= (Two persons springing at each other). Hold up both G hands
and alternately jerk left at right and right at left.
Fr. _la querelle_; Ger. _der Streit_.
=Quench.= _Fire_ and _Wipe out_.
Fr. _éteindre_; Ger. _löschen_.
[Illustration]
=Question=, =Query=, =Interrogation=, =I am asking you a question=, =I
want to know=, usually equivalent to “Is that you?” (Groping or
uncertain.) Hold up the right hand toward the person, palm down and
forward, fingers and thumb open, spread, but a little curved; by wrist
action, swing the hand in small vertical semicircles. The diagram below
the illustration indicates the finger tips seen from in front. The
motion shown for the little finger is, of course, shared by all. This is
a very important and much-used sign; it appears before all questions.
If the person is quite distant, hold the hand higher, more spread, and
wave it several times to right and left.
When very near, merely raise the eyebrows. For long distance, raise both
arms like Y with hands flat and waved a little. (Crow.) See _Consider_.
Fr. _l’interrogation_; Ger. _die Frage_.
The following are needed in asking questions:
=How?= Sign _Question_ and _Work_ and _Way_.
Fr. _comment?_; Ger. _wie?_
[Illustration]
=How many?= or =How much?= Sign _Question_; next hold the left hand
open, curved, palm up, fingers spread; then with right G digit,
quickly tap each finger on left in succession, closing it back toward
the left palm, beginning with the little finger.
Fr. _combien?_; Ger. _wie viele?_
[Illustration]
=What?= (As in “What are you doing?” “What is it?”) Sign _Question_;
follow with the same sign much exaggerated; that is, with the arm
action, swing the right 5 hand, palm under, fingers slightly bent and
separated and pointing forward, in an arc of about a foot from right
over to left and back once or twice. The Cheyennes in general use
this, though they denied it when questioned. But it seems a good
logical sign, the large arc being equivalent to “object.”
Fr. _quoi?_ _que?_; Ger. _was?_
[Illustration]
=When?= If seeking a definite answer as to length of time, make signs
for _Question_, _How many?_ and then specify time by sign for hours,
days, etc. If asking in general _When?_ sign _Question_ and _Time_.
=When?= If asking for an exact date or point hold up the left G, make
a circle around its tip with right G, which always points at it. On
reaching the starting point, the right G stops, touches the tip of
left G. (Sioux, given by Sheeaka.) This probably represents the shadow
going around the tree. See _Time_.
Fr. _quand?_; Ger. _wann?_
=Whence?= Strike to left with right G, back up, then over to right a
foot away, then back and again; point to the person and sign _Come_.
Usually it needs no _Question_.