|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Last Updated
September 27, 2003 |
|
|
|
| Home |
|
|
|
Haylushka Sign Language
Description of the Native
Sign Language
|
1. TO BE CLEAN IN BODY, AND
PURE IN HEART (CLEAN BODY, GOOD HEART)
|
 |
CLEAN: Make
motion of rubbing hands, as if washing.
BODY: Take hands, starting at shoulders, and go
down your body.
GOOD HEART: Bring the right hand across breast,
level with heart, palm down, then with a sweeping
motion, extend to right of body.
|
[Return to
Top of Page]
|
2. TO BE FRIENDS ALWAYS WITH
MY DAD/DAUGHTER
|
 |
FRIENDS:
Hold right hand in front of neck, palm outward, index
fingers extending upward. Raise the hand until tips of
fingers are as high as head.
ALWAYS: (Forever) Bring right hand up alongside
head, close to ear, then move back and forth twice.
MY: (Possession) Hold fist in front of neck, back
to right, swing hand slightly downward and by wrist
action have thumb point to front.
PARENT: (Man) Hold right hand in front of chest,
index finger pointing up, and raise it in front of face.
DAUGHTER: Make sign for man. Then, with right
index finger pointing upward, lower hand to indicate
height of child.
|
[Return to
Top of Page]
|
3. TO LOVE THE SACRED CIRCLE
OF MY FAMILY (LOVE MY HOUSE)
|
 |
<<b>LOVE:
(Fond) Cross wrists, a little in front and above the
heart, right wrist nearest body, hands closed, back out.
Press right forearm against body and left wrist against
right arm.
MY: (Possession) Hold fist in front of neck, back
to right, swing hand slightly downward and by wrist
action have thumb point to front.
HOUSE: Meaning: Corner of Longhouse With hands in
front of body, interlace fingers near tips, fingers at
right angles, horizontal. This is the primitive sign for
house. However, Cheyennes frequently indicate shape of
gable roof with both five fingers pointing up.
|
[Return to
Top of Page]
|
4. TO BE ATTENTIVE WHILE
OTHERS SPEAK (YOU TALK, ME LISTEN)
|
 |
YOU:
Point right hand at person addressed.
TALK: A little talk of (one person talking to
another) is expressed as follows: Place back of right
hand against chin with nail of right index finger
pressing against thumb, move hand a trifle to the front
and snap the index finger straight forward. (Repeat
motion.)
ME: Point right thumb at breast.
LISTEN: Hold right hand behind ear.
|
[Return to
Top of Page]
|
5. TO LOVE MY NEIGHBOR AS
MYSELF (LOVE ALL PEOPLE SAME AS ME)
|
 |
LOVE:
(Fond) Cross wrists, a little in front and above the
heart, right wrist nearest body, hands closed, back out.
Press right forearm against body and left wrist against
right arm.
ALL: Move right, flat hand in horizontal circle
from right to left, breast high.
PEOPLE: Hold both hands shoulder high, fingers
spread and pointing up. Move hands together and apart a
few times, by wrist action.
SAME AS: (Equal; like) Hold hands in front of
breast, index fingers two inches apart. Move them
both to front, keeping tips opposite and indicating an
even race.
ME: Point right thumb at breast.
|
[Return to
Top of Page]
|
6. TO SEEK AND PRESERVE
BEAUTY OF THE GREAT SPIRIT’S WORK IN FOREST, FIELD AND
STREAM. (HUNT GREAT SPIRIT’S WORKS, FOREST,
FIELD AND STREAM)
|
 |
HUNT:
(Look) Hold right hand just below right eye, index and
second fingers slightly parted and pointing ahead.
GREAT: Hold hands in front of body, palms facing
body and spread them.
SPIRIT’S: (Medicine) Hold fist over right eye,
point upward with index and middle fingers and move hand
upward in spiral motion.
WORK: Place hands, palms facing each other, a few
inches apart in front of body. Move hands up and
down past each other.
FOREST: (Many trees) Raise hands in front of
body, fingers slightly curved. Then sweep hands together
in a looping curve. Hold left hand open in front of
shoulder, fingers spread. Then raise hand slowly upward
to indicate growth.
FIELD: (Grass) Hold hands near ground, fingers
curved upward and slightly apart. Then swing hands
out in a slight upward curve.
STREAM: (River) Cup hand and raise to mouth as if
drinking from it. Then place right hand across the face,
index finger extended, and draw it to the right until it
is even with the right shoulder.
|
These Indian signs are taken from publication Indian Sign
Language by Robert Hofsinde (Grey Wolf).
|
|
| About |
|
| Smoke
Signals |
|
| Pictures |
|
| Links |
|
| Contacts |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|