Chapter I

=I=, =Me=, =Myself=, =Mine=. For _I_ touch the centre of the breast with the right thumb extended, other fingers closed. This and the next are used indiscriminately by the Cheyennes.

_Me_ is touching the breast with point of compressed fingers.

_My._ Lay the A hand on the forehead, palm to left, thumb pointing up;
swing it forward and down level; that is, sign _Possession_, assuming
the first person.

Fr. _je_, _moi_, _mien_; Ger. _Ich_, _mich_, _mein_.

=Ice.= Sign _Water_ and _Hard_. Sometimes add _Cold_.

Fr. _la glace_; Ger. _das Eis_.

=Icicle.= Sign _Water_ and _Cold_; then hold up right G, pointing downward and dropped a little.

Fr. _le glaçon_; Ger. _der Eiszapfen_.

=Idea=, =Thought= (Thought expressed). Lay the right G on the forehead, pointing up, palm to left; swing it down to horizontal at mouth level, then push it straight forward and up in a curve. Compare _So_.

Fr. _l’idée_; _la pensée_; Ger. _die Idee_, _der Gedanke_.

=Idle.= Sign _Work_ and _Not_.

Fr. _paresseux_; Ger. _müszig_.

=If=, =Doubt=, =Undecided=, =Perhaps=, or =Maybe so= (Heart looking two ways). Lay the right V hand on the heart, pointed down and to left front; rotate the hand on the wrist so the back is alternately up and out. When many emotions (i.e., _perplexity_) are to be expressed, use all fingers extended. See _Consider_.

Fr. _si_, _peut-être_; Ger. _wenn_, _ob_, _vielleicht_.

=Ignorance= (I don’t know). Shrug shoulders and raise one flat hand. (Pop.) Or, sign _Know_, _Not_. Compare _Forget_.

Fr. _l’ignorance_; Ger. _die Unwissenheit_.

=Imperative Mood.= Sign the verb in question, then strike the flat right, palm down, onto the flat left, palm up. Or add _Push_. (C)

=Impossible.= Sign _Can_ and _Not_. See also _Cannot_. The Cheyennes use _True_, _Not_.

Fr. _impossible_; Ger. _unmöglich_.

=Imprison.= See _Arrest_.

=In=, =Inside=, or =Within= (To put into). Make a semicircle of the left arm held out level; then drop the compressed right hand downward between the left and the body. _Outside_ begins the same, but the right drops outside the left.

=Inside=, i.e., =in a Hole=. Make a horizontal ring of the left index and thumb, then drop the right index down into it. For a house, use _Enter_.

Fr. _en_, _dedans_, _dans_; Ger. _in_, _drin_, _im Innern_.

=Incite.= Sign _Push_, _Talk_, and _Go_; that is, try to talk into going.

Fr. _inciter_; Ger. _anreizen_.

=Increase.= Hold out the flat hands, palm to palm, well apart at same height; separate them more and more in slight jerks; or, if it is more explicit, do it with the flat hands one above the other. See _Add to_. Compare _Decrease_.

Fr. _augmenter_; Ger. _vermehren_, _vergröszern_.

=Indian.= With the tips of right flat fingers, rub the side of the flat left held out back up, in short strokes; meaning reddish, because all men’s hands out west are red at this place. Compare _Smooth_.

=Indian.= Indicate the eagle feather at back of head. (Sheeaka.) Or sign _Man_ and _Red_. (Scott.)

Fr. _l’Indien_; Ger. _der Indianer_.

=Indian Tribe= or =Nation=. Give the _Tribal_ sign and add _All_ in each case.

=Indian= Tribal signs:

=Apache.= (Probably using the notched-stick fiddle). Draw the right G
finger _up and down_ along the left G several times, from near the
point to the base, a foot long each stroke. Compare _Poor_.

=Arapahoe.= With all fingers of right hand compressed so the points
are together, tap the left breast, that is, sign _Mother_. As Sherman
Coolidge tells me, the Arapahoes claim theirs to have been the mother
of all tribes. In the south, the sign is rub the side of the nose with
the right G, referring to their one-time salutation of nose-rubbing.

=Banak.= Sign for _Lodge_ and _Bad_. (C)

=Blackfeet.= Sign for _Moccasin_ and _Black_.

=Caddo.= Draw the right N over the left N from the tips back to the
knuckles (because they wore pants). (Father Isadore.)

=Cheyennes.= (Perhaps meaning “striped tail,” because they used turkey
feathers; or, more likely, “finger-choppers,” because they chopped
their fingers when in mourning.) Hold out left G finger and cut it
with the edge of the right G finger drawn across it once or twice,
each time further up the hand. Compare _Often_ and _And all the time_.

=Chippewa.= See _Ojibwa_.

=Comanche.= Sign for _Snake_, pushing the hand forward. Compare
_Shoshoni_. (Seger.)

=Cree.= Sign _Rabbit_, _People_; but usually omit _People_.

=Crow.= Sign _Bird_ slowly. Sometimes only one hand. Or hold S hand,
palm forward, at brow for “Pompadour Indians.”

=Dakota.= See _Sioux_.

=Flathead.= See _Koutenais_.

=Gros Ventre.= Sign _Big Belly_.

=Hopi.= Sign _Dance_ and _Snake_.

=Kiowa.= With the tips of the flat right, palm up, back to left,
describe an upright ellipse near the right ear; because they used to
cut their hair on that side to show the ear ornaments or ear painted
red.

=Koutenai.= Sign for _White-tailed Deer_. (C)

=Mandan= (Tattooed chin and cheek). With right hand compressed so all
tips touch, tap the chin and jaw. (C)

=Navaho= (Makers of striped blankets). Sign for _Work_, _Blanket_, and
_Striped_.

=Nez Percé= (Pierced nose). Pass index of right G hand level under
nose from right to left. Compare _Hear_.

=Ojibwa= or =Chippewa= (Living in the Woods). Sign _Tree_ and
_People_; or sign _Paddle_, _People_. (Blackfoot.)

=Osage= (Shaved heads). Rub the flat right hand, palm out, over the
side of the head and down, as though shaving the head; the little
finger being the sharp edge.

=Paiute.= Sign _Rabbit_, _Robe_.

=Pawnee= (Wolf). Hold up the right V hand, palm forward, near right
ear; then swing finger-tips forward.

=Piegan.= Rotate half closed hand, palm in, near right cheek.

=Pueblo.= Sign _Two Quivers_; that is, _Arrow_, _Two_; then drop
compressed left once or twice into C right hand.

=Sac= (Shaved heads). Same as _Osage_ sign.

=Shoshoni= or =Snake Indians=. Sign for _Snake_ and sometimes add
_Bad_, _Lodge_.

=Sioux= (Cut throats). Draw the right G finger across the throat.

=Uncapapa= (From their position in camp). Sign for _Sioux_ and
_Encamp_, then make an incomplete circle with index fingers and
thumbs; then, holding left in pose, strike last joint of index with
tip of right G and similarly right index with tip of left G. (C)

=Ute.= Sign _Black_ and _Red_.

=Wichita= (Tattooed rings). With right G finger tap the forehead in a
circle.

=Yankton.= Sign for _Sioux_ and _Nez Percé_. (C)

=Indian Agent.= See _Agent_.

=Indifference= (_None of my business_). Both hands held down by the thighs; at the same time a shrug of the shoulders. (Pop.)

Fr. _l’indifférence_; Ger. _die Gleichgültigkeit_.

=Infantry.= Sign _Soldiers_ and _Walk_.

Fr. _l’infanterie_; Ger. _die Fusztruppen_, _die Infanterie_.

=Inferior= (To one). Hold up both G fingers, the one representing the inferior much lower.

=Inferior= (To many). For several inferiors use the 5 hand to represent them, while the G of the other hand up high represents the superior.

Fr. _inférieur_; Ger. _untergeordnet_.

=Inhabit.= See _Dwell_.

=Injure=, =Doing evil to=. If with reference to another person, make sign for _Work_ and _Bad_. If with reference to one’s self, make signs _Do_, _to me_, _Bad_.

Fr. _faire du mal_; Ger. _beschädigen_.

=Innocent.= See _Clean-handed_.

=In order that.= See _So that_.

=Inside.= See _In_.

=Interrogate.= See _Question_ or _Query_.

=Intervene.= See _Come between_.

=Invalid.= See _Sick one_.

=Investigating.= See _Searching_; also _Consider_.

=Iron.= See _Metal_.

=Island= (Round thing surrounded by water). Sign _Land_, then with L hands make a horizontal circle; hold left hand in pose, sign _Water_ with right hand; then compress it and draw it point down around the circle just made. Compare _Lake_.

Fr. _l’île_; Ger. _die Insel_.

=Itching.= Scratch the left palm with nail of the right G index; or else the thigh.

Fr. _la démangeaison_; Ger. _das Jucken_.

J

=Jealous= (Elbowing aside). Hold the fists near the breast; alternately swing each elbow out and back a little. (C)

=Jealous= (Hide and stab). Hold out flat left, back up, and with right G stab under it once or twice.

Fr. _jaloux_; Ger. _eifersüchtig_.

=Jesus= (The Cross above). The right G finger upright and crossed on top with the left G; this cross then placed above the eyes, the face looking upward; then the cross pushed toward the sky to the full extent of the arms. The real meaning being, “He who was crucified and is now in heaven.” (Scott.) Or sign _Big_, _Medicine_, _Child_.

Fr. _Jésus_; Ger. _Jesus_.

=Joke= (Play talk). Sign _Play_; that is, hold the right 5 hand near the mouth, back down, fingers a little curved; swing the hand forward and upward; then add _Talk_.

Fr. _la plaisanterie_; Ger. _der Scherz_.

=Joyous.= Sign _Heart_, _Glad_, and _Sing_. (C) Sign _Heart_, _Happy_, or _Playing_.

Fr. _joyeux_; Ger. _fröhlich_.

=Judge.= See _Consider_.

=Jump= (Human). Stand right V on left palm; assume these to be legs and make them jump up and down. (Sheeaka.)

=Jump= or =Spring= (Anything). Hold compressed right hand, pointing to left, near right shoulder; swing it up forward and down in a long curve. Also used for _Animal_, in which case use several short jumps.

Fr. _sauter_; Ger. _springen_.

=Junior.= See _Younger_; also _Inferior_.

=Just= or =Fair=. From a position near each side, bring the extended O hands, palms inward, together so the tips of right thumb and index touch tips of left thumb and index, like two balance pans side by side. (D) Or, sign _True_ and _Same_, or _Good_.

Fr. _juste_; Ger. _gerecht_.

=Just so.= Make the sign _Yes_ once or twice; or else, use _True_.

Fr. _justement_, _précisément cela_; Ger. _genau so_, _ganz richtig_.

K

=Keep=, =Grasp=, or =Remember=. Hold out flat right hand, back to right, fingers level; hold up left G hand, back to left; swing them together; grasp left index in closed right hand and move the hands slightly to right and left. Compare _Hold_ and _Remember_.

Fr. _tenir_, _retenir_; Ger. _halten_, _behalten_.

=Keep close.= Sign _Good_ and _Near_. (C)

=Keep quiet.= Sign _Stop_ and _Sit down_, or simply _Stop_. See _Hush_.

Fr. _taisez vous_, _tenez vous tranquille!_ Ger. _ruhig sein!_
_schweigen!_

=Kettle.= Indicate the shape of the mouth with both L hands; then, holding left unchanged, pass the right G into it; then, with right, lift as if by a handle. Some omit the “handle.” Compare _Basket_ and _Cook_.

Fr. _le chaudron_, _la chaudière_; Ger. _der Kessel_.

=Kidney.= Hold up the two compressed hands, then swing them back against the kidneys.

Fr. _le rein_, (_d’animal_) _le rognon_; Ger. _die Niere_.

=Kill=, =Overcome=, =Win=, or =Be victor= (Striking with a club). Hold the right A hand, back nearly up, in front of shoulder, back of hand making a slight angle with wrist; strike to the front, downward and little to left, stopping hand suddenly and giving it slight rebound. For _Kill me_ or _Beat me_, make the sign toward one’s self.

Fr. _tuer_, _vaincre_; Ger. _tot schlagen_, _siegen_.

=Kin=, =Kinsman=, or =Kinship=. Sign _Brother_ and _Distant_ or _Near_, as the case may be.

Fr. _le parent_; Ger. _der Verwandte_.

=Kind= or =Gentle=. Sign _Heart_ and _Good_.

Fr. _aimable_; Ger. _freundlich_, _sanft_.

=King’s X.= See _Fins_.

=Knife= (Penknife or Jack-knife). (Whittling a stick.) With right A hand make motion of whittling the index finger of the left G hand. (Blackfoot and Pop.) The Cheyennes sign _Cut_ and _Bend_.

Fr. _le canif_, _le couteau_; Ger. _das Messer_, _das Taschenmesser_.

=Knife= or =Dagger=. Thumb up straight, rest of fingers closed, hand at side. (Pop.) Compare _He_, _Turn down_, and _Opossum_.

=Knife.= Hold left hand near mouth, then with lower edge of flat right make as though cutting off a piece of meat held between the left hand and the teeth. Understood but not used by Cheyennes. They indicate length with right G on flat left back and add _Cut_.

Fr. _le couteau_, _le poignard_; Ger. _das Messer_, _der Dolch_.

=Know= or =Be acquainted with=. Sign _Know_, as below.

Fr. _connaître_; Ger. _kennen_.

=Know= or =Understand= (See, it is in my heart). Lay the right L hand, back up, on heart; swing it out, up in a slight curve, and down a little, palm up.

Fr. _comprendre_, _savoir_; Ger. _wissen_, _verstehen_.

=Know, I don’t.= Shrug the shoulders and shake the head and raise the right hand open, palm up, to level of shoulder, inclining the head to the side. (Pop.) Compare _Don’t care_.

=Know=, =I know what I’m doing= (Perhaps “I smell a rat” is the verbal form of the sign). Lay the right index on right side of nose. (Pop.)

Fr. _je ne suis pas aveugle_; Ger. _ich weiss was ich mache_.

=Knowledge= or =Intelligence=. Tap the forehead and add _Big_. Compare _Conceit_.

Fr. _le savoir_, _l’intelligence_; Ger. _die Kenntnis_, _das Wissen_.