Page:The-sign-language-a-manual-of-signs-2nd-ed.djvu/42

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34
THE SIGN LANGUAGE

Learn.—Place the open palm of the left hand as if it were a book or printed page in front of self; with the other hand grasp imaginary knowledge from it with the fingers closing against the thumb and raise it to the forehead. VI, 105.

Believe.—Place the end of the forefinger on the forehead as in "think" (some place it on the lips); then, bringing the left hand up half way to meet it, bring the hand from the forehead and clasp both in front of you, palms together. VI, 106.

Doubt, to express incredulity.—Bring the "V" hand up in front of the face with the fore and middle fingers bent toward the end of the nose and held as if about to straddle it; bend and unbend the fingers several times. VI, 107. Or,

(2) To express distrust or suspicion of one's intentions—Place the fist well out at the side, partly in front, with the elbow bent outward; throw the fist toward imaginary person, repeating the motion several times. VI, 108.

(3) To express a wavering or a doubt as to decision—Cross one forefinger over the other and make a see-saw motion with it, like a scale beam. Or,

(4) Hold the "A" hands just out from and below the shoulders, with elbows raised and pointing outward; let the hands rise and fall alternately as if they were scale pans. VI, 109.

Mind.—Tap the head with the finger.

Know, Intelligence.—Tap the forehead with the end of the hand. VI, 110.

Don't know.—Touch the forehead as in "know," then throw it outward, turning the hand with a twist of the wrist meanwhile. VI, 111.

Ignorant.—Tap the middle of the forehead with the backs of the two fingers of the right "V" hand.

Feebleminded.—Place the ends of the two fingers of the "V" hand or fingers of the "5" hand against the forehead; push the hands so the fingers bend and unbend several times.

Crazy.—Place the forefinger of one hand on the forehead as in "think," then bring it away, at the same time bringing the other forefinger up so the two will point toward each other, up and down, and whirl them in opposite directions indicating the "wheels in the head." VI, 112.

Foolish, Silly.—Bring the "Y" hand up with the thumb toward the forehead and the little finger pointing out; in that position move it across back and forth from right to left and vice versa in front of the forehead several times. VI, 113.