Page:The-sign-language-a-manual-of-signs-2nd-ed.djvu/66

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50
THE SIGN LANGUAGE

quickly. Some add motion of forefinger, pointed down and drawn forcibly toward self.

Hesitate.—Hold "G" hand with forefinger pointing upward; move forward, stop suddenly, and repeat motion in a halting manner. Some make sign as in "doubt."

Become.—Hold open hands out, one a few inches above the other, palms toward each other; turn both hands at same time so as to reverse their positions. VIII, 177.

Keep, Take care, Be careful with.—Hold left "V" hand with ends of fingers pointing outward, forefinger up. With right hand in similar position place it on the other so that the little-finger edge of right hand rests on forefinger edge of left and all four fingers extend out one above the other (or crosswise); raise the right hand a little and throw it down again; repeat several times. To indicate great care, move the hands together slowly up and down, or giving them a circular motion; throwing the hands together in this position warningly at one is to indicate the idea one had better look out. VIII, 178.

Find.—Reach out "5" hand; draw ends of forefinger and thumb together as if picking up something, and raise hand.

Lose.—Place finger nails of bent hands together, back to back, so the ends of the fingers point upward; swing the hands down and separate till the fingers come straight. VIII, 179.

Change.—Hold the "A" hands out opposite one another, thumb side up, several inches apart, with a kind of twisting motion; change the position of the hands so the left will come over toward the right and the right under toward the left. VIII, 180.

Pick.—Merely represent action of picking something off an imaginary bush.

Select, Pick out.—Reach out the right hand over left open hand and with the thumb and forefinger pick out an imaginary object.

Chase, Follow.—Place the "A" left hand out in front, and the right "A" hand directly behind it, thumbs pointed up; move both forward tandem fashion. It is usual to give the following hand a peculiar twisting motion from the wrist to indicate, probably, that it is the one pursuing. To indicate a chase more or less hard and long drawn out, indicate by emphatic motion or repeating the sign and twisting both hands. VIII, 181.