Page:The-sign-language-a-manual-of-signs-2nd-ed.djvu/68

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52
THE SIGN LANGUAGE

Appoint.—Reach out the hand toward the side and pick out an imaginary person with the thumb and forefinger and lift him over to a position in front of you.

Vote.—With ends of the thumb and forefinger together, put them in "O" of other hand. Elect is indicated by making sign for "vote" and then "appoint" to indicate the appointment was by ballot.

Graduate.—Hold left open hand out, palm up, and circle it with the fist and bring fist on palm (indicating paper with seal) and add sign for "retire."

Steal.—Hold out left hand pointing out edge down; reach right hand (or left "A" hand) under wrist, grasp imaginary object and draw it back. IX, 187.

Help, Aid, Benefit, Give assistance.—Place the right open hand under left "A" hand and lift it up.

Support, Uphold.—Similar motion but use the right fist; place it under the left forearm and lift as in position of a pillar.

Sit.—Extend open hands, palms down; push downward. Or, place the right "U" hand over the edge of the left extended hand, bending the fingers as a bird's claws when it is perched.

Rule, Control, Govern, Exercise authority over.—Place left "A" hand in front of you is grasping attitude, with back up and thumb pointing toward the body; reach out right "A" hand from side, open it and extend out and around in semi-circle toward left, palm down. IX, 188.

Stay.—Bring both "A" hands in front and place ends of thumbs together, one above the other, and give downward pressure of hands together.

Plant.—Drop imaginary seeds from hand as it is moved along. Usually make sign for "seed" first, by closing the right forefinger and thumb; strike ends several times along the extended left forefinger.

Sow:—Merely imitate the motion of sowing.

Grow.—Hold the right "&" hand with finger ends up; bring the left hand and close around it so the ends of the fingers will be just below the "O;" push right hand up through the "O" as if plant was coming above the ground, and spread out the fingers, making "5" hand as they come up through. IX, 189.

Harvest.—Reach out left hand and grasp imaginary stalks of grain and with the forefinger of right crooked like a sickle make motion of cutting stalks.