Sign talk

by Ernest Thompson Seton

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.