Indian Sign Language (Native American)

When the internet was young, I actually downloaded this book on a Scout site, and printed it up and made my own book. That was misplaced somehow and when I saw that this was the original book, I immediately ordered it. Indian sign is more common sense, short version of what is complicated modern sign for the deaf. It is like speaking rudimentary basics for people to communicate in 1 gesture does have a dozen meanings. The sign for boat, means of course canoe, ship etc... in a bow moving through the water. You would make the "big" sign for a ship. Something like anger, could be construed as mad, crazy, insane, frustrated, furious. It is why Indian names in their language are not transferred to sign as readily. An example would be Crazy Horse, if you know the Siouxan word, is sometimes naughty like a child, one adjective could be Naughty Horse, Angry Horse, Mad Horse, and none of them would be exactly right. That is why you get the sign to "say that again" or "what did you say" as you try and figure out a story. The Indians were wonderful at story telling in the audience sat in rapt silence as the signs were made and laughed with approval when the end came.This book is for those who have people who will talk with them in sign, at work, hunting, or even in stores, as in a few motions you can communicate what you want. Indian sign is an art form and I have had allot of fun learning and using this almost lost form of communication.

I originally had this book during the late 1970's when I was living in far northwest Montana near Browning, MT in the Blackfeet Indian Reservation.In my work I had to interact with tribal members quite often.One day I met an old man of the tribe named Louie Yellow Wolf who couldn't hear much anymore. We had trouble communicating as he couldn't read lips.I found this book at a used book store in Kalispell, Montana and within a week or two was able to use the signs found in the book fairly well. Indian sign is much more simple than modern sign language for the hearing and speech impaired in use today and can be learned quite easily.The next time me and the old man met up I said "hello Yellow Wolf" to him in Indian sign language. His eyes lit up. And we "talked sign" for over an hour. He even taught me some slang in sign not found in this book and before long other more elder members of the tribe would come along and get a kick out of watching this novice white guy try using sign. They freely corrected me when I messed up and I can still hear those old men laughing and looking at each other with amusement but they told me in sign talk they were proud of me for learning their unspoken language. Of course most of them spoke english but loved to use the vanishing language.Using sign can come in handy when you want to be quiet I.E.; hunting, bird watching,fishing, etc.Not all Native Americans know sign language anymore and most of the signs in the book pertain to the northern/plains tribes but is still an interesting skill to have.I was happy that Amazon offers this unique book and highly reccomend it.

Great book. I got this book to jumpstart enthusiasm in our homeschool curriculum on native americans. It's simple enough for my 8yr old to use by himself even though we're doing it together. It has both pictures and a verbal description of how to make the hand signs which is helpful. I also love that it's in alphabetical order like a dictionary (not sure why I expected otherwise). There's also some of the written (pictograph) language in the back of the book which I wasn't expecting. Very pleased with this little book. We buy a lot of books online and it's really hit or miss but this is a great resource. For anyone trying to learn the language or even just spark interest, or maybe even just for fun, totally worth the money.

Book has soft drink spilled on it. Some kind of blue color drink.

My Boy Scout Honor Program is heavily involved in Native Americans. We make regalia to mirror that of tribes. We use sign language often snd this book helps the program use more signs for names.

Easy to understand with the illustrations and descriptions. Important not to lose this language..

Got this as a cubscout leader to teach my den about how Native Americans used “hand talk” to communicate WAY before there was American Sign Language. Super helpful and informative!

Simple to follow drawings and explanations.