The hidden history of “Hand Talk”
Vox・6 minutes read
Plains Indian Sign Language was a vital form of communication among Native American tribes, with influences on American Sign Language. Despite its endangered status, efforts are underway to preserve and incorporate PISL into mainstream education to honor indigenous culture and history.
Insights
- Plains Indian Sign Language (PISL) was a vital form of communication for indigenous tribes, influencing the creation of American Sign Language (ASL) and used for various purposes like commerce, hunting, and warfare.
- PISL, with about 4,000 basic words and lacking a finger-spelled alphabet, reflects indigenous perspectives, measuring time by natural elements like moons and suns, and efforts are underway to preserve and incorporate it into mainstream education to honor indigenous heritage.
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Recent questions
What is Plains Indian Sign Language?
A crucial means of communication among indigenous tribes.
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Summary
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Plains Indian Sign Language: A Vital Communication
- Plains Indian Sign Language, also known as Hand Talk, was a crucial means of communication among indigenous tribes, influencing the development of American Sign Language (ASL).
- PISL was extensively used for commerce, economics, gaining intelligence, hunting, and even in warfare, with tens of thousands of indigenous people proficient in it by the 19th century.
- PISL lacks a finger-spelled alphabet, relying on about 4,000 basic words to convey meanings, such as signing "big" and "fight" for "war" or "face" and "good" for "beautiful."
- PISL reflects indigenous ways of thinking, measuring time by moons and suns, and incorporating hand placements according to the sun's position for different times of day.
- The language is endangered, with only a few dozen fluent signers remaining, but efforts are being made to preserve and integrate PISL into mainstream education to honor indigenous history and culture.
