Re: signs? anyone?

On Oct 1, 2004, at 8:48 AM, Philip Newton wrote:
> On Thu, 30 Sep 2004 20:35:50 -0400, Jeffrey Henning
> <jeffrey@...> wrote:
>> I once took a hybrid approach - words in Fith are monosyllables with
>> simultaneous hand signals:
>> http://www.langmaker.com/fith.htm#HandSignals
> This reminds me of the language of the Yilanè in Harry Harrison's
> books (I forget which of the two I had read - I think the second one -
> is that Winter in Eden?), where communication is also by a combination
> of sounds and gestures (though not only with the hands).
> Cheers,
> Philip Newton <philip.newton@...>
> Watch the Reply-To!
Another example of this kind of language is the Clan (=Neanderthal)
languages (sic) in Jean M. Auel's _Clan of the Cave Bear_/_Earth's
Children_ books.
They have a diglossic situation where everyone learns two languages -
their local vernacular, which is mostly signs with a number of vocal
words (mostly names and other nouns, i think); and the 'international'
ritual language, which is almost completely signs.


-Stephen (Steg)
  "it's easier to ask forgiveness than to get permission."
      ~ walter slovotsky, _guardians of the flame_