The Indian Sign Language

by William Philo Clark

In 1876 and 1877, Captain W. P. Clark commanded a detachment of Indian scouts—including Pawnees, Shoshones, Arapahoes, Cheyennes, Crows, and Sioux—who conversed in sign language. They made requests, relayed information, and told stories with their hands, communicating in a language indispensable for quick understanding between Indians of different tribes. The scouts patiently taught Clark the sign system, which he patiently recorded in this book. Originally written in 1884 for use by the United States Army, The Indian Sign Language is far more than a grammar book or curiosity. Clark worked closely with the Indians who taught him the language, and his respect for them and their way of thinking informs every page. Written for future officers in Indian regions, The Indian Sign Language corrects the sentimental and brutal stereotypes of Indians that led to much misunderstanding.

Clark believed that sign language could assist him "to think like the Indians," which he considered essential for a conscientious officer. His book discusses reliably and soberly the facts of plains Indian life as he encountered them in the 1870s and 1880s. Now a classic, The Indian Sign Language is a monument to the desire for understanding between radically different peoples.

Genres: Nonfiction

443 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 1982

Reviews

[R.E. Admore · Rating 5 out of 5]

William P. Clark was known by the name "White Hat" to Native Americans. He was able to learn their sign language and earned their trust for being fair and honest. Crazy Horse chose Clark to meet him when he led his tribe members to the reservation, ending his fight against the Army and incursions by settlers. Clark, an officer in the army who fought the war, was more trusted than many of the civilian reservation agents sent by the government. While Clark respected the Indians and recognized the injustice done to them, he was no anthropologist and did not fully recognize their culture as being different but equal to European based cultures. This is reflected by his use of the terms barbarian and savage in many of his descriptions of their daily life. Thankfully, he did recognize the importance of their culture and took time to listen, observe, and record, so this history was not lost.

In this book, Clark describes Indian signs and also compares them to the deaf mute signs of the time. The descriptions for the signs take some deciphering and are difficult to follow at times. It would take someone fully invested and highly motivated to learn sign language in this manner. Perhaps the greatest benefit in the book are the many stories told by Native Americans and the descriptions of how many different tribes and bands lived.

[Ms. B]

Mostly text and only a few signs.