And while I'm on the topic of Thanksgiving that involved pilgrims and Indians, I came across a neat website on Indian Sign Language. ISL is the first and *TRUE* sign language on America's soils. These Indians used ISL not because they are deaf but hearing to communicate over vast distances visible of each other.
Here's the Manataka Indian website for their signs.
Here's a link on the Southeastern Indian sign languages.
Here's a story on the Plains Indian sign language from 1930 during an Indian conference explaining why ISL was used.
The ancient use of gestures as a medium of expression most likely arose out of the need for communication over vast distances such as that afforded by the expansive environment of the Great Plains region.
Go here on ISL drawings. You'll need a PDF reader.
Enjoy!
While you are here, please go to my poll and check whether you are a hearing, deaf or hard of hearing Kokonut Pundits reader.
Thank you.
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