Signs and synonyms

Sign language deals with ideas rather than words and the literal meaning of each unit or individual sign depends upon what signs it is used with. The sign for QUESTION, for instance, may mean WHY, WHERE, WHEN, WHAT, WHO OF HOW MANY, CAN YOU, WILL YOU, according to the sense in which it is used. The sign for EAT may mean either TO EAT or FOOD, and the gesture for POSSESSION covers all words denoting possession or ownership.

Each sign should be considered as a GENERAL IDEA UNIT which acquires a literal and definite meaning only when associated with certain other signs. In other words, each sign is a kind of idea alphabet block, to be placed end to end with other blocks when by their association a definite meaning is established.

In the same way, a compound sign might be illustrated by placing its block elements side by side as one unit in the main line of thought.

It will be seen from the foregoing wherein signs differ from words. For in a list of synonyms each word has a definite meaning inherent in itself, while a single sign may mean any one of its synonyms, according to the other signs with which it is placed, and which determine its precise meaning.

It should be remembered that this is in large measure a skeleton language, because synonyms in general are covered by the basic word.

For instance, the word ABANDONED means DIVORCED, THROWN AWAY, DISPLACED, DESERTED, FORSAKEN,

From: Indian Sign Language, William Tompkins