II. THE PRONE HAND

At this point the speaker should observe carefully that the general meaning of the position of the hand in the planes remains the same whatever form the hand may assume. The variation from the most common form, i.e., the supine, to the prone, vertical, or any other merely gives an added significance. To illustrate let us take such a sentence as, "The great plain was covered with snow." This is best expressed by a middle-lateral-prone. The middle-lateral position indicates, as usual, the speaker's level and great extent, but the prone form adds the suggestion of covering.

In order now to determine the complete significance of the prone hand we must examine its actual physical use. What do we do with the prone hand? Two things, chiefly: first, we employ it to cover an object such as a coin on a table; second, to hold or push anything down such as the contents of an overflowing waste-paper basket. The prone hand is, therefore, readily associated with the acts of covering and suppression. When it is used in connection with an idea or an emotion involving covering or suppression in a figurative sense,

the analogy to the physical accounts for the expressiveness of the gesture. Suppose, for example, we wish to intensify the statement, "He was disgusted with their flippant remarks." The mental reaction toward anything disgusting is that of suppression; and the form of the hand used in suppressing material objects is the prone. Therefore the prone hand admirably depicts the attitude involved in an expression of disgust. This is similarly true of various other matters, included in the following groups.

1. Covering or superposition of any object, suppressing, flatness, prostration.

He covered the blue-print with a piece of paper.

(m fp)

We looked down upon a rubbish-strewn park.

2. Secrecy, deception, scorn, obscurity, gloom, confusion and similar conceptions represent covering in a figurative sense.

3. Silence, peacefulness, smoothness, restraint, condemnation, disgust, destruction, intense negation, and the like represent suppression in a figurative sense.

The speaker was silent.

(m fp)

Only a few states had been made peaceful.

(m o p)

The differences of jarring factions had been

smoothed out.

My opponent should restrain his anger.

(m fp)

They felt the bitterness of condemnation.

(1 o p)

(1 1 p)

(m o p)

Their hypocrisy provokes widespread disgust.

May destruction fall upon them.

III. THE VERTICAL HAND

The vertical form of the hand is used chiefly in the middle and high planes, since it assumes the prone form when used in the low plane. It is the form actually employed in pushing away or warding off something undesirable. It becomes in speaking, therefore, the hand-form which expresses such an action. On the basis of the analogy the vertical form indicates the repulsion of, or aversion to, anything mentally or emotionally undesirable or abhorrent; it suggests also figurative protection against a sudden revelation, a surprise. The scope of the vertical gestures may be summed up as follows:

1. Pushing, repelling, defending, halting. The embarrassed man was pushed to the center

of the stage.

(mfv)

The militia drove the invaders back across the (m o v)

2. Repulsion, rejection, aversion, prohibition, surprise, and horror are analogous emotional or mental states.

The subject was repulsive to him.

(mfv)

He was repeatedly obliged to reject such offers.

(m o v)

They were all averse to our plans for conciliation.

(m 1 v)

I advise the absolute prohibition of the traffic. (m 1 v)

Heaven forbid such a visitation !

(ho v)

What! It can't possibly be true!

(h fv)

They were absolutely horrified at the news.

(m 1 v)

IV. THE INDEX-FINGER

The index-finger is the form every one uses to point out distinctly an object or person. For this purpose it is more effective than the supine because it more unmistakably centers upon its object to the exclusion of everything surrounding; just as a pointer is preferable. to a pancake turner for blackboard use. In speaking, therefore, the index-finger is the best possible hand-form for pointing out, isolating, or directing particular attention to a physical