Page images
PDF
EPUB

CHAPTER XIV.

SYNOPTICAL ARRANGEMENT OF THE NOTATION LETTERS.

Letters written above the Line, relating to the Fingers, the Hands, and the Arms.

[blocks in formation]

SECOND SMALL LETTER, AND TWO CAPITALS,

Noting the Elevation of the Arms.

[blocks in formation]

Noting the Posture of the Arms in the Transverse Direction.

c, across.

f, forwards.

9, oblique.

x, extended.

b, backwards.

FOURTH AND FIFTH SMALL LETTER,

Noting the Force of Motion of the Hands and Arms.

x, extreme. c, contracted. m, moderate.

Noting the Direction of Motion.

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

Noting the Posture of the Head, and Direction of the Eyes.

I, inclined.

E, erect.

As, assenting.

Dn, denying.
Sh, shaking.
T's, tossing.
S, aside.

F, forwards.

A, averted.

D, downwards.

U, upwards.
R, around.

V, vacancy.

Letters written below the Line, relating to the Feet.

CAPITAL LETTERS AND NUMERALS,

Noting the Positions of the Feet.

[blocks in formation]

X,

SMALL LETTERS AND ONE CAPITAL,

Noting the degree of Extension of the Feet.

extended.

mx, moderately extended.

a, advance.

r, retire.

tr, traverse.

c, cross.

xx, extended extreme.

C, contracted.

Letters noting Steps.

S, start.
sp, stamp.
sk, shock.

[blocks in formation]

The Manner of combining the Fingers of both Hands is noted by two Small Letters.

ap, applied.

in, inclosed.

lp, clasped.

cr,

crossed.

ld, folded.

en, encumbered.

pd, reposed.

wr, wringing.

tc, touching.

nu, enumerating.

The Combinations of both Arms.

km, kimbo,

(either one or both).

A capital B, preceding, and joined to a set of small letters, signifies that both Hands, or both Arms, perform the same Gesture.

B, both hands, or both arms.

Significant Gestures and Expressions of Countenance, may be noted in the margin, after the manner of Mr. Sheridan.

[blocks in formation]

APPLICATION OF THE NOTATION LETTERS.

THE most complicated gestures are those which relate to the combined postures and motions of the hands and arms; yet these are expressed with sufficient accuracy by four, or fewer, notation letters for

each movement. For this purpose they are divided into four classes; the notation letters of each always preserve their own place, as to priority, or succession, and derive their signification from it. The first four, or the first three letters, taken together, are called a set of letters. In a set, as phf d, or seq n,

The first letter relates to the posture of the hand. The second, to the elevation of the arm.

The third, to the transverse situation of the arm. The fourth, to the motion, or force of the gesture.* Thus, phfd is to be read, prone horizontal forward descending. Prone, is the posture of the hand; horizontal, is the elevation of the arm; forward, is the posture of the arm in the transverse direction; and descending, means that the arm descends from a higher elevation. The set, seq n, is read supine elevated oblique noting. Supine, the posture of the hand; elevated, the arm, as to elevation; oblique, the arm in the transverse direction; noting, the action of the hand and arm.

As both hands and both arms are equally capable of executing any gesture, the letters, and sets of letters, relate to both indifferently. But they are thus distinguished: when there are two sets of small letters, the first set denotes the gesture of the right hand and arm; the second, those of the left. The two sets are separated by a short dash, thus: phq-pdb, prone horizontal oblique, the right hand; and prone downwards backwards, the left.

When only a single set of three, four, or five small letters is marked, the gesture of one hand only is expressed; that of the other is presumed to be easily supplied, according to the rules of accompaniment. A short dash always accompanies a single set of small letters when the dash follows the letters, they denote the gesture of the right hand; when the dash precedes the letters, they denote the gesture of the left hand.

*This last letter is often omitted.

When a set of small letters is preceded by a capital B, the gesture which they represent is to be performed by both hands.

When a long dash follows the small letters, connecting them with other small letters, or with a single one, farther on, a change of gesture is marked, which is to take place on the word over which such letter or letters are placed; and the commencement and termination of the dash mark the commencement and termination of the gesture.

When a set of small letters, having a dash, is connected by a line of dots with another set of small letters, having a contrary dash, the gesture made by the first hand is to be followed and supported by another gesture made by the other hand, which is to take place where the second set of letters is marked. This is called alternate gesture, and noted al.

In order to prevent confusion, the postures of the head, and the direction of the eyes, are indicated by capital letters near the beginning of the sentence, or at some distance from the letters relating to the hands and arms.

The letters which mark the positions of the feet, and the steps, are placed below the line, and under the word where they should take place.

THE MISER

R Bvhf r

AND PLUTUS.

[merged small][ocr errors]

peq n-pdq

1.2. The wind was high- | the window shakes; |

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small]
[ocr errors]

a R2

Bvhf tr

[ocr errors]

5.6. Looks back, | and trembles as he walks! |

« PreviousContinue »