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Journal of Linguistic Anthropology Number 14 Issue 2

A Repertoire of South African Quotable Gestures
Heather Brookes


Gesture Dictionary
A B
C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

talk
ringa (Is)
Fingers and thumb open and close in front of the mouth.

thin (She/he is thin)
O slenda (Is)
Arms held straight down with hands extended and palms facing each other and held close together.

think
denka (Is)
First finger moves in and out against side of head

tie (Little tie)
Ntanjana (Is)
One hand makes grasping action as if holding a tie at the front of the neck.

time
isikhathi (Z)
Forefinger or forefinger and second finger tap top of wrist.

tomorrow
kusasa (Z)
Hand, at head height, makes a small arc towards the front.

toughie
Mathafana/Tougho (Is)
Hands slightly curved and fingers splayed, are held over the chest.

trouble (You’re in trouble)
G’thing (Is)
Hands, fingers loosely splayed and palms towards gesturer, are held at chest level and moved up and down.

true (It’s true)
Strue (Is)
Arms crossed over one another and first fingers are linked at about face level.
two
two
First and second finger held up in Vshape. Palm faces inwards to gesturer.

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