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To follow the
Rules of their orders and keep silence at the required times, monastics
use hand signs to communicate their
needs. These signs are akin to but different from the sort of sign
language used by the deaf. They are gestural, lacking grammar and
other characteristics of an actual language; rather, they constitute a
lexicon, a vocabulary. There were exceptions, however; the Venerable
Bede, for example, invented a finger
alphabet that allowed for the signing of words, and such a system was
used by Franciscans for some time.
The
Venerable Bede's Finger Alphabet
From The Tegrimi Compactus Manuscript. M.925. Fol 38r-39r
11th century
More prevalent, however, were systems of gestures -- which varied from
Order to Order and throughout time -- that stood for entire
words, a style still used today by Trappists and
Cistercians. When exuberantly employed, this means of expression must
look like
what one would see from Italians in the streets of Napoli, and the
following observation -- made in A.D.
1180 by a Welsh reformer after visiting
monks at Canterbury -- demonstrates that:
There were so
many signs being made by the prior to those serving and between the
monks and those serving below with fingers, hands, arms and whispers
that you would have thought yourself watching staged scenes or in the
company of actors and jesters. It would be much more fitting to the
modesty of monks to speak with human words than to use signs and
whispers in such silent garrulousness.
As an Italian American, I don't see anything "immodest" at all in using
the hands to speak, but moving along...
The following is a modern English translation of Monasteriales Indicia, an
Anglo-Saxon list of hand gestures used in Benedictine monasteries in
order to keep silence.1 The text, written in Old English and
dating to the 11th century, is preserved in folios 97v-101v of the
Cotton Tiberius A.iii manuscript, kept at the British Library. The
complete text is below, but I've rearranged the items in order to
classify them by type.
Monasteriales
Indicia
These are the signs that one should use and earnestly follow
with the help of God when silence is to be held in the monastery
according to the Rule.
Ecclesiastical
Persons
First, the abbot's sign is to set two fingers on your head and
at the same time grab your hair.
The deacon's sign is that one should make a motion with one
hand hanging, as if to ring a small bell.
To indicate the prior, raise your forefinger over your head,
for that is his sign.
This is the steward's sign, for one to twist with his hand as
if to unlock a lock.
The sign of the schoolmaster, who cares for the children, is
for one to set two fingers on his eyes and raise up his little finger.
The churchwarden's sign is for one to set two fingers on his
eyes and make a motion with his hands as if to pull a hanging bell.
If you would indicate something concerning the church, make a
motion with your two hands, as if to ring a bell, then set your
forefinger to your mouth and afterwards raise it up.
The sign of the
bishop is to stroke with a hand on each
shoulder downward over your breast in the sign of a cross.
If you would indicate something about a certain monk,
whose sign you do not know, then take yourself by your own hood.
The sign for nuns is to set your two forefingers on your
forehead, then stroke along your cheeks in the sign of the holy veil.
If you would have a masspriest who is not a monk, then
stroke with your forefinger in the shape of a circle and, with your
hand outstretched, make a sign as if you were blessing.
When you would have a deacon, stroke in the same manner
with your forefinger and make the sign of the cross on your forehead in
betokening of the holy gospel.
The sign of an unmarried priest is to stroke as we said
before on your cheek with your forefinger.
Books
These are the signs of the books that one shall use at the
divine service in church.
When you would
like a gradual, move your right hand and crook
your thumb, for this is how it is denoted.
If you would like a sacramentary, then move your hand and
make a motion as if you were blessing.
The sign of the epistolary is for one to move his hand and
make the sign of the cross on his forehead with his thumb, because one
reads the word of God there as well as on the Gospel-book.
When you would have a troper, then move your right hand
with your right forefinger turned forward toward your breast, as if you
were using it.
If you would like an oblong book, extend your left hand and
move it, then set your right (hand) over your left arm the same
distance as the length of the book.
Liturgical Vestments
and Objects
When you would have a superumeral, then stroke with your two
forefingers, from the top of your head, underneath your cheeks and down
your arms.
If you would have an alb, then move your garment back and
forth slightly with your hands.
When you would have a belt, set your hands in front of you
with your nails down and stroke to your two hips.
When you would have a stole, put your two hands on your
cheeks and then stroke downwards.
If you would have a chasuble, stroke with outspread hands
down over your breast.
When you would have a maniple, then stroke with the edge of
your right hand over your left.
If you would have the offering, move your vestment back and
forth, then raise up your two hands.
The sign of the chalice and the paten is for one to lift up
his two hands and make the sign of blessing.
If you would have a sacramental wafer, bend your forefinger
to your thumb.
When you would like wine, make a motion with your two
fingers as if to remove the spigot from a tun.
If you would like a wine-horn, make a motion with your right
forefinger on your left hand, as if you would pull a spigot, then raise
your forefinger up to your head.
When you would have a censer, move your hand downwards and
move it back and forth, as if swinging.
If you need tapers, blow on your forefinger and raise up
your thumb.
If you would have a candlestick, blow on your forefinger and
hold your hands locked together as if you had a candlestaff.
If you need a small candle, blow on your forefinger.
When you would like a flat candlestick, stretch out your
left hand and set it perpendicular to your right.
Matins
These are the signs of the books that one uses at matins.
If you would have a Bible, move your hand back and forth,
raise up your thumb and set your hand flat against your cheek.
When you need a legendary, move your hand back and forth,
lay your right forefinger over your hand and lay your hand flat against
your cheek.
If you would like some other book, containing a homiliary,
then lay your right hand under your cheek and make a cross on your
forehead.
When you need a psalter, stroke with your right forefinger
on your left hand as if you would hold a large one.
The hymnal's sign is to move your open hand back and forth
and raise up the little finger.
When you would have a large cross, lay your finger over your
right finger and raise up your thumb.
The sign of the little cross is thus, but also to raise up
the little finger.
When you would have a small candlestick, make a motion as we
described before and raise up your little finger.
Commands and Requests
If you want to sit in the church because of illness, move
your hand downward and with bowed head set your hand on your breast and
ask leave for yourself.
If you wish a sitting man to rise, turn your hand and move
it up quickly in stages.
If you wish him to sit, then turn it downward and move it
down in stages.
If someone offers to a certain brother more of something, of
which he has enough, then you turn his open hand down and with your
hand stretched out, move it slightly.
If he would like to have what is offered, he should move his
hand vertically down and move it slightly outwards in agreement.
If he does not want it, he should also move it slightly
forward.
Places and Objects
If you would like to indicate something about the
chapterhouse, set your hand on your forehead and bow a little bit as if
you would ask forgiveness for yourself.
The sign of the bakehouse is to move your two hands
locked together as if you were rolling out dough.
When you would like a small martyrology, move your hand back
and forth, then lay your forefinger over your throat and raise up your
little finger.
The sign of the Rule is to move your hand back and forth and
stroke with your forefinger along your left hand, as if you were ruling.
If you would like a rod, move your fist back and forth as if
flogging.
When you would have a whip, move your fist back and forth as
we described before, and raise up your two fingers.
When you would have a lamp, raise up your right hand with
outspread fingers and puff on your forefinger.
Refectory Objects
If you would indicate something about the refectory, then
place your three fingers, as if putting food in your mouth.
When you would like a seat-cover, pluck your own clothes
with two fingers, then spread out your hands and move them back and
forth, as if to arrange a seat.
If you would like the folding stool for the mealtime reader,
or another man, then clasp your hands together and move them the way
you do when you fold it.
If you would like a cloth or napkin, set your two hands over
your lap and spread them as if you were stretching the corners.
If you need a dish, raise up one hand and spread your
fingers.
When you would have a loaf of bread, set your two thumbs
together and your two forefingers one against the other.
If you need a knife, cut with one finger over the other as
if carving.
If you need a spoon, move your hand as if you were eating
with a spoon.
Food
The sign for boiled vegetables is to put one hand down by
your side, as if you were scraping vegetables.
When you would like green vegetables, set your finger on
your left hand.
If you would like a leek, make a motion with your finger, as
if you would bore in on your hand, then move your open hand to your
nose, as if you smelled something.
The sign of porridge is to move your fist back and forth as
if stirring porridge.
When you would like pepper, shake with one forefinger over
the other.
If you would like beans, set your forefinger up on your
thumb's first joint.
The sign of cherries is to set the thumb on the front part
of the little finger.
When you would like cheese, set your two hands flat
together, as if pressing.
If you would like butter or fat, stroke with your three
fingers on the inside of your hand.
If you would like milk, stroke your left finger with your
right hand as if you were milking.
If you need eggs, scrape with your finger up on your left
thumb.
When you would like salt, bring down your hand with three
fingers together, as if you were salting something.
The sign of honey is to set your finger on your tongue.
When you would like fish, move your hand back and forth the
way a fish moves its tail, when it swims.
The sign for an eel is to move the right hand, set it over
the left arm and with the left hand stretched out, strike across it
with the right, as if mincing an eel in order to stick it on a spit.
If you would like an oyster, close your left hand as if you
had an oyster in your hand, and make a motion with a knife or finger as
if to wrench open the oyster.
When you would like an apple, bend your right thumb to the
middle of your hand, seize it with your finger(s) and raise up your
fist.
If you would like a pear, make a sign with your fist as we
said above, then join your fingers together the length of your hand.
When you would have a plum, close your left hand in the
same manner and stroke along your fist with your forefinger.
The sign for cherries is to set your left thumb on your
little fingertip, then pinch it with your right hand.
If you would like a sloe, set your thumb the same way and
push your forefinger into your left hand to indicate the thorn that it
grows on.
When you would have saltflesh for any reason, with your
right hand pinch the lower part of your left, where the flesh is
thickest and make a motion with your three fingers, as if you were
salting.
When you want a cup or mug, place your hand downwards and
spread your fingers.
When you would like a lid, lift your left hand closed
together and then the right arched over the left as if covering a cup.
The sign for a large goblet is to raise up your right hand,
spread your fingers, then lay your forefinger to your cheek and raise
up your thumb.
If you would like a little drinking cup, raise up your
three fingers, then lay your right forefinger to your cheek and raise
up your little finger.
When you wish to drink, lay your forefinger along your
mouth.
If you would like strained wine, make a motion with your
right forefinger on your left hand, as if you would put a tap into a
cask, then move your forefinger down and pinch it with your two fingers
as if to wipe off a drop.
The sign for beer is to knead one hand on the other.
When you would like barm, move your fist as if you would
pound plants and lay your forefinger to your lips.
Sleep
If you would indicate something about the dormitory, lay
your right hand under your right cheek.
When you need a lamp, turn your forefinger to the ground,
but also guard it and wet (it) in the middle with your forefinger, as
if you would set a wick.
When you would have bedclothes, move your robe back and
forth and lay your hand to your cheek.
The sign of a pillow is to stroke with your forefinger
inward on your left hand in the sign of a feather and lay (it) to your
ear.
Hygiene and Clothing
The sign of the latrine is to set your right hand flat over
your stomach and use the sign for asking leave of your elder, if you
want to go thither.
If you would indicate something about the bathhouse, stroke
with your right hand open over your breast and your stomach as if
washing yourself.
When you would like to ask in signs if you might wash your
head, stroke with an open hand on your hair, as if washing it.
If you need water, make a motion as if washing your hands.
When you would like soap, rub your hands together.
The sign of the razor is to put one forefinger over the
other, as if carving and then to stroke your cheek with your finger as
if shaving.
When you would like a comb, stroke with your fingers on
your hair downwards, as if combing yourself.
If you would like an undergarment, take your sleeve in
your hand and move it back and forth.
The sign of breeches is to stroke with your two hands up
on your thigh.
When you would have a leg band, put your two hands around
your shin.
If you would like hose, stroke upward on your shin with
your two hands.
The sign for a fur garment is to stretch forth your left
sleeve and pluck the inside with your left hand.
When you would like a cowl, move your sleeve back and
forth and seize your hood.
If you need a short cloak to obey some order, then stroke
edgewise with each hand over the other arm around the outside, where
the short cloak's sleeves end.
When you would like a glove, stroke one hand along the
other with an open palm.
If you would like slippers, set your forefinger upon your
foot and stroke on both sides of your foot, in the manner which they
are shaped.
The sign of socks is to set your forefinger in the same
manner and raise up your thumb.
Then the sign of shoes is to set your forefinger right on
your foot without any other signing.
The sign of shears is to move the forefinger and middle
finger of your right hand on some cloth, as if to cut it with shears,
or around your head as if barbering.
If you need a needle, fold the hem of your left sleeve in
your right hand over your left forefinger and make a motion over it
with three fingers as if sewing.
Writing
When you would like a stylus, set your three fingers
together, as if you had a stylus, and move them as if you were writing,
then beckon with your forefinger.
If you would like a small wax tablet, stretch out your
two hands, set them down together and fold them up as if folding a wax
tablet.
When you would like a large wax tablet, stroke with two
fingers on the front of your breast as if you were erasing, then stroke
your arm and set your hand on your left elbow.
If you have no ruling stick, stretch your hand upward and
stroke with your forefinger along your left hand as if you were ruling.
When you would like an inkstand, raise three fingers as
if to dip and move your hand down and clench your fingers, as if you
were picking up an inkstand.
The sign of a quill is to join your three fingers
together as if you were holding a quill, then dip it, and move your
fingers as if writing.
People -
Non-Ecclesiastical
The sign of the king is to move your hand down, then
seize your head on top with all your fingers in the shape of a crown.
The sign of the king's wife is to stretch your hand over
your head and then set it on your head.
The sign of a layman is to take yourself with both hands
by the chin as if taking yourself by the beard.
The sign of a laywoman is to move your fingers across
your forehead from one ear to the other in the sign of a headband.
Footnotes:
1 From Nancy P. Stork,
Dept. of English & Comparative Literature, San Jose State University. |
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