English Grammar: Sign Language Words

Friday, 12 October 2012

Sign Language Words

General Hugh L. Scott began his military career as a Lieutenant in the US Cavalry, and by 1915 was promoted to Major General. Before mandatory retirement from military and civil service in 1917 at the age of 65, Scott served as interim Secretary of War on Woodrow Wilson's cabinet. Though officially retired, Scott remained extremely active in civil service and as a member of the Board of Indian Commissioners. He spent the remainder of his life studying, lecturing, and writing about Indian Sign Language. Scott was a member of numerous learned societies including the American Anthropological Association.

Scott was also made an honorary member of various Indian tribes, and he was seventy- eight years old when the films were made in 1930. He had been working with numerous Indian groups and signing with them for more than fifty years. The Indians called him Mole-I-Gu-Op, signifying "one who talks with his hands". Scott had fulfilled one of his life's goals, with the production of the film dictionary of Indian Sign Language (1934). From the historical record, we know that he was a staunch advocate and ally of American Indian groups, and that Scott had successfully lobbied for legislation on their behalf.