larger groups the hand should be swept to the oblique or lateral as the case requires.

Will you, sir, kindly prove your assertion?

(mfs)

Only you few survivors can appreciate those

(m o s)

early struggles.

This great assembly must voice a unanimous

(m 1 s) 1 protest.

DESCRIBING

The verbal picture of an object, scene or action is often made more clear or impressive by movements which suggest size, form, or character. For example, in stating that "The rider dashed across the open space" a rapid stroke from front to oblique at "dashed" adds greatly to the vividness of the picture. All objects, scenes, or actions on a level with the speaker should be expressed with the middle plane gestures unless they are of very limited extent and are depicted as being at the speaker's very feet. In other words a sense of perspective should always be observed in using descriptive gestures.

1 The use of both hands would be appropriate in cases of this kind; see pages 54-57.

It may be well to note here that innumerable special motions of the hands can be used for descriptive purposes. Typical examples of these are as follows: moving the hands up and down, palms facing, to suggest parallelism; moving the supine hand in a short curve to show concavity; moving the prone hand in a short curve to indicate convexity; touching the tips of the thumb and first finger to depict something exceedingly small. These illustrations merely suggest the possibilities of which the speaker may take advantage to stimulate the imagination of his audience. He should avoid attempting to be too literal in making descriptive gestures; the public speaker is not the actor, and a hint of size, shape, or motion goes a long way.

The runner dashed forward.

(m fs)

The machine glided easily over the knoll.

(f to o curve)

The great curving shore was lined with cottages.

(1 sweep)

INDICATING

In contrast to the descriptive gesture the gesture of indication aims chiefly to point out

and, therefore, moves directly toward the object to be located instead of sweeping to a termination. The position given to the object in the imaginary scene will determine whether the front, oblique, or lateral should be used. Generally speaking, the lateral gesture gives the impression of greatest distance since it carries the hand farthest from the audience. It is to be observed that the location given to any feature in a scene should be maintained in case of subsequent references throughout the presentation, unless the point of view is statedly changed.

Here he stood, unable to move a step.

(m fs)

An old fort was visible a little to the right.

(m o s)

From the very outskirts of the crowd a shout (m 1 s)

arose.

DENYING

There is a tendency to brush aside any object which is distasteful or false. Denial and negation are closely akin to expressions of distaste or disbelief and are, therefore, fittingly represented by a sweep to the oblique. If more vigorous negation is desired, the lateral may be

used, for the more extended the motion, the more suggestive is it of intensity of feeling.

It is not of any importance.

(m o s)

He can never regain their confidence.

(m 1 s)

B. The Low Plane

In considering the following discussion it is of the utmost importance to remember that in the low and high planes, as well as in the middle plane, the front gestures indicate unity, nearness in time and space, slight extent of time and space; the oblique gestures express plurality, moderate distance in time and space, moderate extent of time and space, general reference; and the lateral gestures suggest great numbers, great distance in time and space, great extent of time or space. It is possible, therefore, to indicate by the low gestures not only lowness, but also in many cases the number, time, or extent involved in the concept. The student should note that throughout the text the gestures used with the illustrative sentences bring out the double significance of the intersecting planes.

The low plane supine gestures express whatever is low physically, mentally, or emotionally and does not require one of the other handforms, such as the prone; they also express forcefulness. The scope of this class may be indicated by the following groups.

1. References to persons, places, or objects below the speaker's viewpoint, physical weakness and submission in all degrees.

WEAKNESS AND SUBMISSION

The wounded man sank to the ground.

2. In accordance with the fundamental analogy based on the literal gesture, whatever is