EXPRESSIVE LANGUAGE.

Feilding Star, Volume IX, Issue 89, 28 February 1888, Page 2 (Supplement)

EXPRESSIVE LANGUAGE.

The Soudanese tribes have a curious way of expressing affirmation and denial. Sometimes, in replying to questions, they answer with sounds, instead of words. If they wish to give an affirmative, they will entit a sort of " click," the kind of noise that tells a horse to go on. Should, the subject be deemed of no great importance, this would be done simply, -and only once ; but if they become excited, or wish to make their assurance emphatic, a very shower of "clicks" will. fall in loud and rapid succession, reminding one, as mentioned before, of the manner of speaking to a horse ; or, as 'it sometimes becomes rather guttural, of something betweq£ that and calling chiokens. A negative is expressed by the sort of noise sometimes made when vexation or annoyance is indicated ; it is their natural or jery frequent manner of saying '«<>." Tho tongue is placed agafußt the upper part of the mouth, Just behind the front teeth, and swiftly withdrawn, when, if it can be spelt At all, a sort of " teh " is produced. This mode of conveying affirmation and denial certainly seems less troublesome than words, and recommends itself to the notice of the inhabitants of eivAssed countries, where verbosity is j&aoreasing at a very rapid rate. ' [.