Árbók Háskóla Íslands - 02.01.1954, Blaðsíða 68

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continuous projection (e.g., the human nose, or nipple, or a
projecting rock or snag, or shield) or a continuous swelling
(e.g., that of pregnancy), or it may mean a covering. Or the
raised tongue may represent a clope or a bridge or a neck, or
other connection held in the middle. Again, the central eleva-
tion may represent the sun at mid-day, or point to the palate,
to mean palate. Secondary meanings may include embracing
— as the lateral extensions of the tongue embrace the palates,
or stretching, surrounding, wrapping, squeezing; or even knot-
ting or tying up — as the tongue stretches, surrounds, or wraps
or squeezes the palate to make its airtight closure. In the
symbolism of knotting and tying up, the bulk of the uplifted
tongue apparently represents the knot which ties up the closure
of tongue to palate. The curvature of the tongue may, of
course, symbolise curvature or roundness or swelling or
shoulder.
The action of the soft palate does not appear to bear any
symbolic meaning, but that of the tongue — in rising or falling
— may mean to bend up or rise up in the middle, to bend
the body, or to compress. The rising and falling of the tongue
may symbolise the bending of the elbow or the knee, or it
may mean to stretch or reach or incline towards. Conversely,
the lowering of the tongue may mean to bend or lean down,
or to withdraw, and hence to stand for sunset, or on fade away.
In some cases the lips and tongue combine — the lips first
forming an M closure, which is immediately followed by an
N closure, so as to compress the space between the two clo-
sures and thus symbolise a word for Little. Alternatively, the
N closure may precede the lip closure — the symbolism being
much the same as that of M-N. The N gesture of the tongue
is often preceded by the tongue gesture of S, which indicates
bringing forward to a point, as in Snake.
The nasal symbolism of N — with or without a preliminary S
— is important. It includes pleasant smell, and such words as
snore, breathe through the nose, etc. Of continued sounds may
be mentioned the onomatopoeic derivatives sigh, murmur,
moan, snarl, thunder and sound. Instances of abstract and
figurative symbolism include mind, spirit, soul and life.
Nothing has been said so far of the hand gestures which
may have preceded the tongue gestures of N. The hand will
naturally have indicated nose by pointing to it, or touching it.