What was the Cheyenne tribe communication a while ago?

Answer 1

Up to the 1880s the Cheyenne and their close relatives the Suhtaio (So'taa'e) spoke dialects of the Cheyenne language, which is part of the huge Algonquian language family.

A few words in Cheyenne:

arrow........................maahotse

bear..........................nahkohe

Comanche.................She'shenovotse-tane

dog............................oeshko

eye............................ma'exa

finger..........................mo'eshko

good (it's good)..........e-peva'e

happy (he's happy).....e-hetotae-tano

Naturally only other Cheyenne would understand this language, so sign language was used to communicate with other tribes. The Plains sign language was used by all of the natives of the region for trade and general communication, even at some distance from each other. A few signs are:

arrow.......................mime drawing an arrow from its case

bear.........................partly closed hand held beside head to indicate ears, then clawing motion with hands held in front

Comanche.................make sign for a native, then sign for snake

dog............................draw right hand with two fingers extended across body from left to right

eye............................point to eye

finger.........................point to finger

good..........................hold right hand flat, palm down, against left side of chest, then move it quickly to the front and right, keeping it horizontal.

happy.........................make signs for heart, day and sunrise