During the course of this study, there were col¬ lected 109 other terms commonly used in the

com¬
munity and 32 place names, all of which would appear also to be derived from Guarani or the related
Tupi, although their origin may not yet be clearly established.
A few terms in common use are probably Afri¬ can in origin, their number being much smaller than those
derived from Indian languages. One of these is a place name: Mombaqa. Other terms include:
bumbo, a large drum, used in the samba.
bunda, buttocks.
cabago, slang phrase for “hymen.”
catinga, unpleasant odor (also used as verb).
fubft, maize meal.
mandinga, black magic.
The sexual vocabulary employed in the commu¬ nity is extensive, reflecting the prominence which
sexual ideas, attitudes, and behavior assume in the life of the inhabitants. Seventy words and phrases of a
slang character employed with sexual connotation were noted being used by men in the community.
Among these words and phrases were 11 terms for the penis, 6 for the vagina, 5 for the scrotum, 4 for the
hymen, and 2 for the anus. There are 3 words and 3 phrases used to refer to the sex act. There are 6 terms
for a prosti¬ tute, 1 for masturbation, 3 for a man “whose thought and action is dominated by sex,” 4
terms for a “passive” homosexual, 1 for an “active” homosexual, and an additional term to refer to both
types. Six phrases refer to pregnancy; two to puberty in the female; two to strong sexual de¬ sire in the
female, and two to female frigidity; and one each to a woman “of easy virtue,” the act of seeking a sex
partner, and a “sexually attractive” woman. Of these slang terms and phrases, it is probable that 10 are of
Indian, and 2 of African, origin.
A number of gestures are commonly employed in the community. Shrugging one or both should¬ ers may
mean Que me importa? (What is that to me?), Isso nao me atinge (I haven’t anything to do with that), Ele
que se arrange (It’s up to him), Fazer o que! (There’s nothing else to be done!), or Estou farto disso! (I’m
fed up with that!) ; in other words, it may signify resigna¬ tion, refusal to assume responsibility, or
irritation. Affirmation is indicated by a nod, and negation by
a shake of the head. An object is singled out by pointing to it with the index finger, while the other fingers
are flexed. Height is indicated by holding the hand at the distance in question from the ground, palm
downward and with the fingers ex¬ tended. A given number is denoted by holding up one’s hand toward
the person with whom one is communicating and extending as many fingers as correspond to the number.
Either the palm or the back of the hand may be turned toward the person although, when the number is
five, the former position is more common. In case the number is more than five, the movement is re¬
peated as many times as necessary.
Other gestures are commonly used in the com¬ munity to signify:
Eating (raising the right hand in front of the mouth, palm inward, and opening and closing the hand
several times).
Drinking (repeatedly raising and lowering the right hand in front of the face, with fingers flexed and
thumb extended in the direction of the mouth).
uCome here!'1'1 (extending the right hand toward the person in question, palm either inward or outward,
and opening and closing the hand rap¬ idly).
uGo awayI” (holding the arm downward, with the palm toward the body and fingers extended, and
pivoting the hand at the wrist, forcefully and repeatedly pushing the fingers outward to¬ ward the person
in question).
uSomebody took it” (placing the thumb of the right hand on a plane surface and pivoting the hand to the
right, while closing the fingers).
An obscene gesture employed locally is similar in form to that -with a different meaning devel¬ oped
during World War II among air force per¬ sonnel in the United States. A circle is made with the thumb
and forefinger of the right hand. Reference is to the anus and “passive” participa¬ tion in a homosexual
act. A similar gesture, known as the banana, consists in placing the wrist of the right arm in the bend of
the flexed left arm. Reference is to the male sexual organ and “passive” participation in a homosexual act.
Old! is used to call to someone whose attention one desires to attract, as also are Psiu! and O-o-o-o!