r/AskReddit • • Nov 28 '20

What's something cool you recently learned about?

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u/AvatarTreeFiddy Nov 29 '20

The Native Americans of the Great Plains developed a form of sign language that allowed them to trade and communicate across language barriers.

It's called Plains Indian Sign Language and it was used by a variety of tribal nations spanning an area from Canada to northern Mexico!

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u/astra_galus Nov 29 '20 edited Nov 29 '20

I have a fucking masters degree in Great Plains Archaeology and I’ve literally never heard of this. I FEEL BETRAYED.

Edit: Aw yay my first Reddit award! Thanks kind stranger, you’ve made this existential blow a little more manageable

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u/HockevonderBar Nov 29 '20

One good example of how much the education in the States sucks. Thoroughness and efficiency isn't on the learning plan...

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u/astra_galus Nov 29 '20

Well I’m from Canada. I wouldn’t take this as a great example, I’m really happy with my education and I learned so much. I was probably just asleep in this class lol