slow
SLOW: Slide the dominant hand up the non-dominant arm--starting at the back of the non-dominant hand.
You only need to go a few inches. If you do this sign "very fast" it means "very slow." Or if you start the sign and do
it very slowly for a moment, roll your eyes and then finish it quickly it means very, very slow.
Advanced / Optional Reading [not required]
In a message dated 1/4/2007 5:06:30 PM Pacific Standard Time, quiltstash@ writes:
Is it really that if you make your sign VERY FAST it really means VERY SLOW? That seems so backwards to me. Can you please verify this when you get the chance.
Thanks,
- Meg
Meg,
Think of the sign and the speed of the sign as two separate indicators of meaning.
Think of "increased speed" of the movement of a sign as a general intensifier for whatever that sign means.
For example, if I sign "STUPID" quickly, it would mean: "very" stupid.
If I signed "UGLY" quickly it would mean "very" ugly.
Thus we see that signing something quickly tends to have the effect of creating the meaning "very."
Thus the handshape, movement, palm orientation, and location of the sign SLOW (and many other signs) can be modified by signing them quickly--thus inserting the concept "very" into the meaning of the sign.
Cordially,
Dr V
Think of the sign and the speed of the sign as two separate indicators of meaning.
Think of "increased speed" of the movement of a sign as a general intensifier for whatever that sign means.
For example, if I sign "STUPID" quickly, it would mean: "very" stupid.
If I signed "UGLY" quickly it would mean "very" ugly.
Thus we see that signing something quickly tends to have the effect of creating the meaning "very."
Thus the handshape, movement, palm orientation, and location of the sign SLOW (and many other signs) can be modified by signing them quickly--thus inserting the concept "very" into the meaning of the sign.
Cordially,
Dr V