Various notes and feedback on signing that I have passed on to
various students:
RECENTLY: Uses an "X" handshape, pointing backwards. The
handshape extends and flexes the index finger a couple times.
MILK: uses only one hand. Opens and closes from a "C" into
an "S" twice. Doesn't move up and
down.
NUMBERS 1 - 9 do not twist.
MAKE: Uses "S" handshapes
DEAF: Uses an index finger not a "D" handshape. If you use a
"D" handshape it means "Dorm."
SEE-her: can be done with one hand, palm back, moving toward the
right.
WHICH uses "A" handshapes.
HAIR: Uses an "open F" handshape that closes into a
normal "F" handshape.
BATHROOM: Uses a "T" handshape that twists or shakes. Note
this sign doesn't need a separate sign for "room." It is
understood without a separate sign.
HIM/HER: uses only one hand
SEPARATED: Uses "loose C" hands or "Curved hands" that change to
"A" hands. If you use a "D" handshape it means "Divorce."
TELL: Uses an index finger that starts palm back with the pad
touching the chin and then the hand is moved so that the tip of
the index finger moves forward and down in an arc.
TELL-me: starts with and Index finger held about four inches in
front of the chin and then moves in and grazes the chin with the
tip of the index finger. The tip of the finger continues moving
until it makes contact with the chest.
FEEL: is done in the middle or a bit to the dominant side of
the chest, (not on the belly).
NUMBERS 16 - 19:
When signing the numbers 16 - 19 some people use the "ten+six,
ten+seven, ten+eight, and ten+nine" versions. This is okay. It
is simply one more variation. But note that the initial "10"
loses its internal movement and becomes simply an "A" handshape,
pinkie-side down and then uses a single twist as it changes to a
6, 7, 8, or 9.
ALWAYS: This sign sometimes is done by drawing a circle in the
air and then moving the hand forward in a "Y" handshape. The
"Y" handshape is not necessary. It isn't wrong, but it isn't
"needed" either. You can do the sign for always by just
circling and index finger (pointing up) in the air.
HAVE: Uses "bent-b" handshapes that touch the chest.
EQUAL, the palms are each facing in, not down. The tips of the
fingers come together.
HARD: uses a single striking motion onto the back or side of the
non-dominant "S" or "bent V" hand.
BOOK:
The sign for BOOK tends to have a double "opening" movement. The
sign for open-a-BOOK tends to have a single movement.
COLD: The movement is both out to the sides then both in toward
the middle, repeated. (Not up and down. We don't want this sign
to look like CAR or DRIVE.)
COLOR-"What_Color?": When asking what color something is, furrow
your eyebrows.
DEAF: The sign Deaf uses an "index" finger handshape. (Not an
"L" handshape, nor a "D" handshape.)
E: Use the "closed" form of the letter "E." It looks more
natural than the open form.
LIVE: Use "A" handshapes instead of "S" handshapes.
MEET-you: Do not touch the tips of the index fingers. Use
"index finger handshapes - not "D" handshapes.
NUMBERING: It is not "wrong" to do numbers 1 through 5 palm
forward but I encourage you to do them palm back (when done in
isolation) since some teachers are particular about wanting
numbers 1 through 5 palm back (when done as isolated numbers).
RESTLESS-sitting/ANXIOUS: The base hand extends the index and
middle fingers. (Two fingers, not just one.)
TEACHER: Do not use a grabbing movement. Just position your
hands near your forehead in squashed "O" shapes. Do not actually
touch your head. This sign is often started much lower.
THANK-YOU: The sign doesn't use the base hand. If you use the
base hand it may be confused with "GOOD."
W: Do the letter "W" palm forward.
WEATHER: The palm orientation for the initialized version of
"WEATHER is palm forward (and maybe a little bit palm down-but
mostly palm forward).
WHEN: The sign for when tends to use a clockwise movement.
TOILET: The default interpretation of the "BATHROOM" sign is
"bathroom" rather than "toilet." It is true that this sign
means both concepts but for everyday interpretation we interpret
it as "bathroom."
THEM: The concept of "them" is expressed via a short sweeping
movement. If you use a jab it generally means "he, she, or it."
(Since you jab at a singular place in the air.)
COLOR: When you sign color with furrowed eyebrows, it is
generally interpreted as "what color?"
CLASS: The sign CLASS is held a bit higher up than "HOW." The
sign CLASS uses more of a horizontal circular movement. The sign
HOW uses more of a forward rolling movement. The hands in CLASS
tend to separate out as they trace the perimeter of a circle.
The hands in HOW tend to stay together, touching at the knuckles
as they roll forward.
TONIGHT: The sign "TONIGHT" uses a combination of NOW and
EVENING.
100: Do the number 100 with more of a "C" shape after the "1"
not an "E" handshape.
FAVORITE: When signing favorite, use a jabbing motion not a
brushing motion.
LIVE: While the "L" version is "okay," the "A" version is
considered "more ASL."
BATHROOM: The "T" sign is sufficient to mean "bathroom." You
don't need to add the BOX sign after the "T" sign to indicate
"room." Some signs such as "BEDROOM" do use the BOX sign (in
combination with BED), but BATHROOM just shakes the "T" and
doesn't add the BOX sign.
UPSTAIRS: The sign UPSTAIRS uses two quick jabbing movements of
the index finger. The location (place in space where you do the
sign) is generally no higher than your head. If you just do a
single movement it would mean "up" but not upstairs.
CAT: The sign cat starts with an open "F" or "8" handshape and
then closes the "F" or "8" handshape as you slide the hand an
inch to the side, and repeat movement. Do not "rub" the
fingertips together.
PEOPLE: Either have the palms pointing downward or forward but
not inward. (The middle finger of each hand points downward or
forward but not toward the other hand.) Some people circle the
hands backwards, some circle the hands forwards, do it however
you see your instructor or local Deaf do it.
GO: The sign GO uses index fingers (not flat hands).
COLLEGE: The sign COLLEGE starts with the palms together and
then rotates the top hand up and away from the bottom hand.
NEIGHBOR: This sign has several variations. For clarity you
should add the PERSON (non-initialized) sign to it to
distinguish the sign from the sign NEAR.
THINK: Feedback: The general basic sign "THINK" uses a single
index finger. The sign "KNOW" uses the fingertips of a bent
hand. (A bent hand is like a "b-hand" (thumb alongside, not
tucked under) that is bent at the large knuckles (bent, not
curved).
E: Make sure you do your "E's" with the fingertips touching
thumb. This is a "closed E." If you do an "open E" it is like
announcing "Hey I'm a HEARING PERSON and I don't know how to
sign!!!"
LIVE: I recommend you avoid excessive initialization. If your
local instructor or friend insists you do "LIVE" with an "L"
there is no need to argue, just do it the way the locals do it,
but keep in the back of your mind that the more you initialize
signs, the more it looks like you are signing English and not
ASL.
FINGERSPELLING: "Double letters" For example: Suppose you are
spelling the name "Debbie." The double letters "BB" in Debbie
would look better if you used a small slide rather than showing
each individual letter. It depends on the "letter" involved. For
example, for the name "Jennifer," I tend to reform the "N"
letters rather than slide them.
TEACHER: The sign TEACHER tends to use only one forward movement
in the "TEACH" portion of the sign followed by the downward
(person) movement. This is a compound sign and thus internal
movement is dropped.
FUTURE/WILL: The sign FUTURE doesn't touch the head.
DO-("What do?") The "what-DO?" sign doesn't need to be followed
by the "WHAT" sign. That is redundant. The what-DO sign already
includes the meaning of "what."
Rhetorical-WHERE: When asking a rhetorical question such as "I
work where?" You actually raise the eyebrows instead of lowering
them. That is because such a rhetorical question really means:
"Do you want to know where I work?" That is a yes or no question
and thus should have eyebrows up not down. If you were really
asking someone where they work, then yes, of course you would
furrow your eyebrows, but when asking a "rhetorical question"
you are expecting the other person to actually respond and tell
you where you work. Rather you are hoping they will lean forward
and pay attention.
FOOD: The sign "FOOD" uses the same contact location each time.
(It doesn't actually have to make contact either.) If you change
the contact point you could end up looking like you are signing
a "low" version of "FLOWER." So, do the sign FOOD at the center
of your mouth for both movements.
ANIMAL: Each hand in the sign ANIMAL pivots in toward the other
hand and then out toward your sides, then repeats. It doesn't
pivot up and down.
GOAL: Slightly elevate the non-dominant hand. Then move the
dominant hand toward it in a firm movement but don't actually
touch the non-dominant hand.
[Note: you did it right the second time. I like how you
differentiated "long term" by doing the larger movement. Good
job!]
CHAIRS: The direction of the fingers indicates the direction of
the chair. So be careful about sticking your chairs facing the
WALL. I suppose that is okay if they are looking out the
windows.
HANGERS: If you are referring to hanging up clothing, make sure
to elevate the "hanging up clothes" sign a bit.
RIGHT-side: If something is on your right and you are "right
hand dominant" then you will want to turn the thumbside down and
pat toward the right with your palm facing right. (It is a bit
of an awkward sign) but the point is the palm-side of your hand
indicates which side the referent is on. So if it is on your
right and you are right handed you are going to have to twist
your hand till the thumb is down and then pat toward the right.
STORE: Do the sign store in the neutral area in front of your
chest and/or stomach. Don’t hold the sign at "head level" or it
will look odd.
MEET: "Did you
meet…?" When doing a "Did you meet…?" type question, your
eyebrows should be up (since it is a yes or no question). Also
the dominant hand moves toward the stationary non-dominant hand.
The non-dominant hand should be off to the side a bit to
indicate a third-person pronoun/classifier.
HE/SHE/HIM/HER: When indexing an absent person it is best to
default to your dominant side (rather than pointing across your
signing space).
WATCH: When referring to watching something in a casual manner,
use the bent-L handshape version of this sign. See:
http://www.lifeprint.com/asl101/pages-signs/06/you-finish-watch-titanic.html
THIS: When referring to "this room" you would simply point
downward prior to signing ROOM. When signing "this afternoon"
use the "NOW" sign with the sign AFTERNOON.
BATHROOM: Use the T-handshape version of the sign "BATHROOM." If
you sign BATH-ROOM (the sign BATH followed by the sign ROOM) it
would mean "bathing room."
CANDY: While some people sign "SUGAR" or "SWEET" to mean
"candy," it is important to know the standard "CANDY" sign that
twists an index finger on the cheek. That way you could sign,
"CANDY SWEET, WHY? SUGAR!"
COMPUTER: When doing the version of this sign that is on the
wrist or forearm, make sure to use a slight circular movement
not a back and forth a sliding movement.
23: Make sure you are familiar with the "fluttering middle
finger" version of the sign "23."
25: Make sure you are familiar with the fluttering middle
finger version of the sign "25."
16-19: Make sure you are familiar with the double twist version
of these signs.
FINISH: This sign uses the "5-handshape" on each hand (fingers
spread).
E: When you do the letter "E" make sure you used the "closed"
version rather than the open version. The closed version
(fingertips resting on side of thumb) is better accepted in the
Deaf Community.