Where did 'thanks/thank you' sign come from?

Lukin

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Okay, I know I've brought up the 'bored/boring' thread. I don't mean to deconstruct ASL further.

Before we go on to the thank you part in ASL (it is the same in Czech sign language), I wanted to explain about boring.

I thought about bored/boring in the first place because of the equivalent Czech sign. It is similar to 'thank-you' sign in ASL. Instead of full motion of hand outwards from chin (or lips/near-lips), you basically patted on the chin. That is 'boring' sign in Czech.

I don't want to joke about Czechs because of its cultural affiliations between 'boring' and 'thank you', which I came quickly to understand why.

Anyways.

What is the origin of thank you?

Is it just a sexual deviant sign meant to connect to deaf people by perverts? Kiss/kiss goodbye/and so on? Or maybe it might be attractive to hearing people into learning sign language?

Just a thought. *drinking wine*

I know that French is a romance language by origin, so its introduction to French sign language is solidified through ASL and Czech and perhaps other later sign languages that adopted 'thank you' sign.

But, I have to criticize this a little, because the french word 'Merci' doesn't show this trend. So how did this sign come to exist?

:ty::ty::ty:
 
Maybe i'm going too far here. If someone can pinpoint me to the origin? Do you know? If not, why bother posting this at all? :dizzy:


I'm trying to figure out if you're serious - or just being ridiculous?

THANK YOU - is fairly straight forward. Think of it in terms of "saying an offering/blessing of thanks"

You should pick up some ASL etymology etc books. (email Gally for a booklist)
 
I'm trying to figure out if you're serious - or just being ridiculous?

THANK YOU - is fairly straight forward. Think of it in terms of "saying an offering/blessing of thanks"

You should pick up some ASL etymology etc books. (email Gally for a booklist)

I don't think he's asking what thank you means.....but where the handmovement came from.....like blowing a kiss? I think that's where he made the sexual connection.

Oh wait Anij, I read your post again, and it made more sense the second time lol. Also, I blow kisses to my kids so a sexual connotation wouldn't be my first thought....Im just saying
 
Okay, I know I've brought up the 'bored/boring' thread. I don't mean to deconstruct ASL further.

Before we go on to the thank you part in ASL (it is the same in Czech sign language), I wanted to explain about boring.

I thought about bored/boring in the first place because of the equivalent Czech sign. It is similar to 'thank-you' sign in ASL. Instead of full motion of hand outwards from chin (or lips/near-lips), you basically patted on the chin. That is 'boring' sign in Czech.

I don't want to joke about Czechs because of its cultural affiliations between 'boring' and 'thank you', which I came quickly to understand why.

Anyways.

What is the origin of thank you?

Is it just a sexual deviant sign meant to connect to deaf people by perverts? Kiss/kiss goodbye/and so on? Or maybe it might be attractive to hearing people into learning sign language?

Just a thought. *drinking wine*

I know that French is a romance language by origin, so its introduction to French sign language is solidified through ASL and Czech and perhaps other later sign languages that adopted 'thank you' sign.

But, I have to criticize this a little, because the french word 'Merci' doesn't show this trend. So how did this sign come to exist?

:ty::ty::ty:

If you do the sign with your back to a person it looks like something bad in Italian gestures....just saying.....:cool2:

Laura
 
I guess you people just don't know any Italians....:cool2:

Laura
 

Um. you do know how Italians greet others back in the old days with hats off... right??? Instead of frontal "French" style, Italian do it by flipping the hat at the back of head...

Am I wrong, Laura? *drinking beer*

Lol i might mess up on this one.
 

Um. you do know how Italians greet others back in the old days with hats off... right??? Instead of frontal "French" style, Italian do it by flipping the hat at the back of head...

Am I wrong, Laura? *drinking beer*

Lol i might mess up on this one. Or I really don't get it...
 
If you do the sign with your back to a person it looks like something bad in Italian gestures....just saying.....:cool2:

Laura

Now that I think about it... bad Italian gestures? I can't think of one. I thought that hat introduction was pretty good.

Unless you're talking about "flip hair" or "buzz off" gesture???


Enlighten us at least?
 
Re post # 6
Italians will do a gesture where the backs of their closed 5 hand fingertips will brush the underneath of their chin moving forward and out. It's a gesture for "me ne frego" which translates basically to "I don't give a damn".
 
Re post # 6
Italians will do a gesture where the backs of their closed 5 hand fingertips will brush the underneath of their chin moving forward and out. It's a gesture for "me ne frego" which translates basically to "I don't give a damn".

OH! I thought she said that hand being done on the back of HEAD...

Wow i must be drunk as hell
 
Re post # 6
Italians will do a gesture where the backs of their closed 5 hand fingertips will brush the underneath of their chin moving forward and out. It's a gesture for "me ne frego" which translates basically to "I don't give a damn".

Yes, I understand......but she said ".....with your back to a person........"
 
I guess you people just don't know any Italians....:cool2:

Laura
Yes, I do. I spent much of my childhood in Connecticut, with many Italian friends. I know the gesture to which you are referring. I also know that the attitude behind that gesture and the attitude behind THANK YOU are not at all the same, and could not be mistaken for each other.

In advanced ASL classes, we had to practice our receptive skills by watching people sign from all angles.

Also, I hope you aren't learning signs in a vacuum but in context with body shifts, head tilts and thrusts, mouth morphemes, eyebrow movements, nostril flairs, sign directionality, etc.

I suggest you focus on learning the signs before you begin criticizing them.

What exactly is your motivation for learning ASL?
 
Yes, I understand......but she said ".....with your back to a person........"

Heh, now you've pinpointed to the source already. Now I understand where my confusion came from.

Her translation probably needs to be edited. rather than "with your back to a person", should have be said "with your back chin to a person"

Oh wait, that doesnt make sense, back chin???
 
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