ASL sign for 'deaf'?

JennyB · 04-23-2008, 04:12 PM

Hi everyone,

I have a question about the ASL sign for 'deaf'.

Is there a difference between siging it it starting with the 'd' hand shape at your mouth and bringing it up to your ear, or starting with the 'd' hand shape at your ear and bringing it down to your mouth?

I see it signed both ways and just wondering what the difference is, if there is a difference.

Thanks!

jillio · 04-23-2008, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JennyB

Hi everyone,

I have a question about the ASL sign for 'deaf'.

Is there a difference between siging it it starting with the 'd' hand shape at your mouth and bringing it up to your ear, or starting with the 'd' hand shape at your ear and bringing it down to your mouth?

I see it signed both ways and just wondering what the difference is, if there is a difference.

Thanks!

Actually, the ASL sign is done with the index finger, rather than the "d". The "d" is the initialized English sign.

The siogn starts at the ear and goes to the mouth. If one does it the other way, it could easily be mistaken for the sign for "home".

I have also seen deaf signed by pointing to the ear, and then signing "closed", though I haven't seen it used often.

Hope this helps!

JennyB · 04-23-2008, 04:22 PM

Hi,

On ASLpro (http://www.aslpro.com/cgi-bin/aslpro/aslpro.cgi) It shows mouth to ear.

My ASL teacher signs the reverse, and several of my Deaf friends sign it both ways I mentioned.

I learnt SEE first and that is probably why I was confused regarding the 'd' hand shape vs. the index finger.

Anij · 04-23-2008, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jillio

Actually, the ASL sign is done with the index finger, rather than the "d". The "d" is the initialized English sign.

The siogn starts at the ear and goes to the mouth. If one does it the other way, it could easily be mistaken for the sign for "home".

I have also seen deaf signed by pointing to the ear, and then signing "closed", though I haven't seen it used often.

Hope this helps!

Actually I (and everyone I know where I live in Canada) start at the mouth , and move to the ear the way it is shown on ASL Browser & ASL pro websites. I see people in parts of the USA doing it the other way ... starting at the ear, moving to the mouth *shrug* just another quirk of the language!

Tousi · 04-23-2008, 04:30 PM

I think it matters not a whit where one starts but the "d" is a no no! Use the index finger, like for the numeral one.

jillio · 04-23-2008, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anij

Actually I (and everyone I know where I live in Canada) start at the mouth , and move to the ear the way it is shown on ASL Browser & ASL pro websites. I see people in parts of the USA doing it the other way ... starting at the ear, moving to the mouth *shrug* just another quirk of the language!

Yep, more regionalisms, LOL. I think, either way, it would be udnerstood by any ASL user. That's the important thing.

Chase · 04-23-2008, 04:56 PM

Thanks Jillio and Tousi. I think I've been signing it with a d-hand forever. Not even my know-it-all sis ever corrected me, and she comes down on me like a mallet for the slightest error.

Somewhere in my muddled mind, I had the (obviously mistakened) notion that the tip if the d-hand index going to the ear meant "deaf."

In the future I'll clamp my thumb over the middle finger. I keep saying I learn so very much here.

Oceanblue7 · 04-23-2008, 05:33 PM

Since, we are talking about signs here, I hope Jenny don't mind me asking a sign related q in her thread.. What is the sign for "chaplain"? Chaplain is someone serves people who not from a specific church.

Chase · 04-23-2008, 06:10 PM

Wouldn't it be the same as the general sign for minister or preacher? That's signed with the right F-hand chest high, palm out (or I've seen it both F-hands) and then the open hands about waist-high facing each other about a foot apart?

jillio · 04-23-2008, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chase

Wouldn't it be the same as the general sign for minister or preacher? That's signed with the right F-hand chest high, palm out (or I've seen it both F-hands) and then the open hands about waist-high facing each other about a foot apart?

I would use the same sign.

Anij · 04-23-2008, 07:35 PM

Hmmm ... interesting Question (re chaplain) since I'm a theology student and spend a TON of time figuring stuff like this out lol !!

Chaplains are not primarily preachers, so I personally wouldn't use that sign ... they're carers - they function almost as a Deaconess ...

It's important (at least to me) that the ASL be descriptively accurate

If they are ordained, I'd likely sign it as "hospital+priest" or "PC(personal care) +Priest" - using the Priest sign that shows a clerical collar

If they aren't ordained, I'd probably sign it as a initialized from of "Deaconess"/Deacon which would be a "C" handshape tracing a cross over the non-dominant shoulder

What do you think

Oceanblue7 · 04-23-2008, 11:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chase

Wouldn't it be the same as the general sign for minister or preacher? That's signed with the right F-hand chest high, palm out (or I've seen it both F-hands) and then the open hands about waist-high facing each other about a foot apart?

I had the same idea as Chase.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anij

Hmmm ... interesting Question (re chaplain) since I'm a theology student and spend a TON of time figuring stuff like this out lol !!

Chaplains are not primarily preachers, so I personally wouldn't use that sign ... they're carers - they function almost as a Deaconess ...

It's important (at least to me) that the ASL be descriptively accurate

If they are ordained, I'd likely sign it as "hospital+priest" or "PC(personal care) +Priest" - using the Priest sign that shows a clerical collar

If they aren't ordained, I'd probably sign it as a initialized from of "Deaconess"/Deacon which would be a "C" handshape tracing a cross over the non-dominant shoulder

What do you think

Yes, that's a good one since, you established the meaning of chaplain a little bit better and with conceptual accuracy as well. I like the other sign as well "C" handshape tracing a cross over the non-dominant shoulder to clarify the chaplain is not ordained. Cool!

dWrite · 04-24-2008, 03:29 AM

I learned and still use PSE... Although I'm trying to get more ASL in my bloodstream...

But as well, I've always been under the notion of the mouth-to-ear sign with index finger. I have seen people use the ear-to-mouth and the ear-close sign... So really, I don't know which one is the most preferred since I didn't really enter the Deaf world until 2006 although I have been Deaf since I was 3 years old...

jasin · 05-09-2008, 06:07 AM

The sign starts at the mouth and moves to the ear. If one confuses that for home then you are not signing deaf right. Use your index finger not a closed palm / hand and no one will confuse deaf for home.

Brian · 05-09-2008, 08:57 AM

Um... the sign for "deaf" I knew was the sign that is similar to the signs for "sister/brother/sibling". Has this changed?

Reba · 05-09-2008, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JennyB

Hi everyone,

I have a question about the ASL sign for 'deaf'.

Is there a difference between siging it it starting with the 'd' hand shape at your mouth and bringing it up to your ear, or starting with the 'd' hand shape at your ear and bringing it down to your mouth?

I see it signed both ways and just wondering what the difference is, if there is a difference.

Thanks!

It's the index finger handshape, not a "D". However, some people use a "loose" index finger, not real defined, in a casual setting.

I've seen and used the motion from mouth side to ear, and vice versa, for economy of movement. For example if signing "BOY DEAF" it's more fluid to sign "DEAF" from ear to mouth. Signing "GIRL DEAF" is more fluid from mouth to ear.

Sign formation is influenced by its position within the whole context of the "sentence", unless you're just practicing signs from a list or dictionary.

Reba · 05-09-2008, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian

Um... the sign for "deaf" I knew was the sign that is similar to the signs for "sister/brother/sibling". Has this changed?

Do you mean the sign that uses an index finger at the mouth side, then both hands, "B" shape, palms down, make a "CLOSED" sign? I think that is an older version but maybe it's still popular by region.

Reba · 05-09-2008, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jillio

I would use the same sign.

Same here.

"PASTOR", "CHAPLAIN", "PREACHER"

If it needs more specific identification, modifiers like "CHURCH" (for someone who is in a church pastor position), or "MILITARY" (for a military chaplain), or "TRAVELING" (for an itinerant preacher) or "HOSPITAL" (for a hospital chaplain).

Reba · 05-09-2008, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anij

Hmmm ... interesting Question (re chaplain) since I'm a theology student and spend a TON of time figuring stuff like this out lol !!

Chaplains are not primarily preachers, so I personally wouldn't use that sign ... they're carers - they function almost as a Deaconess ...

It depends on the denomination and position.

I would hardly call a police or military chaplain a "deaconess". For one thing, they aren't all female, and for another thing, police, military, and hospital chaplains are supposed to be ordained, not laymen. The police and hospital chaplains usually perform in the role of counselor and comforter but they are also preachers. Military chaplains do everything that their civilian equivalents do.

Quote:

It's important (at least to me) that the ASL be descriptively accurate

If they are ordained, I'd likely sign it as "hospital+priest" or "PC(personal care) +Priest" - using the Priest sign that shows a clerical collar

If the chaplain is a priest, then "PRIEST" is an accurate sign to use. If the chaplain is a Protestant or Jew or any religion that doesn't use "priests" then the "PRIEST" sign would not be accurate.

I've never seen "PC" used except for a Windows computer.

Quote:

If they aren't ordained, I'd probably sign it as a initialized from of "Deaconess"/Deacon which would be a "C" handshape tracing a cross over the non-dominant shoulder

I've never seen anyone use that sign.

Usually a "C-CROSS" on the arm refers to a medical clinic. It's an initialized version of "HOSPITAL".

Quote:

What do you think

See above.

jillio · 05-09-2008, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reba

Do you mean the sign that uses an index finger at the mouth side, then both hands, "B" shape, palms down, make a "CLOSED" sign? I think that is an older version but maybe it's still popular by region.

I've seen the EAR CLOSED sign used for "deaf" but infrequently, and only by older deaf, or people who have learned sign from a dictionary.

jillio · 05-09-2008, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reba

Same here.

"PASTOR", "CHAPLAIN", "PREACHER"

If it needs more specific identification, modifiers like "CHURCH" (for someone who is in a church pastor position), or "MILITARY" (for a military chaplain), or "TRAVELING" (for an itinerant preacher) or "HOSPITAL" (for a hospital chaplain).

Agreed.

jillio · 05-09-2008, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reba

It depends on the denomination and position.

I would hardly call a police or military chaplain a "deaconess". For one thing, they aren't all female, and for another thing, police, military, and hospital chaplains are supposed to be ordained, not laymen. The police and hospital chaplains usually perform in the role of counselor and comforter but they are also preachers. Military chaplains do everything that their civilian equivalents do.

If the chaplain is a priest, then "PRIEST" is an accurate sign to use. If the chaplain is a Protestant or Jew or any religion that doesn't use "priests" then the "PRIEST" sign would not be accurate.

I've never seen "PC" used except for a Windows computer.

I've never seen anyone use that sign.

Usually a "C-CROSS" on the arm refers to a medical clinic. It's an initialized version of "HOSPITAL".

See above.

I suppose it would also be conceptually accurate, based on duties performed, to identify a hospital or police chaplain as CHAPLAIN + COUNSELOR. I hadn't considered that until I read your description. I don't know that I would use it, though, as I would prefer to clarify through location of practice.

Brian · 05-09-2008, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reba

Do you mean the sign that uses an index finger at the mouth side, then both hands, "B" shape, palms down, make a "CLOSED" sign? I think that is an older version but maybe it's still popular by region.

Yeah that is the one I had known since childhood. I don't know if it is a region sign, I am very curious about this, I'll try to remember to ask my friend sometime.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jillio

I've seen the EAR CLOSED sign used for "deaf" but infrequently, and only by older deaf, or people who have learned sign from a dictionary.

One of the teachers, probably my first grade teacher at the deaf school (TSD) taught us that sign in the early 1980's.

Anij · 05-10-2008, 12:56 AM

Regarding the whole CHAPLIN thing ... I guess it would be best to just fingerspelling it out in most cases *shrugs*

... can't blame a girl for trying ... oh well scratch everything I said !

deafbajagal · 05-10-2008, 08:20 AM

I sign it from mouth first to the ear.

Another variation that you may have seen is when a person stick the thumb in the ear (with the other four fingers closed) and then they open the fingers where the hand is open. This means "totally (profoundly) deaf" or "stone deaf."

04-23-2008, 04:12 PM	#1 (permalink)
JennyB Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Ontario Posts: 259	ASL sign for 'deaf'? Hi everyone, I have a question about the ASL sign for 'deaf'. Is there a difference between siging it it starting with the 'd' hand shape at your mouth and bringing it up to your ear, or starting with the 'd' hand shape at your ear and bringing it down to your mouth? I see it signed both ways and just wondering what the difference is, if there is a difference. Thanks! __________________ Jenny~B http://journysofadeafgirl.blogspot.com/

04-23-2008, 04:22 PM	#3 (permalink)
JennyB Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Ontario Posts: 259	Hi, On ASLpro (http://www.aslpro.com/cgi-bin/aslpro/aslpro.cgi) It shows mouth to ear. My ASL teacher signs the reverse, and several of my Deaf friends sign it both ways I mentioned. I learnt SEE first and that is probably why I was confused regarding the 'd' hand shape vs. the index finger. __________________ Jenny~B http://journysofadeafgirl.blogspot.com/

04-23-2008, 05:33 PM	#8 (permalink)
Oceanblue7 Going to see the Patriots Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Gillette Stadium Posts: 3,486 Blog Entries: 3	Since, we are talking about signs here, I hope Jenny don't mind me asking a sign related q in her thread.. What is the sign for "chaplain"? Chaplain is someone serves people who not from a specific church. __________________ All year round Patriots Gal Ps.103:12 He washes our sins away into the ocean

04-23-2008, 07:35 PM	#11 (permalink)
Anij Registered User Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Canada Posts: 305	Hmmm ... interesting Question (re chaplain) since I'm a theology student and spend a TON of time figuring stuff like this out lol !! Chaplains are not primarily preachers, so I personally wouldn't use that sign ... they're carers - they function almost as a Deaconess ... It's important (at least to me) that the ASL be descriptively accurate If they are ordained, I'd likely sign it as "hospital+priest" or "PC(personal care) +Priest" - using the Priest sign that shows a clerical collar If they aren't ordained, I'd probably sign it as a initialized from of "Deaconess"/Deacon which would be a "C" handshape tracing a cross over the non-dominant shoulder What do you think Last edited by Anij; 04-23-2008 at 07:56 PM.

04-24-2008, 03:29 AM	#13 (permalink)
dWrite ... The English Major ... Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 23 Blog Entries: 1	I learned and still use PSE... Although I'm trying to get more ASL in my bloodstream... But as well, I've always been under the notion of the mouth-to-ear sign with index finger. I have seen people use the ear-to-mouth and the ear-close sign... So really, I don't know which one is the most preferred since I didn't really enter the Deaf world until 2006 although I have been Deaf since I was 3 years old... __________________ dWrite ... the deaf english major ...

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04-23-2008, 04:30 PM	#5 (permalink)
Tousi Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 6,849	I think it matters not a whit where one starts but the "d" is a no no! Use the index finger, like for the numeral one.

04-23-2008, 04:56 PM	#7 (permalink)
Chase Retired on ex-mod pension Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Albany, Oregon Posts: 2,066	Thanks Jillio and Tousi. I think I've been signing it with a d-hand forever. Not even my know-it-all sis ever corrected me, and she comes down on me like a mallet for the slightest error. Somewhere in my muddled mind, I had the (obviously mistakened) notion that the tip if the d-hand index going to the ear meant "deaf." In the future I'll clamp my thumb over the middle finger. I keep saying I learn so very much here.

04-23-2008, 06:10 PM	#9 (permalink)
Chase Retired on ex-mod pension Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Albany, Oregon Posts: 2,066	Wouldn't it be the same as the general sign for minister or preacher? That's signed with the right F-hand chest high, palm out (or I've seen it both F-hands) and then the open hands about waist-high facing each other about a foot apart?

05-09-2008, 06:07 AM	#14 (permalink)
jasin Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Puyallup, Washington Posts: 629	The sign starts at the mouth and moves to the ear. If one confuses that for home then you are not signing deaf right. Use your index finger not a closed palm / hand and no one will confuse deaf for home.

05-09-2008, 08:57 AM	#15 (permalink)
Brian Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: United States Posts: 2,319	Um... the sign for "deaf" I knew was the sign that is similar to the signs for "sister/brother/sibling". Has this changed? __________________ -Brian

05-10-2008, 12:56 AM	#24 (permalink)
Anij Registered User Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Canada Posts: 305	Regarding the whole CHAPLIN thing ... I guess it would be best to just fingerspelling it out in most cases shrugs ... can't blame a girl for trying ... oh well scratch everything I said !

05-10-2008, 08:20 AM	#25 (permalink)
deafbajagal Jasmine's Tiger "Lilly" Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: USA Posts: 1,436	I sign it from mouth first to the ear. Another variation that you may have seen is when a person stick the thumb in the ear (with the other four fingers closed) and then they open the fingers where the hand is open. This means "totally (profoundly) deaf" or "stone deaf." __________________ "The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires." ~Quote by William Arthur Ward

05-10-2008, 10:46 PM	#26 (permalink)
Interpretrator Crime fighter Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,404