Origins of number signs

RedFox · 08-27-2008, 03:05 AM

Where did the usage of the L hand shape come from for 20-29? For 20, 21 and 23, it is easy to change from L to 0, 1 or 3 quickly so these look a bit different from 24 and 26-29.

I guess that 22 is done with two '2' hand shapes because of it being quicker than 'L2.'

Where did the sign for 25 with the wriggling middle finger come from? I've wondered about the 25 one since preschool.

deafbajagal · 08-28-2008, 11:54 PM

I think it is because of the French origin, which was the origin of ASL when Laurent Clerc came to America to teach signing to the children.

But I'm not 100% sure. :/

society's_child · 08-29-2008, 10:10 AM

The sign for 25 is so dadburn confusing! I really don't get it.

For the most part, I really dislike the numbers 20-29. There's just multiple strangeness in those.

RedFox · 08-29-2008, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by society's_child

The sign for 25 is so dadburn confusing! I really don't get it.

For the most part, I really dislike the numbers 20-29. There's just multiple strangeness in those.

Want more strangeness? I found a sign for 35 that I did not know about here:

"number" ASL American Sign Language

Now I'm guessing that the signs for 25 and 35 are like that due to a simplification of moving the fingers from L to 5, influenced by how the ring and pinky fingers tend to move together.

society's_child · 08-30-2008, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedFox

Want more strangeness? I found a sign for 35 that I did not know about here:

"number" ASL American Sign Language

Now I'm guessing that the signs for 25 and 35 are like that due to a simplification of moving the fingers from L to 5, influenced by how the ring and pinky fingers tend to move together.

ASL. You gotta love it. Constantly keeps me guessing. And guessing and guessing...

08-27-2008, 03:05 AM	#1 (permalink)
RedFox Registered User Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Bellows Falls, VT Posts: 1,195	Origins of number signs Where did the usage of the L hand shape come from for 20-29? For 20, 21 and 23, it is easy to change from L to 0, 1 or 3 quickly so these look a bit different from 24 and 26-29. I guess that 22 is done with two '2' hand shapes because of it being quicker than 'L2.' Where did the sign for 25 with the wriggling middle finger come from? I've wondered about the 25 one since preschool.

08-29-2008, 10:10 AM	#3 (permalink)
society's_child what it is. Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: The big MD Posts: 859	The sign for 25 is so dadburn confusing! I really don't get it. For the most part, I really dislike the numbers 20-29. There's just multiple strangeness in those. __________________ ...just passing thru, y'all.

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08-28-2008, 11:54 PM	#2 (permalink)
deafbajagal Jasmine's Tiger "Lilly" Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: USA Posts: 2,117	I think it is because of the French origin, which was the origin of ASL when Laurent Clerc came to America to teach signing to the children. But I'm not 100% sure. :/