Signing For Dummies (21 page)

Sign:
OF COURSE

Talking about Yourself

This section helps you to confidently share information about yourself and your family. Understanding another person’s Signs is one thing, but responding to them is another. You already know all the ins and outs of who your relatives are and where you live and work, so here’s where you find the most commonly used Signs to convey that information.

Family and friends

Describing your family is one way to tell someone about yourself. Using the common Signs in Table 4-1 can make your eccentric family seem almost normal.

Signs for some other members of your family, such as grandparents and in-laws, are a bit trickier. To talk about your
grandparents
or your
grandchildren,
fingerspell G-R-A-N-D and then sign the person.

In-laws
are easy enough: Sign the person and then sign
law.

Also, to sign
stepbrother, stepsister, stepmother,
or
stepfather,
hold your hand straight out in front your chest and, with your thumb pointing straight up and index finger pointing forward, shake your hand back and forth; then sign the person. It sort of looks like you’re pointing at someone with a very shaky hand.

Sign a
half sibling
by expressing the manual “1⁄2” and then brother or sister.

Take a look at these examples:

English:
Is this your sister?

Sign:
SISTER — YOURS Q

English:
No, she’s my sister-in-law.

Sign:
NO — SISTER LAW — MINE HER (point)

English:
He is my half brother.

Sign:
MY 1-2 (as in 1⁄2) BROTHER HIM (point)

To sign a school or work friend, simply sign the word and then sign
friend.
You may signify a good friend, a close friend, or a friend who’s like a brother or sister by signing friend with more intensity. You can also indicate that close friends are
like two peas in a pod
by signing crossed fingers — it looks the same as when you cross your fingers to mean “good luck” or “I hope so.”

Relating where you live and work

Giving others information about your workplace and home is easy — the information is already in your memory. Signing this info to others is a snap, but be careful because many other eyes can see what you sign.

Giving addresses and phone numbers

Exchanging addresses and phone numbers is a great way to make friends with other Signers. Asking for repeats is okay; everyone does it in both English and Sign. You fingerspell most of this information; however, north, south, east, and west have Signs — see
Chapter 10
. You can abbreviate the following:

Avenue:
A-V-E

Circle:
C-R

Drive:
D-R