The American Sign Language Phrase Book (6 page)

Figure 11:
COMPETE

The pictures are to be read from left to right when they are read as a sentence. However, an individual sign may sometimes require more than one picture to illustrate it and will sometimes be read from right to left. Five types of aids are provided to help you know which way to read a drawing and thus form the sign correctly.

The first aid is the use of both
bold
(dark-lined) and
light-lined
drawings. The bold-lined drawings show the final position of the sign. The light-lined drawings show the first and, if necessary, additional positions of the sign. In the sign labeled DELICIOUS (
Figure 12
), for example, the light-lined drawing shows the middle finger touching the lips. The bold-lined drawing shows the hand turned outward. These are the first and final positions, respectively. Always remember that the bold-lined drawing shows the final position of the sign.

Figure 12:
DELICIOUS

Figure 13:
DAY

The second aid is the use of several kinds of
arrows
, which show exactly how the hands move in forming a sign. The sign DAY (
Figure 13
), for example, is formed by moving the arm from the first
position (light-lined) to the final position (bold-lined), following the movement indicated by the arrow.

Repetitive movement is shown by the use of a bent arrow, as in the signs HAPPY (
Figure 14
) and FOOTBALL (
Figure 15
). This means you do the same movement twice.

Figure 14:
HAPPY

Figure 15:
FOOTBALL

Swerving movement is shown by a twisted arrow, as in the sign labeled NEVER (
Figure 16
).

Figure 16:
NEVER

Circular movement is shown by a circular arrow, as in the signs COFFEE (
Figure 17
) and GOING (
Figure 18
).

Figure 17:
COFFEE

Figure 18:
GOING

The arrows in the sign CAR (
Figure 19
) show the hands repeating a movement, but in opposite directions. The sign looks as if you were steering a car.

In the sign WHICH (
Figure 20
), the arrows indicate that the hands move alternately. As the left hand goes up, the right hand goes down. Then both hands reverse their directions (left: down; right: up), then they reverse again going in their original directions.

Figure 19:
CAR

Figure 20:
WHICH

The same thing applies to the sign CONTROL (
Figure 21
) as does to the WHICH sign, but
numbers
, the third aid, have been added to help you see more clearly where the hands begin and end. When both hands are in their number one positions, the right hand is farther out from the chest than the left. The arrows show that the right hand moves backward, and the left hand moves forward, reversing their positions. The arrows then show that the hands reverse positions again as the hands move to the third position. (Note that both the first and third positions are shown in bold lines since that is the final, as well as the beginning, position. This will occur only rarely, but if in doubt, look at the numbers.) The sign looks as if you are guiding a horse with the reins.