* Hand assumes shape of indicated letter while performing root sign 

 

** Hand signs letter, then root sign

Clean 

Brush left palm with right  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Work

Hit left hand with right twice

  

 

 

 

Law

Draw "L" hand down left palm

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Jesus
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Etymologies and Origins

A few signs with interesting origins...

 

In many cases, signs for related words or concepts are very similar, having developed out of one root sign. The resulting signs are more specific, and often belong to a particular subcategory of language, such as the many religious signs listed below.

 

Sign
Root Sign(s)
Changes

daughter
girl + baby
--

wife
girl + marry
--
sister
girl + same
--
pollution
smell + mix
--
ministry
work
+ initial m*
minister
lecture
+ initial f (for friar)
Passover
cracker
+ initial p
Gospel
news
+ initial g (for good)
testament
commandment
+ initial t
holy, hallowed
clean
preceded by h **
divine
clean
preceded by d
righteous
clean
preceded by r
pure
clean
preceded by p
sanctify
clean
preceded by s
sacrifice
offer
preceded by s
repent
change
+ initial r
reason
think
+ initial r
theory
imagination
+ initial t
fiction/fantasy
imagination
+ initial f
usually/used to
habit
+ initial u
tradition
habit
+ initial t
organization
group
+ initial o
department
group
+ initial d
society
group
+ initial s
team
group
+ initial t
association
group
+ initial a
principal
over
+ initial p
business
work
+ initial b
duty
work
+ initial d
function
work
+ initial f
environment
situation
+ initial e
circumstance
situation
+ initial c
free
save
+ initial f
deliver
save
+ initial d
liberty
save
+ initial l
independent
save
+ initial i
communicate
conversation/talk
+ initial c
dialogue
conversation/talk
+ initial d
interview
conversation/talk
+ initial i
interpret
change
+ initial i
translate
change
+ initial t
constitution
law
+ initial c
rules/regulations
law
+ initial r
principles/parliamentary
law
+ initial p
will (legal)
law
+ initial w
board
member
+ initial b
senate
member
+ initial s
congress
member
+ initial c
legislature
member
+ initial l
back to top

 

While some signs may seem somewhat arbitrary, many ASL signs have interesting origins and histories. The following examples are religious signs with interesting historical origins:

 

Meaning
Description of Sign
Origin
Catholic
indicate cross on forehead
Catholic practice of crossing one’s self
Baptist
move "a" hands right and down
mimics motion of baptism by immersion
Episcopal
indicate arc from underside of wrist to elbow
represents flowing sleeve of Episcopal robes
Methodist
rub palms together
religious fervor of early Methodists
Quaker
with hands clasped, thumbs rotate around each other
Quaker practice of twiddling one’s thumb while waiting for the Spirit
church
"c" rests on back of "s" hand
church built upon a rock
Passover
strike "p" near elbow ("cracker" + initial p)
unleavened bread at Passover
priest
"g" hand traces around side of neck
represents priestly collar
nun
"n" hand traces upper face
indicates shape of nun’s veil
Jesus
touch right middle fingertip to left palm, reverse
indicates nail holes from crucifixion

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