The American Sign Language Starter: A Beginner's Guide

20. Sentence Builders

Sentence Builders 20 Handshape: H > N Orientation: palm in Location: nose Movement: brush fingers down nose twice while bending them Nonmanual signal: smile Handshape: F Orientation: palm out Location: neutral space Movement: shake hand slightly side to side private, confidential, privacy, secret, top-secret Handshape: A Orientation: palm left Location: near chin Movement: gently tap chin twice thing, object Handshape: Open B Orientation: palm up Location: neutral space Movement: bounce hand to the right Note: This sign can also be made with a double bounce to the right. not, don’t Handshape: Open A Orientation: palm left Location: under chin Movement: thrust hand forward Nonmanual signal: head shakes “no” bed, sleep Handshape: Open B Orientation: palm left Location: cheek Movement: rest cheek on palm Nonmanual signal: head tilts right funny, amusing, comical, humorous furniture 156 Sentence Builders 157 because Handshape: L > Bent L Orientation: palm in Location: index finger on forehead Movement: wipe index finger across forehead to the right, then bend finger lamp, light Handshape: Flattened O > 5 Orientation: palm left Location: near head Movement: drop hand down toward face while opening to 5 handshape flower Handshape: Flattened O Orientation: palm left Location: right side of nose Movement: arc hand around to left side of nose stuck, trapped Handshape: V Orientation: palm in Location: neck Movement: poke neck with index and middle fingers Nonmanual signal: head back; mouth open; tongue protruding must, have to, obligated to, ought, should (SM); need, necessary, vital (DM) Handshape: X Orientation: palm out Location: neutral space Movement: bend wrist down strict, stern Handshape: Bent V Orientation: palm left Location: near nose Movement: sharply tap index finger against nose Nonmanual signal: shoulders thrust back; erect posture; “stern” expression Sentence Builders 158 telephone (v.), phone (v.) (SM); telephone (n.), phone (n.) (DM) Handshape: Y Orientation: palm left Location: thumb at ear and little finger at mouth Movement: double bounce hand on cheek stuck-up, conceited, high society, snob Handshape: 1-I Orientation: palm left Location: index fingertip under nose Movement: brush index finger up tip of nose twice Nonmanual signal: head tilts back silly, absurd, folly, foolish, ridiculous Handshape: Y Orientation: palm left Location: near nose Movement: brush thumb across nose twice Nonmanual signal: head tilts right; mouth open; tongue protruding really, frankly, truly Handshape: 1 Orientation: palm left Location: chin Movement: slide side of index finger up and off chin, ending with index finger pointing forward Nonmanual signal: “serious” expression promise, commit, guarantee, pledge, vow, swear Handshape: 1 > Open B : S Orientation: right palm left; left palm in Location: right index finger on mouth; left hand in neutral space Movement: move right hand down, changing to Open B handshape, then slap right palm down on left hand Nonmanual signal: pursed lips Sentence Builders 159 lousy Handshape: 3 Orientation: palm left Location: nose Movement: loop hand to right, then bring sharply down approximately, about, around, thereabouts, estimate (v.) Handshape: 5 Orientation: palm out Location: neutral space Movement: move hand in a circle twice devil, demon, devilish, mischievous, Satan Handshape: 3 > Bent 3 Orientation: palm out Location: thumb on temple Movement: bend and straighten index and middle fingers twice and Handshape: 5 > Flattened O Orientation: palm in Location: neutral space Movement: move hand right, closing to Flattened O handshape channel, knob Handshape: Bent 5 Orientation: palm out Location: neutral space Movement: twist arm side to side several times experience, expert Handshape: 5 > Flattened O Orientation: palm right Location: cheek Movement: brush fingers down cheek and pull hand right twice, closing to Flattened O handshape Sentence Builders 160 favorite, prefer, rather Handshape: Open 8 Orientation: palm in Location: chin Movement: sharply bounce middle finger off chin Nonmanual signal: lips taut sweetheart, beau, lover Handshape: Open A : Open A Orientation: palms in, knuckles touching Location: left side of chest Movement: bend thumbs down and up twice lucky Handshape: Open 8 Orientation: palm in Location: chin Movement: swing hand around, ending palm down Nonmanual signal: lips taut letter, mail Handshape: Open A : Open B Orientation: right palm in; left palm right Location: right thumb on lower lip; left hand in neutral space Movement: bring right hand down, ending with thumb on left palm general, broad Handshape: Open B : Open B Orientation: palms facing, fingertips forward and touching Location: neutral space Movement: separate hands Nonmanual signal: lips pursed trouble, anxious, cares, concern, fret, worry Handshape: B : B...