How To Sign Your Name In American Sign Language 11 Steps

Alternatively, just wave in a small motion near your head.

Some people prefer to point instead, touching the index finger to the breastbone. Both signs are used, although this signs tend to mean “me. " [2] X Research source

Pause briefly between words if you are signing your full name. If your name contains two identical letters in a row (such as the O’s in spoon), “open” and “close” your hand to repeat the letter. For letters that cannot be easily repeated (such as the m’s in Emma), instead move your hand a short distance to the side for the second letter, without changing the hand shape. Or, bounce it “on top” of the preceding letter. [4] X Research source

There is no verb “to be” in ASL. (was, is, were, being, been. . . ) Don’t try to fingerspell “is” into the sentence.

When you’re signing your name, try to look welcoming. Put on a small smile and open your eyes a tad wider. By the time you sign “MY”, your head should be slightly cocked with understanding. Make eye contact with the person you’re signing with.

Signed languages are not based on alphabets, so spelling most words (signs) is not important. Fingerspelling is useful for situations like this, when you need to introduce a proper noun (your name) that doesn’t have a sign. If your name is short and easy to fingerspell, this might be your permanent name.

The arbitrary name sign: One common way to create a name sign is to form one hand into the fingerspelled letter that begins your name. Tap this letter a couple times against a specific spot on your body, usually your forehead, cheek, chin, shoulder, or chest. Alternatively, move your hand between two nearby locations, or move it back and forth in “neutral space” a short distance in front of your chest. {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/3/30/Say-Your-Name-in-Sign-Language-Step-11-Version-2. jpg/v4-460px-Say-Your-Name-in-Sign-Language-Step-11-Version-2. jpg”,“bigUrl”:”/images/thumb/3/30/Say-Your-Name-in-Sign-Language-Step-11-Version-2. jpg/aid314435-v4-728px-Say-Your-Name-in-Sign-Language-Step-11-Version-2. jpg”,“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:345,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:546,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">

License: <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="https://creativecommons. org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3. 0/">Creative Commons</a>
\n</p>

<br />\n</p></div>"} There’s no reason to choose one spot over another, which is why this type of name sign is called “arbitrary. “[6] X Research source The descriptive name sign: These name signs reference a characteristic, usually an obvious, physical one. [7] X Research source For instance, you could sweep your hand along a scar on your face, or twirl your fingers down past your neck to refer to your long hair. Novice signers often prefer these to arbitrary signs because they seem more fun. However, it’s even more difficult to make one of these up on your own. Signed languages use a visual grammar that limits hand shape, location, and movement. Unless you’ve taken courses in ASL or practiced it for a long time, the name you make up might not look like a word at all. {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/7/76/Say-Your-Name-in-Sign-Language-Step-12-Version-2. jpg/v4-460px-Say-Your-Name-in-Sign-Language-Step-12-Version-2. jpg”,“bigUrl”:”/images/thumb/7/76/Say-Your-Name-in-Sign-Language-Step-12-Version-2. jpg/aid314435-v4-728px-Say-Your-Name-in-Sign-Language-Step-12-Version-2. jpg”,“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:345,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:546,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">

License: <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="https://creativecommons. org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3. 0/">Creative Commons</a>
\n</p>

<br />\n</p></div>"} The hybrid name sign: There’s a third and final type of name sign: a sign that refers to a physical characteristic, but uses the hand shape for the first letter of your name. Although this is common in many Deaf circles, some people see this as a modern, hearing introduction that doesn’t fit in the traditional naming system. [8] X Research source It’s entirely possible that a Deaf person eventually gives you a hybrid name. Trying to invent one of these yourself could come across as annoying or rude, even more so than inventing a different type of name. {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/b/b5/Say-Your-Name-in-Sign-Language-Step-13-Version-2. jpg/v4-460px-Say-Your-Name-in-Sign-Language-Step-13-Version-2. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/b/b5/Say-Your-Name-in-Sign-Language-Step-13-Version-2. jpg/aid314435-v4-728px-Say-Your-Name-in-Sign-Language-Step-13-Version-2. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:345,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:546,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">

License: <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="https://creativecommons. org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3. 0/">Creative Commons</a>
\n</p>

<br />\n</p></div>"}

You might use a hand shape or motion that’s difficult to follow, or breaks grammar rules. (“Hi, my name is Zzxqbub. “) You might invent a sign that looks like a rude word. A local signer might already be using that name sign. Your name sign might look like the name of a prominent person. (Imagine a foreigner trying to adopt the name Martin Luther King. ) It also goes against Deaf culture for a Hearing person to create their own name sign.