Sign language: meaning of raising index finger?

May 25, 2018 12:14 PM

My 4 year old has been bringing home from school bits of sign language ("I love you", "more," that sort of thing). When she likes something, especially food, she shoots her left hand in the air with her index finger raised. She says this means "good" in sign language. It doesn't seem to...

From what I can tell online, it's not how you say good or yummy. When I search "ASL raised index finger," I get that it literally means the number 1. Is that ever used to say "Number one!" as in "The best!" or could she be confusing it with something else? Or does it seem like something she or someone at school made up?

posted by Kriesa to Writing & Language (11 answers total)

How is she learning the sign language, is there any chance she is being taught songs that have been transliterated into ASL? I find with English-language songs the ASL definitely has more transliteration happening. In context, the use of the index finger may make sense.
posted by saucysault at 12:24 PM on May 25, 2018 [1 favorite]

Could it be "delicious"?
posted by smartyboots at 12:55 PM on May 25, 2018 [2 favorites]

Her school may not be using ASL, there are other sign languages designed for the needs/ motor control of small children.
posted by momus_window at 1:04 PM on May 25, 2018 [5 favorites]

Could it be "understand"? This was one of the first things I learned in my college ASL course.
posted by pdxhiker at 1:14 PM on May 25, 2018 [1 favorite]

They may be modifying signs so it’s easier for kids that age to move their hand that way. We did that for my son.
posted by JenMarie at 1:30 PM on May 25, 2018 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: OK, it looks exactly like "understand," but that doesn't really make sense with how she uses it. I think maybe she has *mis*understood something.
posted by Kriesa at 1:40 PM on May 25, 2018 [3 favorites]

It almost makes sense. Like if someone says "I just don't understand anchovies", and I say "I _love_ anchovies!" And perhaps a language learner would say "I understand anchovies!"

Sure, language is complicated, and the first person could have said more clearly "I don't understand why people like anchovies".

But hey, understanding is a good thing, and if she uses that sign for good food right now, I'm not sure I'd make any huge efforts to stop her, as it seems to be roughly working. I would probably make it a point to also use that sign for other contexts where the more standard denotative meaning of "understand" applies.
posted by SaltySalticid at 2:23 PM on May 25, 2018 [2 favorites]

Kids do approximate sign just like kids approximate any other language. There are mistakes. She could have the wrong meaning, it's closest she can get to replicating the sign and it just doesn't look anything like it is suppose to, another kid could have made the mistake and she picked it up from them, or it could just be her classroom slang. It could be a different sign language as I'm sure you know there is more than one. Talking to who is teaching her sign to guide her towards the correct meaning or modify expression (just like repeating words to help with pronouncation for verbal kids or saying 'I think you meant....other word instead'), and an explanation of what is going on here is likely best.
posted by AlexiaSky at 3:48 PM on May 25, 2018 [5 favorites]

It's also likely she's getting alot of praise when she does understand so seeing that sign with smiles and rewards could have generally associated with good. It is good when she understands and others understand her. How thrilling and exciting that is!
posted by AlexiaSky at 3:55 PM on May 25, 2018 [5 favorites]

In my ASL course, the professor was deaf, so to communicate with us she would combine writing on the chalkboard and signing to us. And then make the "understand" sign, which meant -- "Do you understand what I've communicated to you?" And if our answer was "yes", we would make the same "understand" sign right back.

In this context, it could also mean -- "Is everything good?"

This may or may not be relevant, but with the "understand" sign, the use of eyebrows plays into the language. Raised eyebrows are used to ask the question and to answer in the affirmative. Lowered/angry eyebrows means you are answering in the negative, meaning you don't understand. Same hand signal, different eyebrow movements. It's a simple way to engage with your audience to check in.
posted by pdxhiker at 4:24 PM on May 25, 2018 [9 favorites]

Are you certain your daughter is learning American Sign Language? I've found that many "Baby Sign" books don't use ASL - they just use "house signs" or made up signs as a means to allow babies/kids to communicate with adults. I agree that the first thing I thought of was "understand" - but that doesn't make sense. It also is important to know where in space she is signing it and how it is being signed (does it twist, spring etc.).
posted by Toddles at 9:03 PM on May 25, 2018 [1 favorite]