ASL signs with fingies that look like feetsies
September 23, 2019
I'm learning American Sign Language (ASL), and I'm making a list of signs where the index and middle fingers represent legs. I find these signs are especially intuitive, and pretty cute, too. Let me know if you have any additions (or corrections) for this list.
Anxious / restless / squirmy
The sign "SIT" can be modified to show someone squirming in their chair. This can be used to mean "anxiety" and similar concepts. This sign doesn't exactly mean nervous, it means "restless" or perhaps "ants in the pants."
Source: "anxious" at LifePrint
Dance
Memory aid: Think of your feet gliding across the dance floor.
Source: "dance" at LifePrint
Jump
The generic sign for jump is to use an upside down "V" to represent what it looks like when a person jumps
Source: "jump" at LifePrint
Trampoline
Source: "trampoline" at HandSpeak
Crawl
Source: "crawl" at HandSpeak
Kneel
Source: "kneel" at HandSpeak
Sit
The sign for "sit" uses a single motion. This is part of a noun/verb pair. If you use a double motion it means "chair."
Source: "sit" at LifePrint
Stand
Source: "stand" at LifePrint
Go to bed
Source: "go-to-bed" at LifePrint
Get out of bed
Source: "get up" at HandSpeak
Gymnastics
Seizure (medical)
The sign "seizure" when referring to a person having a seizure, would generally be done using the lexicalized classifier: "SEIZURE." The handshape starts with the bent-V and rolls on the palm twice.
Source: "seizure" at LifePrint
Walk to / walk up / hike to
Source: "walk" at LifePrint
Elevator
A platform or compartment raised and lowered in a vertical shaft to transport people or freight to different floors or levels.
Regional variation: Canada and U.S. regions.
Source: "elevator" at HandSpeak
Go up/down stairs
Source: "stairs" at LifePrint
Intercourse
Source: "intercourse" at HandSpeak
Lay down
Source: "lie, lay, lying down" at LifePrint
Toss and turn
Source: "toss and turn" at HandSpeak
Pole dance
This was shown to me at an ASL meetup, and may not be a standard sign. It's similar to the sign for mechanic, except the non-dominant hand points up to act as the pole.
Climb (pole)
This was shown to me at an ASL meetup, and may not be a standard sign. It's similar to pole dance, except the V-hand climbs up the pole rather than swinging around it.
Laid out / laid up / wasted physically / bedridden
Source: "laid out" at LifePrint
Quit
The sign for "quit" is based on the idea of "getting out" of something. The sign starts with the dominant "H" hand (think of legs) inside the non-dominant "C"-hand. Then you pull the "H"-hand out of the "C"-hand.
Source: "quit" at LifePrint
Ride (horse / motorcycle / vehicle / rollercoaster)
Source: "ride" at HandSpeak
Ariel the little mermaid
This was taught to me by a Deaf ASL teacher in Vancouver, and may be a local sign. The index and middle fingers are put together and "swim" under the other hand which is flattened, then turns into "legs" and climbs up on the flat hand.
Travel
Source: "travel" at HandSpeak
Arisen / resurrect
Source: "arisen" at LifePrint
Transcend / go up into
Source: "arisen" at LifePrint
Sleep together
Source: ASL Sex/Reproduction Signs by Jennifer Jambe on YouTube
Swing (as in sit on a swing and swing)
Source: "swing" at LifePrint
Join
Memory aid: Think of the "H" hand as representing your legs and you are "jumping" into something with both feet.
Source: "join" at LifePrint