In a message dated 12/17/2002 1:32:02 PM Central Standard Time, anna@ranish.net writes:
Question:
Can you please add a sign for "foot" (part of the body) to your list of
signs. I am totally confused trying to find it. Some dictionaries tell
you to point down to your feet, some move middle finger of right hand up
and down left open hand, some are even worse (like on
http://commtechlab.msu.edu/sites/aslweb/browser.htm they tell you to
take your foot into your hands if I understand them correctly).
Thanks, Anna
PS: Since I have lots of questions, I'd like to know whether you
welcome questions and what kinds. The online institute like yours (done
by a person, not but a college) is a pretty novel idea to me, so I am
not sure how open you are (with time and everything ) to questions from
an unpaid student like me, and whether they help you to continue
building the site. I assume, for example, that when you say on the
Signs page that it is under construction, you add new signs based on our
(mine and others) questions, is that so?
Hello Anna,
Regarding the sign for foot:
Yes, I'll add that to my list of signs. I'll keep your email active on my list as a reminder to get around to it.
In context you can "point at your foot" to mean foot. For example, if you were talking about shoes (which has a well established sign) or walking, or standing--and then did a short (couple inches), quick (jab) movement pointing at first one foot then the other, that would mean "feet."
On first reference the concept of "foot" is often just "fingerspelled."
When used with numbers it is abbreviated to the fingerspelled "FT" or left out altogether. Example, if we have already "ME 5 10" would mean, I'm five foot 10.
In a medical context or a context in which I needed to go into detail about a foot, after introducing the concept (by fingerspelling or pointing or by showing a PowerPoint slide, <grin>) I would use my left flat-hand (sort of like a b-hand but the thumb alongside rather than crossed over the palm). Anyway I'd bend the left wrist so that the palm of my left flat-hand was parallel to the floor. My left arm and hand (from the elbow to the fingertips) would be in a "capital L" shape. which could be used to represent a lower-calf, ankle, and foot. I could then point at my wrist to refer to an ankle. I could point at my palm to represent the sole of my foot. I could point at one of my fingers to represent a particular toe. You get the picture eh? I could also slip a right "c"-hand over the fingers of the left hand to represent "slippers." (double movement meaning slipper or slippers as a noun, single movement meaning "put on slipper.") I could hook a right index finger X-handshape between the index finger and middle finger of the left hand to represent "sandals."
Anyway...I'll post some pics when I get time.
I don't mind questions. I've got way too much work to get done on my website to answer every question. I used to bust a gut to answer them all. But I realized after a while that some people were just using me because they procrastinated doing their college assignment and needed someone to bail them out, or wanted someone to write their research paper for them. Now I answer the ones from people who seem sincere, hardworking, and polite. (Rather than the ones who feel like their lack of planning constitutes my emergency.)
Sometimes it might take me a while to respond...and sometimes the email gremlin might eat your email, but I get the feeling you are serious about this language and you do your homework so I welcome your questions. Plus I'm always impressed when students give me constructive feedback on my website (links that need updating, misspelt words, etc.)
Cheers,
Bill
ASL University
Lifeprint.com
In a message dated 1/3/2004 3:38:28 PM Pacific Standard Time, jdowling@
writes:
I can't find signs for fate or destiny. I'm
signing "When I wish upon
a star" on Sun. I know it's probably too much to ask to have you
reply Sat. night, but I can only hope. I can't find it on your CD or
anywhere.
There is no "one" sign for fate or destiny.
According to dictionary.com:
Destiny is
- The inevitable or necessary fate to which a particular person or thing
is destined; one's lot.
- A predetermined course of events considered as something beyond human
power or control: “Marriage and hanging go by destiny” (Robert Burton).
- The power or agency thought to predetermine events: Destiny
brought them together.
So, then, how to interpret these concepts eh?
I would choose a combination of signs like:
"foresee happen" (check out prophecy:
http://deafmissions.com/dic/reference/prophecy.html)
"future happen"
"must happen"
"happen must"
"stuck"
"period"
"not-matter, will happen"
Bill