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American Sign Language: "Classifier Y" (CL:Y) The "Y" handshape is often used to represent things that are very wide. It is also used to represent things that typically have a handle and/or are typically poured. Examples: The mouth of a hippopotamus A fat person walking Liquid being poured, especially gravy or syrup. A pitcher being held and/or poured Alcohol being swigged HIPPOPOTAMUS: The sign for hippopotamus is a lexicalized classifier. It is a regular sign that obviously got its start by people using "Y" hands to show the opening of a very big mouth. But suppose you wanted to show a hippo "yawning?" You could use a yawning facial expression and "Y" hands and to show the mouth movement of the hippo: WADDLE: You can use a palm down "Y" handshape to show the waddle of an obese person. While moving the hand forward, twist the sign so that thumb and pinkie alternate pointing downward: Notes: An interesting sign that is related to CL:Y is a version of the sign "how-TALL?" This sign uses two vertical "Y" hands (thumbs touch twice) along with a furrowed brow ("WH"-type question expression). You can learn American Sign Language (ASL) online at American Sign Language University ™ ASL resources by Lifeprint.com © Dr. William Vicars

American Sign Language: "Classifier Y" (CL:Y)

The "Y" handshape is often used to represent things that are very wide. It is also used to represent things that typically have a handle and/or are typically poured.

Examples:
The mouth of a hippopotamus
A fat person walking
Liquid being poured, especially gravy or syrup.
A pitcher being held and/or poured

Alcohol being swigged

HIPPOPOTAMUS:
The sign for hippopotamus is a lexicalized classifier.
It is a regular sign that obviously got its start by people using "Y" hands to show the opening of a very big mouth.

But suppose you wanted to show a hippo "yawning?"
You could use a yawning facial expression and "Y" hands and to show the mouth movement of the hippo:

WADDLE:
You can use a palm down "Y" handshape to show the waddle of an obese person. While moving the hand forward, twist the sign so that thumb and pinkie alternate pointing downward:

Notes:
An interesting sign that is related to CL:Y is a version of the sign "how-TALL?" This sign uses two vertical "Y" hands (thumbs touch twice) along with a furrowed brow ("WH"-type question expression).

You can learn American Sign Language (ASL) online at American Sign Language University ™
ASL resources by Lifeprint.com © Dr. William Vicars