American Sign Language: "day" (advanced discussion) The sign "DAY" has several variations DAY (version 1) The sign for "day" is made by holding your non-dominant arm (the left arm for most people) in front of you, palm down, pointing right. Your left hand can be in either a "flat handshape" or an "index finger handshape." Your your dominant hand (the right hand for most people) can be either an "index finger" or a "flat hand." (I don't recommend a "D" hand, that is Signed English.) Rest your right elbow on the back of the left hand. Your right arm should point up. Move your right arm across your body, the hand tracing an arc while keeping the right elbow on or very near the back of the left hand. Note: advanced signers often do very abbreviated versions of signs. For example, they may do the sign for day with the tips of the fingers of left hand touching the midpoint of the right forearm instead of resting the right elbow on the back of the left hand. Also, you might see a different palm orientation on the dominant hand. Here is a bit more "casual" way to sign DAY: "Numerical Incorporation" You can incorporate in number of days into the sign. For example, if you want to say "3-days" then just use the number "3" as the handshape (for your dominant hand) for this sign. You can use this method up to the number 9. This is how you sign "Three days ago." Put your right thumb on your right 3-hand on your cheek. Then flip the fingers up and backward. Here is how you sign "Two days ago." You start with the right index finger of the "2" hand touching your cheek. Then pivot your hand on the tip of the right index finger. Use a quick flipping motion. ALL-DAY: exaggerate the movement. Start farther to the right. Roll your head a bit with the movement arch of the right hand. Do the sign somewhat slowly but not overly so. TODAY: To sign the concept of "today" you combine the signs NOW and DAY: TODAY (version 2) [NOW+NOW] The meaning of this sign depends on what the other person asked. For example, if the other person asks you what time is the meeting? If you respond "NOW+NOW" it would mean "right now" or currently. If someone asks you what day the party is, you can respond by signing "NOW + NOW." The double "NOW" is interpreted to mean "today." You might see the following version show up, but it is NOT recommended. The reason this shows up on people's hands sometimes is because the non-dominant hand is mirroring the handshape of the dominant hand. DAY (double index finger variation) (not recommended) You can learn sign language (ASL) online at American Sign Language University ™ Lifeprint.com © Dr. William Vicars

American Sign Language: "day" (advanced discussion)

The sign "DAY" has several variations

DAY (version 1)
The sign for "day" is made by holding your non-dominant arm (the left arm for most people) in front of you, palm down, pointing right. Your left hand can be in either a "flat handshape" or an "index finger handshape." Your your dominant hand (the right hand for most people) can be either an "index finger" or a "flat hand." (I don't recommend a "D" hand, that is Signed English.) Rest your right elbow on the back of the left hand. Your right arm should point up. Move your right arm across your body, the hand tracing an arc while keeping the right elbow on or very near the back of the left hand. Note: advanced signers often do very abbreviated versions of signs. For example, they may do the sign for day with the tips of the fingers of left hand touching the midpoint of the right forearm instead of resting the right elbow on the back of the left hand. Also, you might see a different palm orientation on the dominant hand.

Here is a bit more "casual" way to sign DAY:

"Numerical Incorporation"
You can incorporate in number of days into the sign. For example, if you want to say "3-days" then just use the number "3" as the handshape (for your dominant hand) for this sign. You can use this method up to the number 9.

This is how you sign "Three days ago." Put your right thumb on your right 3-hand on your cheek. Then flip the fingers up and backward.

Here is how you sign "Two days ago." You start with the right index finger of the "2" hand touching your cheek. Then pivot your hand on the tip of the right index finger. Use a quick flipping motion.

ALL-DAY: exaggerate the movement. Start farther to the right. Roll your head a bit with the movement arch of the right hand. Do the sign somewhat slowly but not overly so.

TODAY:
To sign the concept of "today" you combine the signs NOW and DAY:

TODAY (version 2)
[NOW+NOW]
The meaning of this sign depends on what the other person asked. For example, if the other person asks you what time is the meeting? If you respond "NOW+NOW" it would mean "right now" or currently.
If someone asks you what day the party is, you can respond by signing "NOW + NOW."
The double "NOW" is interpreted to mean "today."

You might see the following version show up, but it is NOT recommended. The reason this shows up on people's hands sometimes is because the non-dominant hand is mirroring the handshape of the dominant hand.

DAY (double index finger variation) (not recommended)