American Sign Language: "good" Make the sign for "good" by placing the fingers of your right hand against your lips. Move your right hand into the palm of your left hand. Both hands should be facing upward. GOOD: Note: Often the sign "GOOD" is done without the base hand. When signed with just the dominant hand only, this sign can mean, "thank you" or it can still mean "good." For example, when signing "good morning" I rarely use the left hand. HEATHER: I've seen this sign off the chin instead of the lips. Does that change the meaning? Dr Bill: No. It still means the same thing. Realistically it doesn't "touch" either the chin or the lips. The sign for both "good" and "thank you" starts near the mouth. HEATHER: How can I tell if they are saying "Thank you," or "Good?" Dr Bill: By the context of the sentence. Or sometimes by lip movements. One slight difference between the signs "GOOD" and "THANK YOU" is that the sign "THANK YOU" is "directional." That means it is signed toward the person whom is being thanked. GOOD is signed with a simple downward movement. I remember teaching a class to the co-workers of a Deaf employee. When I taught this sign, the Deaf employee insisted that "GOOD" was off the lips and "THANK YOU" was off the chin. I just smiled and mentioned to the students that they would see it both ways in the Deaf community but when around their co-worker to sign it his way. [By the way, not all Deaf people are great signers -- just as not all Hearing people are great speakers of English.] GOOD: GOOD-NIGHT: Notice that in the compound sign for "goodnight" we actually drop the second part of the regular sign for good and instead smoothly transition into "night." Also see: "better and best." Also, you may want to see the sign: "GOOD-ENOUGH" Also see: THANK YOU BAD: Note: The sign for "BAD" is very similar to "GOOD" except there is a reversal of orientation for negation--which means that by twisting the palm-side of the hand so that it points down (instead of up--as in the sign for good) it now means the opposite of good. You also change your facial expression to match your meaning. Generally this is a frown or scowl when signing "BAD." Make the sign for "BAD" by placing the fingers of your right hand against your lips. Move your hand down and away. Your palm will now be facing downward. See: BAD You can learn sign language (ASL) online at American Sign Language University ™ Lifeprint.com © Dr. William Vicars

American Sign Language: "good"

Make the sign for "good" by placing the fingers of your right hand against your lips. Move your right hand into the palm of your left hand. Both hands should be facing upward.

GOOD:

Note: Often the sign "GOOD" is done without the base hand. When signed with just the dominant hand only, this sign can mean, "thank you" or it can still mean "good."

For example, when signing "good morning" I rarely use the left hand.

HEATHER: I've seen this sign off the chin instead of the lips. Does that change the meaning?

Dr Bill: No. It still means the same thing. Realistically it doesn't "touch" either the chin or the lips. The sign for both "good" and "thank you" starts near the mouth.

HEATHER: How can I tell if they are saying "Thank you," or "Good?"

Dr Bill: By the context of the sentence. Or sometimes by lip movements. One slight difference between the signs "GOOD" and "THANK YOU" is that the sign "THANK YOU" is "directional." That means it is signed toward the person whom is being thanked. GOOD is signed with a simple downward movement. I remember teaching a class to the co-workers of a Deaf employee. When I taught this sign, the Deaf employee insisted that "GOOD" was off the lips and "THANK YOU" was off the chin. I just smiled and mentioned to the students that they would see it both ways in the Deaf community but when around their co-worker to sign it his way. [By the way, not all Deaf people are great signers -- just as not all Hearing people are great speakers of English.]

GOOD:

GOOD-NIGHT:

Notice that in the compound sign for "goodnight" we actually drop the second part of the regular sign for good and instead smoothly transition into "night."

Also see: "better and best."

Also, you may want to see the sign: "GOOD-ENOUGH"

Also see: THANK YOU

BAD:
Note: The sign for "BAD" is very similar to "GOOD" except there is a reversal of orientation for negation--which means that by twisting the palm-side of the hand so that it points down (instead of up--as in the sign for good) it now means the opposite of good. You also change your facial expression to match your meaning. Generally this is a frown or scowl when signing "BAD."

Make the sign for "BAD" by placing the fingers of your right hand against your lips. Move your hand down and away. Your palm will now be facing downward.

See: BAD