The sign for "red" is made by making a
movement that looks like you are stroking
your lips (one time) with the tip of your index finger.
RED:
Notice that I tend to change the "index" finger into an
"x" hand as I move it downward. I also tend to only do the movement
one time but some people keep the finger straight.
You might also see this sign done with a double motion. But again, the way I do
it is by changing the index finger into an "X" handshape as I pull it down
an inch or two. Also, I don't go out of my way to actually make
contact. If you do happen to touch your lips a bit, no big deal, but contact
is not needed for this sign.
RED (initialized version)
There is another version of RED can also be done with the letter "R."
You can use the "R" handshape to sign the word RED, but why? The "index finger" version works just fine and means "red" without
needing the more complex "R" hand shape. The "initialized
version is generally considered "Signed English" and I don't recommend it
for "ASL classes."
Optional Discussion (Not necessary for class).
"Tracie" writes:
Dear Dr. Bill,
To answer a question you posed on your website:
Question: You can use the R-handshape to sign the word 'red', but
why?
Answer: To distinguish it from the word "pink" which uses the same
motion with a P-handshape where the middle finger crosses the lips.
(???)
--Tracie
Dear Tracie,
Think about it, we don't need to use an "R" for "RED" to
distinguish it from PINK.
PINK does use a "P" hand and thus is different
from the non-initialized "index-finger" handshape used in RED.
So, I still recommend doing RED with an "index finger. It simply doesn't
need to be initialized. Putting an "R" hand on the sign for RED makes
it harder to do and serves only to link the sign to English.
Suppose you had a blog and someone from England commented on your blog that
you should spell the word "color" with a "u" as in "colour" -- to make it
more distinguished from the word "colon?" (You've got to admit that color
and colon look a lot alike.) Plus the chap from England likes the word
"colour" because that is how his Mum spelled it and doing so makes him feel
warm and fuzzy. He likes the spelling of colour with a "u" because it looks
more like that with which he is familiar. He doesn't mind or really even
notice the added complexity because he has a set of brain cells that due to
familiarity actually prefer the "u" version of "colour."
However to you "colour" looks weird and takes more work. Thus you resist
adding complexity to your language just to accommodate the wishes of
someone from a different language background.
It is the same for us Deaf
people. We do not see a need to add an "R" to the sign for RED just because
Hearing people like to think in English.
I do believe that the initialized version of RED is worth "knowing about"
(since you will probably see quite a few people using it).
Interpreters for the Deaf should certainly know the initialized
version. But other than that I really can't recommend initializing RED since
it is
simply an unnecessary attempt to put English on the hands.
Who knows? Maybe 20 years from now the vast majority of adult native Deaf
people might sign it that way and I'll have to change my stance on my
recommended version? Time will tell, but for now you know my opinion
and reasons.
Dr. Bill
