American Sign Language: "Reversal of Orientation for negation" There are a few ASL signs that can reverse their orientation to express the opposite of what the original sign meant. For example: the sign WANT: ...can be changed into DON'T-WANT by doing the sign "WANT" then reversing the movement (and the orientation of the hands). Note that doing a negative headshake and a negative facial expression helps emphasize the concept of "don't." Some of the other signs that use reversal of orientation for negation include: You can reverse the orientation of LIKE to mean DON'T-LIKE You can reverse the orientation of KNOW to mean DON'T-KNOW You can reverse the orientation of GOOD to mean BAD If you think of or see other signs that use the principal of "reversal of orientation for *negation--let me know. Almost all other signs though can NOT use reversal of orientation for negation. Here are just a few examples of signs that cannot use reversal of orientation for negation: You cannot reverse "HAVE" You cannot reverse "HAPPY" You cannot reverse "WASH" However there are a few signs that have "opposites" or show the "converse" of something (but are not negations) based on orientation such as "come / go," "up / down," and "yours / mine." * A hearty thanks to Mathieu Roy for suggesting "good and bad." You can learn American Sign Language (ASL) online at American Sign Language University ™ ASL resources by Lifeprint.com © Dr. William Vicars Want to help support ASL University? It's easy: DONATE (Thanks!) (You don't need a PayPal account. Just look for the credit card logos and click continue.) Another way to help is to buy Dr. Bill's "Superdisk." Dr. Bill's new iPhone "Fingerspelling Practice" app is now available! CHECK IT OUT > Want even more ASL resources? Visit the "ASL Training Center!" (Subscription Extension of ASLU) CHECK IT OUT > Bandwidth slow? Check out "ASLUniversity.com" (a free mirror of Lifeprint.com less traffic, fast access) VISIT >

American Sign Language: "Reversal of Orientation for negation"

There are a few ASL signs that can reverse their orientation to express the opposite of what the original sign meant.

For example: the sign WANT:

...can be changed into DON'T-WANT by doing the sign "WANT" then reversing the movement (and the orientation of the hands).

Note that doing a negative headshake and a negative facial expression helps emphasize the concept of "don't."

Some of the other signs that use reversal of orientation for negation include:

You can reverse the orientation of LIKE to mean DON'T-LIKE
You can reverse the orientation of KNOW to mean DON'T-KNOW
You can reverse the orientation of GOOD to mean BAD

If you think of or see other signs that use the principal of "reversal of orientation for negation--let me know.*

Almost all other signs though can NOT use reversal of orientation for negation.
Here are just a few examples of signs that cannot use reversal of orientation for negation:
You cannot reverse "HAVE"
You cannot reverse "HAPPY"
You cannot reverse "WASH"

However there are a few signs that have "opposites" or show the "converse" of something (but are not negations) based on orientation such as "come / go," "up / down," and "yours / mine."

* A hearty thanks to Mathieu Roy for suggesting "good and bad."

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

Want to help support ASL University? It's easy: DONATE (Thanks!)
(You don't need a PayPal account. Just look for the credit card logos and click continue.)

Another way to help is to buy Dr. Bill's "Superdisk."

Dr. Bill's new iPhone "Fingerspelling Practice" app is now available! CHECK IT OUT >

Want even more ASL resources? Visit the "ASL Training Center!" (Subscription Extension of ASLU) CHECK IT OUT >

Bandwidth slow? Check out "ASLUniversity.com" (a free mirror of Lifeprint.com less traffic, fast access) VISIT >