American Sign Language: "basket" The sign for "basket" uses "C" handshapes. The "C" handshapes in this sign are functioning as "classifiers" or what might be written as "C:CL" or "CL:C." What it is classifying is a whole range of large cylindrical objects like telephone poles, garbage cans, or (in my home) laundry baskets. We use tall round laundry baskets for dirty clothes and the shorter/wider baskets for clean clothes. Note: The "typical" sign for basket would use slightly curved "B" palms (with the thumbs alongside rather than across the palm), to show the shape of the basket--starting from the bottom center to the top sides. You can also add a handle to the basket: Large, tall, cylindrical object: You can adjust the size of your basket. Here I'm showing a somewhat larger "hamper." Also, I'm sitting down as I sign this so the sign seems higher than if I were signing while standing up: Student: Does the default meaning for the sign "basket" tend to be "garbage"? If I wanted to sign "basket", would people first assume I meant "garbage"? Or is this one of those matters-of-context? Dr. Bill: No. I don't use basket for garbage. I might use the basket/cylinder sign after the sign garbage to mean "garbage CAN." GARBAGE has its own sign. 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 > You can learn sign language (ASL) online at American Sign Language University ™ Lifeprint.com © Dr. William Vicars

American Sign Language: "basket"

The sign for "basket" uses "C" handshapes. The "C" handshapes in this sign are functioning as "classifiers" or what might be written as "C:CL" or "CL:C." What it is classifying is a whole range of large cylindrical objects like telephone poles, garbage cans, or (in my home) laundry baskets. We use tall round laundry baskets for dirty clothes and the shorter/wider baskets for clean clothes.

Note: The "typical" sign for basket would use slightly curved "B" palms (with the thumbs alongside rather than across the palm), to show the shape of the basket--starting from the bottom center to the top sides.

You can also add a handle to the basket:

Large, tall, cylindrical object:

You can adjust the size of your basket. Here I'm showing a somewhat larger "hamper." Also, I'm sitting down as I sign this so the sign seems higher than if I were signing while standing up:

Student: Does the default meaning for the sign "basket" tend to be "garbage"? If I wanted to sign "basket", would people first assume I meant "garbage"? Or is this one of those matters-of-context?

Dr. Bill: No. I don't use basket for garbage. I might use the basket/cylinder sign after the sign garbage to mean "garbage CAN." GARBAGE has its own sign.

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 >