American Sign Language: "break" The right sign for "break" depends on what you mean. If you mean "break" as in to physically break something apart then do a movement that looks as if you are snapping a small stick into two pieces. BREAK / "it broke" / "It is broken." Note: You can use the above sign and then spell "UP" to mean "broke up" as in, "I broke up with my boyfriend (or girlfriend)." If you mean "break" as in "summer break" or a "holiday break" then use the VACATION sign. VACATION / "off work" / time off: If you mean break as in "intermission" or "interlude" use the IN-BETWEEN sign: The left hand is in a "loose" four handshape (notice in the example, my pinkie and ring finger are together--it doesn't matter, that's just how my hand ended up. The index and middle could be together too). IN-BETWEEN / insert / in the middle of / intermission: If you mean break as in PAUSE, then you can use the "PAUSE: sign: The right index finger reaches down changes to an "X" handshape and lifts up the left index finger. PAUSE / hold up / suspend operations: NOTES: As time goes on I'm seeing more and more people using the signs "BREAK-(apart) TIME" to mean, "breaktime." I also see people signing, "I NEED BREAK" to mean, "I need a break" as in, "I need to rest." As a lexicographer and an ASL instructor I have mixed feelings about this. The ASL instructor in me wants to tell you that such usage is "wrong." The lexicographer (dictionary maker) in me wants simply to document and report how signs are actually being used by Deaf (native adult) members of the Deaf community. Regardless, I do want you to be aware that the "correctness" of the usage of the sign "BREAK-(apart)" seems to be evolving. As more and more people start using the sign "BREAK-(apart)" to mean "breaktime" it may become more common, thus more accepted as "correct." Society makes this decision. Not ASL teachers. Time will tell. Note: The sign for the breaking, snapping, or exploding of a thing (such as a bone breaking or fireworks going off) is often accompanied by a "plosive" (air rushing out such as when you voice the letter "p") mouth morpheme (a movement of the mouth that conveys meaning). Such a "plosive" tends to look like you are saying "pah," "pow!," "bow!," "puh!" or the first half of the word "Pop!" 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: "break"

The right sign for "break" depends on what you mean.

If you mean "break" as in to physically break something apart then do a movement that looks as if you are snapping a small stick into two pieces.

BREAK / "it broke" / "It is broken."

Note: You can use the above sign and then spell "UP" to mean "broke up" as in, "I broke up with my boyfriend (or girlfriend)."

If you mean "break" as in "summer break" or a "holiday break" then use the VACATION sign.

VACATION / "off work" / time off:

If you mean break as in "intermission" or "interlude" use the IN-BETWEEN sign:
The left hand is in a "loose" four handshape (notice in the example, my pinkie and ring finger are together--it doesn't matter, that's just how my hand ended up. The index and middle could be together too).

IN-BETWEEN / insert / in the middle of / intermission:

If you mean break as in PAUSE, then you can use the "PAUSE: sign:
The right index finger reaches down changes to an "X" handshape and lifts up the left index finger.

PAUSE / hold up / suspend operations:

NOTES:
As time goes on I'm seeing more and more people using the signs "BREAK-(apart) TIME" to mean, "breaktime." I also see people signing, "I NEED BREAK" to mean, "I need a break" as in, "I need to rest."

As a lexicographer and an ASL instructor I have mixed feelings about this. The ASL instructor in me wants to tell you that such usage is "wrong."

The lexicographer (dictionary maker) in me wants simply to document and report how signs are actually being used by Deaf (native adult) members of the Deaf community.

Regardless, I do want you to be aware that the "correctness" of the usage of the sign "BREAK-(apart)" seems to be evolving. As more and more people start using the sign "BREAK-(apart)" to mean "breaktime" it may become more common, thus more accepted as "correct."

Society makes this decision. Not ASL teachers. Time will tell.

Note: The sign for the breaking, snapping, or exploding of a thing (such as a bone breaking or fireworks going off) is often accompanied by a "plosive" (air rushing out such as when you voice the letter "p") mouth morpheme (a movement of the mouth that conveys meaning). Such a "plosive" tends to look like you are saying "pah," "pow!," "bow!," "puh!" or the first half of the word "Pop!"

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 >