"bus" ASL American Sign Language

American Sign Language: "bus" BUS: Recommended version: Just spell B-U-S, (very quickly). To sign "bus driver" combine the concepts B-U-S+DRIVE+PERSON-agent. BUS: Variation: Use a "bent V" and move it backward twice. Memory aide: Try to imagine in the old days (and in some places still?) the cord that went along the ceiling of a bus. If you wanted to get off the bus you reached up and pulled on that cord which rang a bell to alert the driver that you wanted to get off the bus. Note: Some people in the Sacramento, California area use this sign or a "one fingered" version of this sign to mean "light rail." Sign: BUS-(driving) [VERB form] The verb "bus" is done by miming the driving of a bus. Hold on to a very big steering wheel, puff your cheeks out slightly, and turn the wheel back and forth a couple times. This version tends to show up in stories after you have identified the bus and are indicating how the bus is being driven. A student (pdunn718) writes: Professor, Hope all is well! A quick question if you have time...in NYC I've seen "bus" signed with two "B" hands, hitting one on top of the other. vertically.. in other words, not clapping palm-to-palm or palm-to-front-of-hand, but so that the index finger of the bottom B hits against the pinky of the top B. Ever seen this before? Is this an ESL sign? Thanks! Dear Pdunn, Your "two B hands" version is indeed an example of "Signed English." It is quite to see various versions of vehicles done by using the initial of the English word as the handshapes for the sign. While I think it is good to recognize those versions when you see them, I don't recommend you do those versions on an ASL test. Cordially, Dr. Bill Also see: CAR Also see: TRUCK 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 online at American Sign Language (ASL) University ™ Sign language lessons and resources. Dr. William Vicars © Lifeprint.com

American Sign Language: "bus"

BUS:
Recommended version: Just spell B-U-S, (very quickly).

To sign "bus driver" combine the concepts B-U-S+DRIVE+PERSON-agent.

BUS:
Variation:
Use a "bent V" and move it backward twice.

Memory aide: Try to imagine in the old days (and in some places still?) the cord that went along the ceiling of a bus. If you wanted to get off the bus you reached up and pulled on that cord which rang a bell to alert the driver that you wanted to get off the bus.

Note: Some people in the Sacramento, California area use this sign or a "one fingered" version of this sign to mean "light rail."

Sign: BUS-(driving) [VERB form]
The verb "bus" is done by miming the driving of a bus. Hold on to a very big steering wheel, puff your cheeks out slightly, and turn the wheel back and forth a couple times. This version tends to show up in stories after you have identified the bus and are indicating how the bus is being driven.

A student (pdunn718) writes:

Professor,

Hope all is well!

A quick question if you have time...in NYC I've seen "bus" signed with two "B" hands, hitting one on top of the other. vertically.. in other words, not clapping palm-to-palm or palm-to-front-of-hand, but so that the index finger of the bottom B hits against the pinky of the top B.

Ever seen this before? Is this an ESL sign?

Thanks!

Dear Pdunn,
Your "two B hands" version is indeed an example of "Signed English."
It is quite to see various versions of vehicles done by using the initial of the English word as the handshapes for the sign. While I think it is good to recognize those versions when you see them, I don't recommend you do those versions on an ASL test.
Cordially,
Dr. Bill
Also see: CAR
Also see: TRUCK

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 online at American Sign Language (ASL) University ™
Sign language lessons and resources. Dr. William Vicars © Lifeprint.com