carpentry / carpenter

Think of a carpenter using a carpenter's plane.
To sign "carpenter" you can either rely on context, "MY DAD CARPENTRY," or you can add the person sign, "CARPENTRY + AGENT."

See "carpenter" animation

CARPENTRY:
The right hand slides forward on the left palm. The left hand is stationary.

To sign "carpenter" combine the signs CARPENTRY + AGENT.

AGENT:

See "carpenter" animation

ADDITIONAL READING (not required)

In a message dated 7/6/2005 10:44:50 AM Pacific Daylight Time, a student asks:

I'm working on lesson 21 in ASL 1. I am confused about the sign "Carpenter - [do woodwork]". It looks similar to "Credit Card." What is the difference?

Response from Bill:
There are four significant differences between "CARPENTER" and "CREDIT CARD."

The sign carpenter makes a movement starting from the butt of the hand toward the fingertips and then repeats, ending with the dominant hand near the fingertips of the base hand. (Or if you are feeling enthusiastic you might just come right off the palm). So you move forward, move back, move forward for a total of three movements.

The sign CREDIT CARD moves from the butt of the hand the the fingertips and back to the butt of the hand again for a total of two movements.
1. So the first difference is the number of movements.

2. The second difference is the ending position of each sign.

3. The palm orientation of the sign CARPENTER is palm left (for the dominant hand if you are right handed). That means the right wrist is somewhat bent.

The palm orientation of the sign CREDIT-CARD is palm back (for the dominant hand if you are right handed). That means the right wrist is pretty much straight.

4. At the end of the first movement of the sign for CARPENTER the dominant hand lifts off of the palm and moves back to the butt of the hand.

At the end of the first movement of the sign for CREDIT CARD the dominant hand does not lift off but instead stays in close contact with the palm as it slides backward.