American Sign Language: "equal" The sign for "equal" also means "fair." Start with your hands in "bent" handshapes, a couple inches apart -- then bring them together: EQUAL: Sample sentence: How many days equal one month? Notes: You may see the sign "FAIR / EQUAL" sign done with a small double motion. Note: The signs LEVEL and EQUAL are often signed the same by various Deaf people. When there is a difference expressed in the signs it shows up as: The sign LEVEL tends to start together and move apart. The sign LEVEL can also be modified so that the dominant hand moves forward to show a level road extending in front of the signer. Also, the fingers of the sign for LEVEL are sometimes aimed forward and then the hands move toward the sides -- thus LEVEL could also mean SHELF. The sign EQUAL tends to start a couple of inches or centimeters apart and then come together. Some people use a double movement on the sign for EQUAL but it is not necessary. The single movement tends to indicate more of a verb function "This equals that." The double movement tends to indicate more of a status function "Those two things are equal." This however is being overly specific. In real life you will see quite a bit of variety. Also see: THAN 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: "equal"

The sign for "equal" also means "fair." Start with your hands in "bent" handshapes, a couple inches apart -- then bring them together:

EQUAL:

Sample sentence: How many days equal one month?

Notes:
You may see the sign "FAIR / EQUAL" sign done with a small double motion.

Note: The signs LEVEL and EQUAL are often signed the same by various Deaf people.
When there is a difference expressed in the signs it shows up as:
The sign LEVEL tends to start together and move apart. The sign LEVEL can also be modified so that the dominant hand moves forward to show a level road extending in front of the signer. Also, the fingers of the sign for LEVEL are sometimes aimed forward and then the hands move toward the sides -- thus LEVEL could also mean SHELF.

The sign EQUAL tends to start a couple of inches or centimeters apart and then come together. Some people use a double movement on the sign for EQUAL but it is not necessary. The single movement tends to indicate more of a verb function "This equals that." The double movement tends to indicate more of a status function "Those two things are equal." This however is being overly specific. In real life you will see quite a bit of variety.

Also see: THAN

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 >