American Sign Language: "locations" Various locations To sign "bottom" hold the dominant hand about six inches below the non-dominant hand. The non-dominant hand doesn't move. The dominant hand does a down-up-down patting movement. The movement is in the wrist. Think of "patting the bottom of a box." Some people "circle" the dominant hand, but to me that means "below/basic/beneath." BOTTOM: Compare: "BASEMENT" To sign "top," form both hands into flat hands. Hold the non-dominant hand (generally) vertical. Then use the dominant hand to pat the "top" of the non-dominant hand twice. In my example below I wish I had held my left hand a bit more vertical, but then again this might be a good time to point out that there is a "citation" version of a sign (the full, pretty, complete, carefully enunciated version) and the "casual" (sloppy, half-formed, lazy) way that most of us Deaf actually do sign on a daily basis. TOP: "on the LEFT side" The movement for this sign is similar to patting a wall on your left. Pat it twice with your fingers. The movement is in the wrist (not the arm). Click for an for an animation of: "on the left side" "on the right side" The movement for "on the right side" is as if you were patting a wall on your right. It is an awkward little sign but it still the one we use. Animation: "on the right side" Also see: RIGHT 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: "locations"

Various locations

To sign "bottom" hold the dominant hand about six inches below the non-dominant hand. The non-dominant hand doesn't move. The dominant hand does a down-up-down patting movement. The movement is in the wrist. Think of "patting the bottom of a box."

Some people "circle" the dominant hand, but to me that means "below/basic/beneath."

BOTTOM:

Compare: "BASEMENT"

To sign "top," form both hands into flat hands. Hold the non-dominant hand (generally) vertical. Then use the dominant hand to pat the "top" of the non-dominant hand twice. In my example below I wish I had held my left hand a bit more vertical, but then again this might be a good time to point out that there is a "citation" version of a sign (the full, pretty, complete, carefully enunciated version) and the "casual" (sloppy, half-formed, lazy) way that most of us Deaf actually do sign on a daily basis.

TOP:

"on the LEFT side"

The movement for this sign is similar to patting a wall on your left. Pat it twice with your fingers. The movement is in the wrist (not the arm).

Click for an for an animation of: "on the left side"

"on the right side"
The movement for "on the right side" is as if you were patting a wall on your right. It is an awkward little sign but it still the one we use.

Animation: "on the right side"

Also see: RIGHT

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 University ™