"looks like" / look-a-like / resembles / looks the same as
If you mean "looks like" as in a visual similarity
between two things or two people you can use the LOOK-LIKE sign. The sign
for "look like" uses an index finger that changes into a "Y"-handshape.
The sign starts with the index finger near the eye or nose and then pulls
away and down into a "Y" handshape which makes a small side to side
movement. The specific starting position of this sign varies. Some
people touch the cheek. Some people touch the nose. During high speed
signing the sign is unlikely to touch the face at all and is simply held
nearby pointing toward the eye or nose.
LOOK-LIKE:
Do you look like your mom?
Here's some pictures of the main hand positions for the "looks like" sign. The "Y" hand uses a side
to side sliding movement.
The current "LOOK-LIKE" sign and its variations evolved from the signs FACE
and SAME which were compounded into an older version of the "LOOK-LIKE sign
that consisted of circling the face with an index finger and transitioning
into the SAME-[similar/too] sign.
This version of the sign for "look-like" uses an index finger handshape that changes into a "Y"
handshape. The "Y" handshape makes a slight side to side motion.
You start by either touching or just bringing the index finger near to the
cheek beneath the eye and then doing an abbreviated version of the sign for
"same."
LOOK-LIKE-[legacy-version]
Sample sentence: "Do you look like your dad?"
If you mean "looks like" as in "it
looks as if," "it appears that," "it seems," "it seems to me," or "apparently"
you might want to use the sign for "seem." For example, if you wanted to
sign 'it looks as if' as in: "It looks like it's going to snow') you could sign
"SEEM MAYBE SNOW" "SEEM SNOW WILL."
See: SEEM
If you by "looks like" you mean "countenance" as in "It looks like Susan has
been crying" then you should use the FACE-[countenance/appearance/looks] sign.
For example SHE FACE-[5-hand-version] CRY SHE.
See: FACE
Here is an example of LOOK-LIKE using the version that points at the nose:
Also see:
SAME
Also see: SEE
Hat tip (gratitude) to: Lyn Wiley (a Deaf ASL instructor) for her input on the alternate meanings of "look like."
Question:
A student writes: The sign "look like" seems very similar to the sign for "gold
/ California."
Could you clarify the difference between the two signs sometime in the future?
Thank you!
Answer:
LOOK-LIKE ( https://youtu.be/tZnyCPaiRlQ
)
The sign for "looks like" starts near the eye and/or the nose and then
transitions into a small side to side sliding movement as in one of the versions
of the sign for SAME/similar. Over time the
sign has evolved to reduce the side to side movement to instead just point to or
near the eye (or even the nose) and then move outward and to the dominant side a
bit using a single (not repeated) movement. So, in the Deaf Community you will
see the concept "look like" signed a variety of ways but generally based on a
compound of "eye / looks" + "same / similar."
GOLD / CALIFORNIA ( https://youtu.be/IjOjCvwsuAk )
"California" has evolved quite a bit over the years. It started out by doing the
sign GOLD (as in California is the golden state). The sign GOLD (at least one
version of it anyway) points to the earlobe and then signs "YELLOW." (Memory aid
for GOLD: The yellow ring in your earlobe is made from gold). You will see
California signed by some folks starting with a "5" handshape and doing a single
twist downward into a "Y" handshape. That version is a natural, advanced,
evolution of the sign GOLD -- and is very common.
The more in a hurry, tired, casual, or drunk the signer is -- are the further
away from the eye / nose / earlobe those signs will appear.
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