American Sign Language: "moth" The concept of "moth" in ASL is generally spelled upon first usage and can be followed by the sign for "butterfly." From that point on in the conversation if the person did the "butterfly" sign it would be understood as meaning "the moth," "that moth." If a story is being told about both "butterflies" and "moths" then the BUTTERFLY sign would default to meaning "butterfly" and you would fingerspell M-O-T-H. I'm sure that if you asked "enough" people how to sign "MOTH" eventually you'd come across a person who uses "Signed English" who might tell you that the sign for "moth" is to do the sign for "butterfly" but instead use "M" hands. I do not recommend you do that. Sorry. Next time I happen to come across my "Chinese Sign Language" dictionary I'll have to check to see if it has a sign for MOTH. (I've noticed that the Chinese seem to have a larger set of established vocabulary for insects.) See: BUTTERFLY 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: "moth"

The concept of "moth" in ASL is generally spelled upon first usage and can be followed by the sign for "butterfly." From that point on in the conversation if the person did the "butterfly" sign it would be understood as meaning "the moth," "that moth."

If a story is being told about both "butterflies" and "moths" then the BUTTERFLY sign would default to meaning "butterfly" and you would fingerspell M-O-T-H.

I'm sure that if you asked "enough" people how to sign "MOTH" eventually you'd come across a person who uses "Signed English" who might tell you that the sign for "moth" is to do the sign for "butterfly" but instead use "M" hands. I do not recommend you do that. Sorry.

Next time I happen to come across my "Chinese Sign Language" dictionary I'll have to check to see if it has a sign for MOTH. (I've noticed that the Chinese seem to have a larger set of established vocabulary for insects.)

See: BUTTERFLY

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 >