Welcome. Let’s Get Introduced
Using Signed English (SE) and American Sign Language (ASL)
by Elaine Ernst Schneider
| Words | Signed English Signs and order of use |
| Hello. Wecome. How are you? I am fine. Who are you? I am … (name). Happy to meet you. | Hello. Wecome. How are you? I am fine. Who are you? I am … (fingerspell your name). Happy to meet you. |
Signed English (SE)
 |  |
| Hello. | Welcome. |
 |  |  |
| How | are | you? |
 |  |  |
| I | am | fine. |
 |  |  |  |
| Who (newer sign) | Who (older sign) | are | you? |
 |  | Fingerspell your Name Click here to review the ASL alphabet |
| I | am | … |
 |  |  |  |
| Happy | to | meet | you. |
American Sign Language (ASL)
| Words | ASL Signs in order of use |
| Hello. Welcome. How are you? I am fine. Who are you? I am … (name). Happy to meet you. | Hello. Wecome. How you? Fine, me. Who you? Me… (spell name). Happy meet you. |
 |  |
| Hello. | Welcome. |
 |  |
| How | you? |
 |  |
| Fine, | me |
 |  |
| Who | you? |
 | Fingerspell your Name Click here to review the ASL alphabet |
| Me, | … |
 |  |  |
| Happy | meet | you. |
| Signs | Word Descriptions of Actions |
| am | Touch touch an “a” hand to the lips and arc forward and upward. |
| are | Place right “R” hand to bottom lip. Move sign outward, arcing slightly upward. |
| fine | Touch the thumb of the open right hand (fingers spread) to the center of the chest area. |
| happy | Touch chest with closed fingers of both hands in a forward circular motion, as if “stirring” emotions of joy. |
| hello | Place hand on forward as if to salute (but not as rigid). Move hand outward, ending up with palm facing forward in the air just a few inches from the forehead. |
| how | Place hands back to back in front of the chest area, hands slightly bent, palms downward. Knuckles will slightly touch. Revolve hands in and then upward until hands end in a position where palms are flat and turned upward. |
| I, me (ASL | Point to self, touching the center of the chest. |
| I (SE) | Touch the “i” hand to the center of the chest |
| meet | Bring “d” hands together, palm to palm. |
| to | Move the right index finger to touch the left index finger. |
| welcome | Using a right “w” hand, touch the forehead and then the middle of the chest, arcing the movement to indicate that you are welcoming someone to you. |
| who | Place the right “L” hand on the chin, touching with the thumb. Slightly move the index finger twice. |
| you | Point in the direction of where someone is located. If no one is there, point to an “imaginary” person. |
To review differences between SE and ASL … click here.
Continue on to our Introduction to Sign Language, Series 1, Lesson 1… click here
Continue on to our Introduction to Sign Language, Series 1, Lesson 1… click here
