American Sign Language Series III Lesson 3: Question Words
By Elaine Ernst Schneider
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| Signs | Description of Sign Action |
| 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. |
| what (as in ‘what time?’ or ‘what book?’) | Use the index finger of the right hand to pass over the palm of the left open hand (fingers tightly close) from the base of the index finger to the base of the little finger. |
| what (…do you mean?) | Slightly raise both palms up hands at your sides with a shrug of the shoulders. |
| when | Hold the left “d” hand in front of body, palm up. The right index finger moves in a clockwise motion around the left, then rests on the left index finger to symbolize the element of time. |
| where | Wave your upward pointing index finger left and right as if panning the space before you. |
| which | Alternately move vertical “a” hands up and down 2 or 3 times. |
| who | Place the right “L” hand on the chin, touching with the thumb. Slightly move the index finger twice. |
| why | Place fingers of the right bent hand on the forehead. Then move the right hand forward (palm turned toward the body) changing the formation into a “Y” hand as you move. |
Continue to ASL Lesson 4: Common ASL/SE Phrases
