LessonTutor: American Sign Language lesson: Signing Time Part 1

American Sign Language (ASL) Series 2 Lesson 11
Signing Time – Part one
By Elaine Ernst Schneider

Annual Units of Time

sign for day
sign for week
signing month
american sign language - year
day
week
month
year

NOTE: The signs for day, week, month and year are illustrated as if you are watching someone else sign. However, because the signs for the months (below) are differentiated by what happens behind the hand, these are drawn as if the signer is looking down at his/her own signs. To make these signs, turn your left hand palm inward and use your right hand to make the letter signs. Then move your right hand over the left as if turning the page of a calendar. In some instances, a second letter is made on the other side of the left hand, i.e. once the “imaginary” page is turned.

.
The Twelve Months

January in asl
Febrauary in ASL
A..S.L. sugn for March
sign for April
January
February March April

 

signing the month of May
June in sign language
signing July in asl
August asl
May June July August

 

asl for September
signing October
make this sign for November
how to sign December
September October November December

Series 2 Lesson 11 Time – Part one

Signs Description of Sign Action
April Hold the left hand, palm forward, as an imaginary calendar. Then place a right “a” hand on the palm of the left hand, moving it up and over the fingertips, as if flipping a calendar page.
August Hold a left “B” hand in front of the chest, fingers together, palm facing inward. Place the palm side of a right “A” hand against the left palm. Then move the right “A” hand up and over the left hand (this symbolizes turning a calendar page) ending in a “G” hand as the right hand finishes in front of the left hand.
day Point the left arm and index finger to the right, palm down. Rest the elbow of the right arm on the left index finger of the left hand. Move a right “d” hand and arm in an arc across the body from right to left, as if the sun is moving across the sky and then setting just above the horizon.
December Move a right “D” hand from the palm of an open left hand, up and over the left hand, as if turning the page of a calendar.
February Move a right “F” hand from the palm of an open left hand, up and over the left hand, as if turning the page of a calendar.
January Move a right “J” hand from the palm of an open left hand, up and over the left hand, as if turning the page of a calendar.
July Hold a left “B” hand in front of the chest, fingers together, palm facing inward. Place the tip of the little finger of a right “J” hand against the left palm. Then move the right “J” hand up and over the left hand (this symbolizes turning a calendar page) ending in a “Y” hand as the right hand finishes in front of the left hand.
June Hold a left “B” hand in front of the chest, fingers together, palm facing inward. Place the tip of the little finger of a right “J” hand against the left palm. Then move the right “J” hand up and over the left hand (this symbolizes turning a calendar page) ending in an “N” hand as the right hand finishes in front of the left hand.
March Hold the left hand, palm forward, as an imaginary calendar. Then place a right “m” hand on the palm of the left hand, moving it up and over the fingertips, as if flipping a calendar page.
May Hold the left hand, palm forward, as an imaginary calendar. Then place a right “m” hand on the palm of the left hand, moving it up and over the fingertips, as if flipping a calendar page. The right “m” hand changes to a “y” sign as the fingertips of the left hand are cleared.
month Touch the index finger of a right “D” hand against the index finger of a left “D” hand, starting at the tip and moving toward the knuckle.
November Hold a left open hand in front of the body, palm facing inward, fingers close together. Place the right “n” hand in the palm of the left hand; then move the “n” over the top of the left hand and down the other side, as if flipping the November page of a calendar.
October Hold a left open hand in front of the body, palm facing inward, fingers close together. Place the right “o” hand in the palm of the left hand; then move the “o” over the top of the left hand and down the other side, as if flipping the October page of a calendar.
September Hold a left open hand in front of the body, palm facing inward, fingers close together. Place the right “s” hand in the palm of the left hand; then move the “s” over the top of the left hand and down the other side, as if flipping the September page of a calendar.
week Using the right “d” hand, move the index finger across the left flat palm from the thumb to the tips of the fingers.
year Circle the right “S” hand forward over the left “S” hand, moving under the left hand and ending at rest on top of the right “S” hand. Hint: This represents the cycle of the earth on its axis over the course of the year.
Continue to Lesson 11 ASL Time, Part 2
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