The sign for "brother" uses a modified "L"-hand that turns
into a "1"-hand as it moves from the forehead down to make contact with the
base hand (which is in a 1-handshape).
BROTHER:
Sample sentence:
"How many brothers do you have?" = BROTHER, HOW-MANY YOU?
The sign for "sister" uses a modified "L"-hand that turns
into a "1"-hand as it moves from the jaw down to make contact with the base
hand (which is in a 1-handshape).
SISTER:
Notes:
There is an older version of both BROTHER and/or SISTER in which the last part
of the sign places the index fingers next to each other (pointing forward) based
on the sign BOY+SAME and/or GIRL+SAME. Those signs were indeed used in ASL
for years but are now often mistakenly referred to or labeled as belonging to
"Signed English." I personally don't think of the older versions of
BROTHER and SISTER as Signed English but simply instead as "legacy" ASL or
examples of "historical change." The Deaf Community most likely evolved
the previous ASL signs to a faster, simpler version (the version with the
dominant hand coming down onto the non-dominant hand) and it may be the case
that many Hearing people learned the older version out of books (rather than
interaction in the Deaf community) thus causing the older version to become
associated with "Hearing people" and thus by extension -- "Signed English."
Tip: This is conjecture on my part so even though I believe it to be true --
don't quote it as fact. Thanks. - Dr. Bill
Also see
See: BROTHER
See: SISTER
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