Deaf
Handshape: index finger
Location:
Starting location: In general it starts on the cheek near the ear
but occasionally you will see it start near the mouth.
Ending location: On the cheek near the mouth.
Orientation: If done with the right hand, the right palm can face either left or somewhat forward.
Movement: Small arc.
Variation: If you do this sign while puffing out the right cheek, with a
larger arc it means, "Deaf, and proud of it!"
Description: Touch your finger on your cheek near your ear, then move your finger in a small arch and touch it near the mouth.
Interpretations:
Example: Are you deaf? = DEAF YOU? or YOU DEAF?
Note: In this picture I'm touching the tip of my finger to my cheek. Another common method is to touch the side of the index finger to the cheek instead of using the tip of the finger.
Here is old way to sign Deaf. It combines the signs for EAR and CLOSED. This sign has been around for many years. I noticed some scuttlebutt a while back about this sign being out of favor in the Deaf Community because it portrays Deaf as being "disabled." Personally, I think the reason why the sign isn't being used much any more is because it takes more effort to do a two handed sign than a one handed sign.
In any case, you still might see the sign used during "platform interpreting" (interpreting done on a stage or for a large audience) or done by an older person.
You might also see it used during very formal speeches.
