American Sign Language: "different" / "but" The sign for "different" is based on the sign for "but." The sign "but" generally uses a "smaller" movement, however, it may be done quite large depending on how excited the signer is. It is also very common to fingerspell B-U-T when you mean "however." BUT Animations: but different very different different: other version DIFFERENT: The sign for "but" is (in general) the same as the sign for "different." However, I suggest that the sign for "different" uses a larger motion (in general) than the sign for "but." but or "DIFFERENT" Suppose you are excited though and want to make a point that two things are different, in English you would say BUT! and then go on to point out the two things are different. That same principle applies in ASL. Here I'm showing the same approach using the sign "BUT!" BUT! You can do the sign larger to incorporate the concept of "very." As in "Those two things are very different!" very-DIFFERENT: It is very common to see the DIFFERENT" sign used to mean "various" or "several different" versions of a thing. This is accomplished by signing the sign DIFFERENT two or three times. Start a bit to one side and move to the other side as you sign DIFFERENT. "A variety of different items" = DIFFERENT DIFFERENT My facial expression in the above sign is saying, "yah, it's true, those really are several different kinds..." Also see: BUT Also see: SAME Dr. Bill's new iPhone "Fingerspelling Practice" app is now available! GET IT HERE! NEW! Online "ASL Training Center!" (Premium Subscription Version of ASLU) CHECK IT OUT Also available: "ASLUniversity.com" (a mirror of Lifeprint.com less traffic, fast access) VISIT NOW Want to help support Lifeprint / ASLU? It's easy! You can learn sign language (ASL) online at American Sign Language University ™ Lifeprint.com © Dr. William Vicars

American Sign Language: "different" / "but"

The sign for "different" is based on the sign for "but." The sign "but" generally uses a "smaller" movement, however, it may be done quite large depending on how excited the signer is. It is also very common to fingerspell B-U-T when you mean "however."

BUT

Animations:
but

different

very different

different: other version

DIFFERENT:

The sign for "but" is (in general) the same as the sign for "different." However, I suggest that the sign for "different" uses a larger motion (in general) than the sign for "but."

but or "DIFFERENT"

Suppose you are excited though and want to make a point that two things are different, in English you would say BUT! and then go on to point out the two things are different. That same principle applies in ASL.
Here I'm showing the same approach using the sign "BUT!"

BUT!

You can do the sign larger to incorporate the concept of "very." As in "Those two things are very different!"

very-DIFFERENT:

It is very common to see the DIFFERENT" sign used to mean "various" or "several different" versions of a thing. This is accomplished by signing the sign DIFFERENT two or three times. Start a bit to one side and move to the other side as you sign DIFFERENT.

"A variety of different items" = DIFFERENT DIFFERENT

My facial expression in the above sign is saying, "yah, it's true, those really are several different kinds..."

Also see: BUT
Also see: SAME

Dr. Bill's new iPhone "Fingerspelling Practice" app is now available! GET IT HERE!

NEW! Online "ASL Training Center!" (Premium Subscription Version of ASLU) ** CHECK IT OUT **

Also available: "ASLUniversity.com" (a mirror of Lifeprint.com less traffic, fast access) ** VISIT NOW **

Want to help support Lifeprint / ASLU? It's easy!