In a message dated March 29th 8:25:56 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time, elevenwagon@ writes:
Hello :)
It depends on your goal. Initializing the "I/me" with the
English letter "i" is something that people do when they are
using what is called "
Signed English." If your goal is to learn
American Sign Language for purposes of satisfying high
school or college 2nd language requirements then it would be
better for you to avoid over-initializing your signs and instead
stick with the versions of signs that are used by
multi-generational native ASL Deaf adults who have attended a
state residential school for the Deaf and are active in the Deaf
community.
Also, the concept of "I" or "me" can be expressed in ways other
than by using a specific sign. For example, you could use move
the sign "GIVE" from the other person toward yourself to mean
"give it to me." This might be glossed (which means "written")
as you-GIVE-me. In that example you wouldn't use the sign "I/me"
-- instead you would just rely on the starting position, the
direction of the movement, and the ending position of the sign
GIVE.
Cordially,
Dr. Bill