SUGAR:
Some folks might not tuck in the thumb. I do. If you see someone do this
sign with the thumb alongside instead of bent underneath -- don't worry
about it.
This sign is similar to the sign for "cute."
One main difference though is that you tend to use more facial expression when
signing "cute" than when signing sugar.
The sign starts an inch out from the chin. Then the pads of the index
and middle fingers brush against the chin as the fingers bend at the large
knuckles. Use a double motion.
Also compare with: SWEET
Note that CUTE has a couple of versions -- one that uses a single quick downward movement while bending at the large knuckles, and a more "awwww cuuuute" type version with a repeated movement.
In a
message dated 8/2/2007 6:47:12 AM Pacific Daylight Time,
dumbledorenj04@ [removed for privacy] writes:
Dr. Bill,
Gary
here. I attend an informal class in a friends home and we are
confused. Diabetes, sugar, cute, sweet. The differences?
Thank you!
Gj
Gary,
Some
signs are more encompassing than other signs. Which is to say, certain
signs are more general, they have more interpretations, and depend more
on context (the signs or sentences preceding or following the sign),
syntax (the word order of the sentence), or pragmatics (the environment
or situation in which the communication takes place) to determine their
meaning. "SWEET" is such a sign.
The "flat hand" that rubs/bends twice downward on the chin is can be
interpreted as:
SWEET-taste
SWEET-(nice_personality)
SUGAR
DIABETES
SWEETS
and, when combined with the sign "SOUP," can be interpreted as
"pudding."
It seems to me that my older
friends tend to
use the SWEET sign to also mean "sugar." Coffee drinkers often use the
SWEET sign to mean "sugar" too. (Just like many of them use the sign "MILK" to
mean "cream" when discussing coffee.)
______________________
The modified "U/H" handshape (thumb alongside) that rubs/bends twice
downward on the chin can be interpreted as:
CUTE
SUGAR
CANDY-(rare_version: off the chin or cheek using a "U-handshape)
Note: If a guy or girl is "hot" as in "very good looking" the above
sign can be modified to use a single downward movement that is much more
exaggerated and held longer at the end of the sign than the standard
sign for CUTE. If used, the facial expression tends to look as if you
were doing a "whistle." I'm sure that expression is simply how your
lips look when you pronounce the letter "U."
--------------------------------
If you go over to spreadthesign (dot) com and note their sugar entry you
will see the "SWEET / sugar" version but look under the "yellow sugar"
entry and you'll see the CUTE / sugar version (as of 12/30/2019.
Source: https://www.spreadthesign.com/en.us/word/18552/yellow-sugar/
Handspeak does the CUTE / SUGAR version:
https://www.handspeak.com/word/search/index.php?id=2111
American Sign Language University ™ ASL resources by Lifeprint.com © Dr. William Vicars