"terrorist" American Sign Language (ASL)

American Sign Language: "terrorist" TERRORIST: In a message dated 11/7/2006 6:49:07 AM Pacific Standard Time, lbouss@ writes: Quick question for you: sign for "terrorism"? Lyes B. Lyes, To do the concept "terrorist" justice we would need to sign, PEOPLE THEMSELVES DESTROY, BOMB, RUIN, CAUSE FEAR, FOR-FOR? POLITICAL INFLUENCE. Prior to deciding on and promoting a sign for "terrorism" we must first consider if we have a sign for "violence" -- since terrorism is the use of violence to intimidate, or coerce, (generally for political purposes). Lacking consensus on a good sign for "violence" (DESTROY? FIGHT? RUIN/harm/spoil?) we then take another approach: Terrorists cause "terror." But I doubt many signers would support the idea of using "SCARED+PERSON" to mean terrorist. At some point we have to decide, are we willing to use a version of the sign "terrible" and justify it by saying terrorists do "terrible" things and therefore the compound TERRIBLE-PERSON would mean terrorist? And "TERRIBLE-ACTION" would mean "terrorism." --Dr. Bill p.s. One of the people I interviewed regarding how to sign this concept signed "terrorist" by miming the act of pulling a ski-mask over his face. I thought that was a very interesting (and highly visual) way to sign terrorist. TERRIBLE: Also see: VIOLENCE You can learn American Sign Language (ASL) online at American Sign Language University ™ ASL resources by Lifeprint.com © Dr. William Vicars Want to help support ASL University? It's easy: DONATE (Thanks!) (You don't need a PayPal account. Just look for the credit card logos and click continue.) Another way to help is to buy something from the ASLU "Bookstore." Want even more ASL resources? Visit the "ASL Training Center!" (Subscription Extension of ASLU) CHECK IT OUT > Bandwidth slow? Check out "ASLUniversity.com" (a free mirror of Lifeprint.com less traffic, fast access) VISIT >

Lyes,
To do the concept "terrorist" justice we would need to sign, PEOPLE THEMSELVES DESTROY, BOMB, RUIN, CAUSE FEAR, FOR-FOR? POLITICAL INFLUENCE.
Prior to deciding on and promoting a sign for "terrorism" we must first consider if we have a sign for "violence" -- since terrorism is the use of violence to intimidate, or coerce, (generally for political purposes). Lacking consensus on a good sign for "violence" (DESTROY? FIGHT? RUIN/harm/spoil?) we then take another approach: Terrorists cause "terror." But I doubt many signers would support the idea of using "SCARED+PERSON" to mean terrorist.
At some point we have to decide, are we willing to use a version of the sign "terrible" and justify it by saying terrorists do "terrible" things and therefore the compound TERRIBLE-PERSON would mean terrorist? And "TERRIBLE-ACTION" would mean "terrorism."

--Dr. Bill
p.s. One of the people I interviewed regarding how to sign this concept signed "terrorist" by miming the act of pulling a ski-mask over his face. I thought that was a very interesting (and highly visual) way to sign terrorist.

TERRIBLE:

American Sign Language: "terrorist"