Okay, in this situation "pronounce" means "articulate" which means "how you do" this sign.
There are several ways to "do" the "TEST" sign. All of them focus on the idea of showing a type of "question mark." This generally is based on starting with a straight index finger changing into an "x" finger while moving downward as if drawing a question mark in the air and then "dotting it."
A very common version of the sign TEST starts with index fingers
straight, then bends them into "x" handshapes as the hands move downward. Then
the hands change into palm-down "5" handshapes.
TEST:
Sample sentence: Do you like true/false tests?
Another version of "TEST" starts with index fingers, moves the hand downward and
changes into "x" hands, then changes back into straight
index fingers and moves down a bit more while changing into "x" hands a second
time.
I use this version to mean "quiz" but it is common to see it used to mean
"test."
TEST or
QUIZ:
Realistically though, there is a strong chance your local instructor will just spell Q-U-I-Z.
Question:
Can you use the general "TEST, exam, quiz" sign in a sentence such as "Test my patience?"
Response:
First let's understand that people sometimes apply the gloss (label) "TEST" to more than one sign.
An older and still common general sign that can be used for a big formal academic type test as in an "exam":
TEST, exam, quiz, etc.: https://youtu.be/GtBVLsZBlC8
A common sign used for quizzes, tests, testing, and more general probing:
TEST, quiz, survey, etc.: https://youtu.be/pGFOzg6s7-g
This sign can be done with a sweep to emphasize "survey."
More of a verb form of test: https://youtu.be/KHByG1S6Xdw However that version can also mean "test" in general -- depending on the rest of the sentence. This sign can be aimed toward self to indicate "TEST-me".
I have personally seen skilled signers (including some Deaf) sign "TEST MY PATIENCE" using the formal "TEST, exam, quiz" sign.
However, if you ask a number of ASL teachers about the use of the "TEST, exam, quiz" sign I would bet you will find several who claim that the "TEST, exam, quiz" sign should NOT be used for "test my patience."
My point is some will think the use of "TEST" is fine as part of signing "Test my patience." Some won't.
Personally I think it is good for ASL signers to be able to engage in semantic expansion (or in other words: adding meanings). It helps us to navigate the diglossic (two languages) society in which we live. Being able to craft meaning using all of our linguistic tools is part of what I call "North American Deaf Language."
An alternative is to just sign what is meant by "test my patience."
"Test my patience" is a common idiom meaning to cause someone to become annoyed, frustrated, or to lose their temper because something is taking too long or is bothersome. It signifies that one's tolerance level is being pushed to its limit, often used when someone or something is irritating.
Thus you should learn signs such as:
BOTHER, annoy, pest
FRUSTRATED
LOSE-TEMPER
COW!-[idiom: based on Y-hand moving from horn position to "sun" position -- which is a mutation of the ETERNITY sign] (Means: It is taking forever!)
SUFFER (a version of patience that is inflected to show suffering)
Additionally, I would not recommend using the common version of the sign TRY to mean "test" as in "try my patience." The common ASL sign for TRY does not work at all as a substitute for TEST.
Also see:
EXAM
Also see: INVESTIGATE