understand

American Sign Language: "UNDERSTAND" UNDERSTAND: The index finger is bent and the tip of the index finger is touching the pad of the thumb (your thumbprint). Hold the right hand up near your forehead. Then flick the index finger so that it points up. DON'T-UNDERSTAND: Often students ask me "How do you sign 'don't'?" I always have to ask them what is the rest of the sentence in which they want to use the concept of "don't." The reason I need to know the rest of the sentence is because there isn't just "one" sign for "don't." There are dozens of ways to express the concept of "don't" in ASL. Most of the time the concept is "incorporated" into the movement of the sign and the facial expressions or shaking of the head. For example, in the sign "don't understand" you express the concept of "don't" by using a negative headshake: NEXT SIGN IN LESSON ONE > You can learn sign language online at American Sign Language University ™ hosted by Lifeprint.com © Dr. William Vicars

American Sign Language: "UNDERSTAND"

UNDERSTAND: The index finger is bent and the tip of the index finger is touching the pad of the thumb (your thumbprint). Hold the right hand up near your forehead. Then flick the index finger so that it points up.

DON'T-UNDERSTAND:
Often students ask me "How do you sign 'don't'?" I always have to ask them what is the rest of the sentence in which they want to use the concept of "don't." The reason I need to know the rest of the sentence is because there isn't just "one" sign for "don't." There are dozens of ways to express the concept of "don't" in ASL. Most of the time the concept is "incorporated" into the movement of the sign and the facial expressions or shaking of the head.
For example, in the sign "don't understand" you express the concept of "don't" by using a negative headshake:

NEXT SIGN IN LESSON ONE >