ASL University

American Sign Language: "a" The letter "A" in American Sign Language (ASL). A: (Click for a larger version.) Tip: If your screen goes "white" it is because the larger version is so large that you are only seeing the upper left-hand corner of the graphic. For more letters and handshapes, see: Fingerspelling Art Dr. Bill's Notes: While there is a handshape that represents the fingerspelled letter "A" it is important to realize that American Sign Language doesn't use the English letter "A" as a word the same way it is used in spoken or written English. Let's consider for a moment the difference in English between the words "a" and "the." When we use the word "a" in a sentence in English it tends to be so we can introduce a previously unidentified concept into the conversation. For example, if I use the phrase "a cat" then I'm probably bringing up the topic of a previously unidentified cat. If I use the phrase "the cat" it generally means I'm referring to a previously identified cat. Thus "a" and "the" are "reference" words. We use them to refer to a topic in this case, "a cat." In ASL to refer to a previously unidentified cat you would not use the fingerspelled letter "A" but instead you might sign: I NOTICE NEW CAT... NEW CAT show-UP ... HAPPEN STRANGE CAT ... CAT I NEVER SEE BEFORE ... CAT I not-YET SEE ... CAT I DON'T-KNOW ... SOMETHING CAT ... So we can see that to express the concept of "a" in ASL we would use one of the following signs or a similar approach: SOMETHING STRANGE DON'T-KNOW INVENTED / "came up with" / "created or made up in the mind" NEW To express the concept of "the" as in "the woman," we would use phrases such as: INDEX-(point) WOMAN THAT WOMAN (Directional head-thrust) WOMAN [Location of WOMAN] (We establish the idea that there is a woman a certain location and then refer to that location as if the woman were there. For example, we mention that there is "a" woman. Then immediately after that we point our index finger to a some direction in space (usually off to our dominant side) and make a comment of some sort. It is understood that we are referring to "the woman" as if we were actually pointing at her. We can even do certain directional verbs (indicating verbs) such as GIVE in the direction of the location where the woman is "established" and the sign GIVE will take on the meaning of "give it to the woman" or a similar meaning. A-[grade] For fun I wandered into Bee's office and ask, "YOU KNOW GRADE? B-[grade], C-[grade]? HOW YOU SIGN "A"? She responded by signing: A-[grade]-[version: thumb side to nd-palm] In other words she does the sign for A grade not palm to palm but rather "thumb-side" of dominant hand to nd-palm. I'd like to mention that the dominant-palm-side-A-to-palm version is very well respected (it shows up in videos from many years ago) but perhaps the palm-side-A-to-palm version becoming less dominant over the years as more and more ASL instructors who did not attend Deaf schools nor Gallaudet university teach ASL. Or maybe it is an "east" "west" thing? Since I usually see the "side of the thumb-side to palm" version of "A" here in the west. In other words I believe we are seeing language evolution at work on the A-grade sign. However, I think it is safe to say that the A-grade sign is not a "back of A-hand" to nd-palm. That sort of extreme twist just doesn't tend to be used in common everyday signing. It simply isn't efficient. 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 Dr. Bill's "Superdisk." 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). You can learn American Sign Language (ASL) online at American Sign Language University ™ ASL resources by Lifeprint.com © Dr. William Vicars

American Sign Language: "a"

The letter "A" in American Sign Language (ASL).

A:

(Click for a larger version.)

Tip: If your screen goes "white" it is because the larger version is so large that you are only seeing the upper left-hand corner of the graphic.
For more letters and handshapes, see: Fingerspelling Art

Dr. Bill's Notes:
While there is a handshape that represents the fingerspelled letter "A" it is important to realize that American Sign Language doesn't use the English letter "A" as a word the same way it is used in spoken or written English.

Let's consider for a moment the difference in English between the words "a" and "the." When we use the word "a" in a sentence in English it tends to be so we can introduce a previously unidentified concept into the conversation.

For example, if I use the phrase "a cat" then I'm probably bringing up the topic of a previously unidentified cat.

If I use the phrase "the cat" it generally means I'm referring to a previously identified cat.

Thus "a" and "the" are "reference" words. We use them to refer to a topic in this case, "a cat."

In ASL to refer to a previously unidentified cat you would not use the fingerspelled letter "A" but instead you might sign:

I NOTICE NEW CAT...

NEW CAT show-UP ...
HAPPEN STRANGE CAT ...
CAT I NEVER SEE BEFORE ...
CAT I not-YET SEE ...
CAT I DON'T-KNOW ...
SOMETHING CAT ...
So we can see that to express the concept of "a" in ASL we would use one of the following signs or a similar approach:

SOMETHING

STRANGE
DON'T-KNOW
INVENTED / "came up with" / "created or made up in the mind"
NEW

To express the concept of "the" as in "the woman," we would use phrases such as:

INDEX-(point) WOMAN
THAT WOMAN
(Directional head-thrust) WOMAN
[Location of WOMAN] (We establish the idea that there is a woman a certain location and then refer to that location as if the woman were there. For example, we mention that there is "a" woman. Then immediately after that we point our index finger to a some direction in space (usually off to our dominant side) and make a comment of some sort. It is understood that we are referring to "the woman" as if we were actually pointing at her. We can even do certain directional verbs (indicating verbs) such as GIVE in the direction of the location where the woman is "established" and the sign GIVE will take on the meaning of "give it to the woman" or a similar meaning.

A-[grade]

For fun I wandered into Bee's office and ask, "YOU KNOW GRADE? B-[grade], C-[grade]? HOW YOU SIGN "A"?

She responded by signing: A-[grade]-[version: thumb side to nd-palm]

In other words she does the sign for A grade not palm to palm but rather "thumb-side" of dominant hand to nd-palm.

I'd like to mention that the dominant-palm-side-A-to-palm version is very well respected (it shows up in videos from many years ago) but perhaps the palm-side-A-to-palm version becoming less dominant over the years as more and more ASL instructors who did not attend Deaf schools nor Gallaudet university teach ASL. Or maybe it is an "east" "west" thing? Since I usually see the "side of the thumb-side to palm" version of "A" here in the west.

In other words I believe we are seeing language evolution at work on the A-grade sign.

However, I think it is safe to say that the A-grade sign is not a "back of A-hand" to nd-palm. That sort of extreme twist just doesn't tend to be used in common everyday signing. It simply isn't efficient.

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 Dr. Bill's "Superdisk."

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).

You can learn American Sign Language (ASL) online at American Sign Language University ™
ASL resources by Lifeprint.com © Dr. William Vicars