A asks:
Dr. Bill,
Is there a sign for "distractions?"
- Grace
Dear Grace,
There is no "specific, widely recognized sign that means the same as the English word "distract."
Often the sign "BOTHER"-(double movement) and/or "INTERRUPT"-(single movement) can be used to mean "distracting," "distraction" or "distract from." Obviously this sign is good for when you mean "distraction" as something that is bothering you or interrupting you.
In the Deaf world we highly value "visual access" to communication. Such being the case, we are particularly sensitive to "visual distractions. We have a specific sign that means something is visually distracting. The sign holds two "F" hands up near the face and then twists the hands twice quickly as if they were "eyeballs" being drawn toward something visually distracting that is off to the side.
Another sign that might be applicable is the sign for TEMPTATION which is done by tapping near the non-dominant elbow with the tip of the dominant "X"-hand's index finger.
- Dr. Bill