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ENGLISH: The American Sign Language (ASL) sign for "English" (or England)

 

This sign can mean either England or English.  The specific meaning depends on context.

The sign for "England" is done by placing your dominant hand over your non-dominant hand.
The fingers of the dominant hand wrap around the pinkie side of the non-dominant hand.


Some people use a double movement to mean England but you will see it either way -- so just pay attention to context.
For example, if someone signs "I FINISH VISIT ENGLAND" it is obvious that they are referring to the place not the language.


ENGLAND / ENGLISH


 


ENGLISH / or England:


 



A variation you may see is to do the sign England / English with a double movement:
If you do a double movement  the dominant hand clasps over the non-dominant, then releases and moves an inch or two back up and then clasps the non-dominant hand again. The non-dominant hand stays in one place during the sign.



 



Notes:
There is another sign for England that uses a modified-"L-hand" (with the index finger and the thumb bent). You grab the sides of your chin with the index finger and thumb as if showing the chin-strap of the head gear worn by the Royal Palace Guards.

Also see English

 

BSL version / indigenous version of ENGLAND:
As of 2022 this sign is not commonly used in ASL but you may see it show up once in a while if you watch British Sign Language videos:

 



Memory aid or possible origin:

This sign looks "Queen Elizabeth I with her hand firmly in control of a round earth."  (Mackie, 2022)



Picture:  "Armada Portrait"
(Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_I#/media/File:Elizabeth_I_(Armada_Portrait).jpg (public domain) {{PD-1996}} 
(Formerly attributed to George Gower - http://www.luminarium.org/renlit/elizarmada.jpg )


 


Reference: Mackie, Adam. (4/12/2022) personal correspondence.

 




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