EXPERT: The American Sign Language (ASL) sign for "expert"
There are a number of appropriate ways to sign expert -- depending on context and your intended meaning.
The sign for "expert" is done by using an "F" handshape and moving it quickly to the chin.
The contact is relatively strong, and the hold is extended. The mouth morpheme is part of this sign. By that I mean, as you make contact with your chin you puff out your cheeks a bit.
EXPERT:
If you mean expert as in highly knowledgeable consider using the
"double-BRAIN / genius" sign.
https://youtu.be/S0Z-FAZiJhg
If you mean expert as in someone who is very talented or skilled --
consider using the TALENT sign. See: TALENT
Also see:
If you mean expert as in a specialist, see the SPECIALIZE sign.
https://youtu.be/mVrTgE8edho
If you mean expert as in someone with a lot of experience at
something then consider using an emphasized inflected version of the
sign glossed as EXPERIENCED (or "highly-EXPERIENCED").
https://youtu.be/JXO0RDayTwA
If you mean expert as in
someone who seems innately skilled or naturally good at something
then use the sign glossed as EXPERT.
https://youtu.be/GBbmaKUWq6I
Keep in mind that:
Many people (including skilled Deaf signers) do in real life use the
EXPERT (F on the chin) sign synonymously with the English word
"expert."
This usage may be different from the historical or previous usage of
the "F on the chin" sign. Language evolves.
See the 1:00 mark of:
https://youtu.be/QxsZRmnaBXU?t=57
See the 25:33 mark of:
https://youtu.be/aRBy2bALsfo?t=1529
See the 2:22 mark of:
https://youtu.be/bmnXyodK_f8?t=140
See the 4:28 mark of:
https://youtu.be/GbXa0OX1wBM?t=265
See the 11:36 mark of:
https://youtu.be/Wc_ejgU4fKE?t=695
See the 2:32 mark of:
https://youtu.be/kWcpqq1N4Zo?t=148
See the 5:15 mark of:
https://youtu.be/vwlNpib0GyE?t=312
I doubt that anyone has been born a "medical expert."
Yet a Deaf newscaster in one of the most popular Deaf newscasts in
the world used the sign EXPERT to mean -- "expert" as in "a medical
expert.
For an example, see the 2:30 mark of:
https://youtu.be/VYpWzAUDNks?t=150
Language changes.
Notes:
I think it is interesting to consider the typical synonyms, collocates
(other signs that tend to show up with or near the sign), or even the GLOSS
associated with the signs to get a feel for what the signs EXPERT and/or SKILL
mean and how they are being used "today" -- (not 40 years ago).
In general I have noticed that SKILL seems to lean toward talent or ability
while EXPERT seems to lean toward expertise or status as a pro.
SKILL / talent / good at / expert at
EXPERT / a pro / expertise
I would put forth as an example the following collocates:
"EXPERT WITNESS" (using the "F" on the chin version)
"MEDICINE EXPERT" (medical expert) (using the "F" on the chin version)
That sort of usage shows up in Deaf newscasts and/or other Deaf
Organization-related videos.
I would then ask people to consider how they would sign a sentence that involved
both concepts (talent and expertise) and see how you would choose to sign both
concepts when they are in the same sentence.
For example, maybe come up with several sentences such as:
"The professional basketball player was a pro at the game because he was very
skilled at shooting the ball."
I just made that sentence up (meh) but I think with some effort it would be
possible to seriously develop a few sentences that would tease out the nuances
of those two signs -- or even better a half dozen of the signs in this
discussion such as double-brained, skilled, expert, specialist, ... etc. --
maybe even fs-PRO and CHAMP. Might need a paragraph.
I just wish people wouldn't watch an ASL purist video based on sign usage from
"back in the good old days" and call that "true" ASL when "true" ASL is not the
same as "historical" ASL.
Note:
"Spreadthesign" (one of the major ASL online dictionaries) uses the "F" on chin
version of expert as its listing for the term "expert."
The inclusion of the "F" on the chin version of "expert" is a serious vote for
the fact that the usage of the "F" on the chin sign has evolved from meaning
"innate ability" to instead at least overlapping to some extent the term
"expert."
(Source: Spreadthesign (dot) com. Retrieved from the "expert" entry of the ASL
search on 2/9/2021)
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