American Sign Language: "gone" The "GONE" sign can also mean "absent" as in "She is absent from class today." The non-dominant hand starts as a "C" and closes into a flattened "O" handshape as the dominant hand moves downward while changing from a loose 5-handshape into a flattened "O" handshape. GONE / ABSENT: DEPLETE / RUN-OUT-OF: Animation (DEPLETE) Notes: There are those who will tell you that if someone dies you "should" sign "DEAD." That however ignores the fact that many, many Deaf sign things like: "YEAR-past MY MOM GONE" to mean "I lost my mom last year." English uses euphemisms. ASL uses euphemisms. English speakers generally do not run around telling other English speakers "No, you can't say you lost your mom last year. You have to say 'Last year my mom died!'" Equal rights for ASL signers: We have the right to use euphemisms. The GONE sign is an "acceptable" euphemism for DEAD in ASL. However the sign "LOST / lose / unknown whereabouts" -- is not an ASL euphemism for DEAD. GONE yes. (Can in context mean "dead.") LOST no. (Would seem odd or inappropriate if used to mean "dead.") You can learn American Sign Language (ASL) online at American Sign Language University ™ ASL resources by Lifeprint.com © Dr. William Vicars 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 something from the ASLU "Bookstore." 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) VISIT >

American Sign Language: "gone"

The "GONE" sign can also mean "absent" as in "She is absent from class today." The non-dominant hand starts as a "C" and closes into a flattened "O" handshape as the dominant hand moves downward while changing from a loose 5-handshape into a flattened "O" handshape.

GONE / ABSENT:

DEPLETE / RUN-OUT-OF:

Animation (DEPLETE)

Notes:
There are those who will tell you that if someone dies you "should" sign "DEAD." That however ignores the fact that many, many Deaf sign things like: "YEAR-past MY MOM GONE" to mean "I lost my mom last year."

English uses euphemisms.
ASL uses euphemisms.

English speakers generally do not run around telling other English speakers "No, you can't say you lost your mom last year. You have to say 'Last year my mom died!'"

Equal rights for ASL signers: We have the right to use euphemisms.

The GONE sign is an "acceptable" euphemism for DEAD in ASL.

However the sign "LOST / lose / unknown whereabouts" -- is not an ASL euphemism for DEAD.
GONE yes. (Can in context mean "dead.")
LOST no. (Would seem odd or inappropriate if used to mean "dead.")

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

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 something from the ASLU "Bookstore."

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) VISIT >