In all my years I've never seen a "great" sign for lime. If you see
one. Let me know. Some folks use a modified version of LEMON (plus
context) to mean "lime." Maybe next time I visit South America someone
down there will have a good sign, but up here in the States the safe
thing to do is just
spell it. See further below for some notes on "lime."
NOTES:
Note:
May I direct your attention to that sexy looking "E?" See it
right after the "M?" The shape of the "E" is
influenced by the letter "M" preceding it. When you spell "LIME" at
high speed, the index, middle, and ring fingers of the "M" just
naturally snap up onto the thumb to form that version of the letter
"E." Fascinating eh? Quick now -- go and update all your
friends about this. Then call your mother and let her know too.
But hey, the moment you ask your Deaf friend to model it, (by
spelling L-I-M-E) their brain switches gears and he or she
subconsciously tries to pretty it up for you and will likely just
show you a "four-fingered E." (Whew, I bet your ASL 1 textbook
never called it that eh?) Oh well.
Note: "LIME-[initialized-version/LEMON]+[context]
is a real thing.
In a message dated 8/21/2017 11:40:11 P.M. Pacific Daylight
Time, mmendrala writes:
First and foremost, your ASL lessons have helped me
immensely! I've been signing since I was five (I have an
aunt who is an ASL interpreter) however, without a strong
group of deaf (or even hearing) ASL signers around me, I
find it's very important to maintain constant study. You've
been a huge help. Now on to my question (comment?). I
recently was at a bar and met an older Deaf man whom I began
a very interesting conversation with. After a while, I asked
him what he was drinking, to which he responded 'Bud Light
Lime' - and signed LIME with an 'L' shaped hand from his
chin and out. After reviewing your lesson on the sign 'LIME'
in which you physically fingerspell the word close to your
mouth, I'm curious of your thoughts on this interpretation.
Most Sincerely,
- Michael
Michael,
Your comment is a good "in the field" observation of that sign
("LIME-[initialized-version/LEMON]) showing
up on the hands of an EDP (everyday Deaf person) IRL (in real life).
Bravo! (Yah, I get excited about little stuff having to do with
signing.) Regarding the sign for "lime" as done by the Bud Light (lite?)
drinker -- did he "tap" it, "twist" it, or "thrust it out from the
chin"?
- Dr. Bill