THEORY
(Note: Wiggle the fingers) (Note: You may
see the sign done twice but it is okay to simply do a single movement).
THEORY (initialized version) (becoming somewhat obsolete)
(2024/04/16: Notes: There are those who will call this version
"Signed English" However, as of 2024 these same people do the sign "IDEA" using
an "i" handshape yet do not consider the sign IDEA to be signed English.
Regardless, I recommend you sign the non-initialized version but make sure you
can recognize the initialized version if you see it.)
Question: How do you sign: "in theory"?
Response:
First let's define in theory: "The phrase "in theory" refers to a situation or
concept as it is supposed to occur or be applied according to a theoretical
framework, without considering the practical limitations or real-world
variations that might affect its outcome. It is often used to suggest that while
something should work or be true according to a conceptual or scientific model,
it may not necessarily unfold that way in practice. Essentially, it acknowledges
a difference between ideal conditions or assumptions and what might actually
happen." (Source: ChatGPT-4)
Next let's realize that any short answer to the question of "How do you sign 'in
theory?'" -- is going to be a drop in a very large bucket.
By that I mean, languages often have phrases that over time have distilled to
become containers of concentrated meaning and packed with lots and lots of
applications depending on the context in which those phrases are used.
Or in other words: Over time, languages develop phrases that evolve into dense
repositories of meaning, adaptable to a wide range of contexts.
Then someone whips out one of those phrases and innocently asks:
How would you interpret ___________?
Or in other words:
How would you interpret this little grenade?
(A grenade of meaning that upon pulling the pin will explode into a devastating
amount of expansion and "if then" types of consideration.)
I'm going to suggest that *some* socially active, educated, Deaf, adult, skilled
signers in North America would deal with a phrase such as "in theory" by
translating it literally via fingerspelling "in" and then signing THEORY.
Yet, if you ask a group like this -- or most other online groups -- you will
tend to end up with a morass of answers. (Including at least one finger waggler
making an accusation of "Signed English" to anyone who shares the above idea of
spelling "in" and signing THEORY.)
Definition of morass: "The term 'a morass' primarily refers to a swamp or bog—an
area of muddy or boggy ground. It can be quite difficult to walk through due to
its wet and unstable surface. Metaphorically, 'a morass' is used to describe a
situation that is tangled, complicated, and hard to escape from, similar to
being physically stuck in a swamp. It often implies a problem or situation that
is bogged down by confusion or complexity, making it challenging to resolve or
navigate." (Source: ChatGPT-4)
Well, jumping into the swamp I'd suggest that a couple ways to interpret,
explain, or expand the "in theory" (for those who are unwilling to risk being
mis-labeled as signing English and having cooties) include:
THAT SHOULD SUCCEED BUT MAYBE REAL LIFE MESS-UP
YOUR IDEA SEEM GOOD BUT APPLY-to MAYBE FRUSTRATE
IT CONCEPT WOW IMPRESS BUT WILL MESH-GEAR? QUESTION-MARK-(4-fingers-version)
IT LOOK-LIKE CAN. LATER SEE-SEE!
I PLAN, PLAN, SET-UP READY. HAPPEN THAT NIGHT, MAYBE FAIL.
I'm sure there are many dozens (hundreds?) of additional ways to approach the
concept of "in theory."
It is impractical to attempt to list all of the ways to sign "in theory" because
the different ways to sign "in theory" depend largely on context -- and there
are an infinite (or at least a very large) number of potential theoretical
scenarios.
Imagine someone asks you:
How can you use flour?
The answer to that could be an amazingly long list.
Anyway a shorter (but incomplete) answer to "How do you sign 'in theory?'" --
is:
SHOULD-[while using a facial expression of "don't-know / maybe / we will see"]
Notes:
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