VLOG: The
American Sign Language (ASL) sign for "VLOG"
In the early days of vlogging the VLOG sign started as pinched G-hands and transformed into "L" hands. This represented the opening of a "window" on a computer screen. These days the beginning handshape has been becoming more flexible to the point where we are seeing it done with cocked X-hands or slightly modified S-hands.
Also, when done casually the sign is lower.
For an example of a bit older version of VLOG (or a great current version of
"computer-WINDOW-open") -- see
https://youtu.be/fG38CPUyHZU
It wasn't long after that sign came out that vloggers had changed the contact
point of the index finger from the fingerprint area to instead being the
fingernail area. (Or in other words -- changed from closed-G-hands to
cocked-X-hands.
VLOG, L-hand flip-up version:
[graphic will go here]
The VLOG sign is evolving over time so you will see variations.
A lesser used version you might see involves starting with holding two L hands
in front of you pointing forward and flipping them up.
I don't go out of my way to teach that version to my students because if they
mess it up even a little it is going to look too much like an initialized
version of "LET" (see the ALLOW sign). Note: The
"L" hand flip-up version is not wrong. It is "out there" (or at least it was and
you can still see it in various videos). I consider it a "version" -- just not
my pick at the moment based on trends.
Again, the "L-hand-flip-up" version of VLOG is not "wrong." It just isn't my
preferred version as I type this.
ASL teachers and interpreters would be good to have the L-hand-flip-up version
of VLOG in their mental storehouse of signs. Interestingly, (at
least to an ASL nerd like me) since the L-hand-flip-up version only uses one
handshape ("L") instead of two ("S" and "L") it can actually be considered
to be more evolved or efficient -- and might eventually become the dominant
version in a few years (or decades?). Or not.
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