WEATHER: The
American Sign Language (ASL) sign for "weather"
The sign for "weather" has a few popular versions.
The main version uses "W" hands and moves them both downward using a wavy
movement. In a way, this is actually an initialized version of the signs for
"snow" and "rain" which also both move downward.
WEATHER:
Use a wavy downward movement.
Non-initialized version:
Sample sentence:
Do you like hot weather?
Here is another version of weather. It means the same as the two
handed version.
Use a wavy downward movement.
WEATHER: (version 3)
In a message dated 10/5/2007 7:51:28 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time, mtew@ writes:
Hi again!! I know you have a lot of email that you must go through, but I just thought I would add something. My daughter and I down here in Florida learned the sign for weather as two "W"-handshapes, facing each other, and then you twist them around each other, like the sign for change. I also found this in an old "Joy of Signing" book. Is this ok to use, or is it an older sign? Thank you, and I hope you have a great weekend!!
-- Monica Tew
Library Clerk, Children's Programming
Middleburg-Clay Hill Public Library, 2245 Aster Avenue, Middleburg, FL 32068
Monica,
I consider the "change" version of "weather" to be one of the top 3
versions of "weather." It is a very good sign.
I'd rank it as my "third" choice, but it is a solid sign that I'd defend
as being just as good as any other choice. So if more people in a
certain region are using that version than another version, I'd
certainly go with that version. One thing I'd caution you about
though is that the version you are talking about generally doesn't twist
the hands "around" each other, rather you just hold the pinkie and thumb
of one hand near the pinkie and thumb of the other hand and use two
small twisting movements.
Cordially,
Dr. Bill
Types of weather:
SNOW:
SNOW-[inflected version: snow falling hard at an angle] / blizzard / snow storm / wind driven snow:
SNOW-gently falling:
SNOW:
RAIN:
RAIN:
RAIN-HARD:
SUN:
SUN-beating-down:
SUN-beating-down-version-02:
SUNLIGHT:
WARM:
Here it is again folks, this time a bit from the side:
STORM-inflected-clouds-version:
STORM-swirl-version:
FIRE:
Roaring fire / blazing / blaze / bonfire / inferno:
FIRE-FLAMES / burning up:
Burn-up / go up in flames / burned up in a fire / combust into flames:
TORNADO / HURRICANE / TYPHOON:
TORNADO-[index-fingers-version] cyclone / twister / whirlwind:
TORNADO-[middle-finger-version]:
TORNADO-[A-hand-version]:
shake! / quake / thunderous / seismic / tremor [S-version]:
EARTHQUAKE:
shake! / quake / thunderous / seismic / tremor ["5" version]:
FOG:
FOG-[fs]:
tornado / HURRICANE / typhoon:
HURRICANE-[initialized-version]:
Notes:
It isn't as common, but on occasion I'll notice someone using the sign for "wind"
to mean "weather." I don't recommend doing that. "WIND" is a fine sign
and great to use for referring to movement of "air" but I just don't see a
reason to use it as the sign for weather.
WIND:
WIND-fierce-[strong wind, windy, storm]:
Notes:
See: SEASON
*
Want to help support ASL University? It's easy:
DONATE (Thanks!)
* Another way to help is to buy something from Dr. Bill's "Bookstore."
* Want even more ASL resources? Visit the "ASL Training Center!" (Subscription
Extension of ASLU)
* Also check out Dr. Bill's channel:
www.youtube.com/billvicars
You can learn American Sign Language (ASL) online at American Sign Language University ™
ASL resources by Lifeprint.com © Dr. William Vicars