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Zionism: Is there a sign for Zionism in ASL?
As of 2026 the neutral connotation approach in ASL to signing "Zionism" is to fingerspell it.
Notes and observations:
[As of the mid-2020s from an ASL perspective]
In an online social media group an ASL learner asked if anyone in the group was aware of a sign for "Zionism."
The student mentioned that they had seen a sign that resembled a sign that depicts an "eye patch" and is commonly used for the concept of "pirate."
In another online group it was mentioned the sign for pirate [PIRATE-(eyepatch_version)] was used by some Muslims starting in 2025 as a way of referring to Zionism and alluding to the maritime conflict in which Israel blocked aid ships to Gaza, an action that some critics described as piracy.
A user of Israeli Sign Language shared (2026) that it was their observation that ISL signers typically fingerspell the term "Zionism" -- and mentioned that Zionists consider the "pirate" sign to be impolite.
Comments from William G. Vicars, EdD:
Referring to an articulatory bundle of information as a "word" or a "sign" (with no qualifiers such as: emerging, proposed, home, regional, possible, protologistic, neologistic), " is sometimes problematic if that articulatory bundle of information hasn't *actually* reached a certain level of development in the life-cycle of a word or sign.
A word or sign that has been newly created or coined but has not yet spread or gained widespread usage is a protologism or unstable neologism / prelogism.
Here are a few terms having to do with the stage development of a word or sign:
Protologism: A "first-used" word that is currently restricted to a very small group, a specific context, or only the person who invented it.
Neologism (Unstable): While a neologism generally refers to a new word, in its early, unspread stage, it is considered "unstable" or a "prelogism."
Nonce Word: A word coined for a single, one-time use to solve an immediate communication need, which may never be used again.
Coinage: The general term for a newly created word or phrase.
Localized/Restricted: A term that is confined to a specific geographic area or specialized group.
If and/or after a protologism spreads and starts gaining mainstream recognition, it becomes a neologism.
At that point if you were to ask many people if the neologism is a word -- many of them would not recognize it nor consider it a word. However -- if others start and continue using it -- eventually the neologism may become "a word."
Despite any protologisms or neologisms existing around the world for Zionism or even any non-ASL signs for Zionism, as of February 2026 there does not appear to be a widely recognized sign in ASL for Zionism.
In other words, there may be signs in other languages or used by certain groups used to indicate Zionism -- but as of today (2/18/2026) there are no widely recognized / accepted signs for Zionism in ASL lexicon.
Denotative signs or words provide a literal, objective meaning of a referent. If you look a word up in a dictionary, you are (usually) looking at its denotation. It is factual and doesn't change based on your emotions. Sometimes dictionaries include connotative words but also include usage labels such as: pejorative, disparaging, informal, slang, literary, poetic, etc.
Connotative signs or words tend to involve additional emotional or cultural associations. Connotative signs and words can have positive or negative "vibes." If a person chooses a word or sign specifically because it is neutral we could label that word or sign as having a "neutral connotation."
Eventually ASL users in general may be presented with a sign or set of signs that are in significant / widespread use by people who are:
1. Deaf
2. Immersed in Deaf Culture
3. Fluent in sign language
4. Have a self-perception or identify as a member of the group being discussed
In other words, people who are not intersectional in regard to identifying in the above categories -- may come up with protologisms -- but it is the community of those who are intersectional in those identities who will eventually adopt or not adopt the type of sign that will likely eventually be placed into dictionaries and gain widespread use.
Until a denotative sign emerges -- those who wishes to use a denotative (or at least a neutral connotation) approach to communication will choose to spell or fingerspell "Zionism."
Notes:
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