Numbers 1 thru 5 (when done in isolation) tend to be palm back:

Question:
A YouTube commenter writes:

"I'm confused. Why would concern over tension in the hand be such a factor for numbers in isolation and not when the numbers are with other numbers? When they are not in isolation is exactly when your hands need a release from tension the most (but they don't get it)? I always thought the point of the tendency towards palm backwards for numbers in isolation is because when a number is in isolation, it is the most vulnerable to being mistaken for a letter because it may very well then be placed next to a letter with no other number around to make it clear what's really going on. This makes the difference between "2-D" and "venereal disease." Is the palm-backwards thing really more about hand tension than meaning?"


Response from Dr. Bill:

I didn't say tension was not a factor when the numbers (1 thru 5) are with other numbers (and thus typically done palm forward as part of a strong). When doing a string of numbers there is actually less tension and work overall by keeping the palm pointing in the same direction throughout the string rather than to be switching back and forth. The palm likely defaults to "forward" for strings of characters likely due to the fact that letters are mostly palm forward and the sign for "hundred" is palm forward.

If you are signing "74" and you are "already" pointing your hand forward to do a 7 it wouldn't make much sense to waste effort turning the hand backwards to do the 4.

The numbers 6 and 9 two of the (what you called) "vulnerable" (to misinterpretation) numbers both stay forward and tend to deal with their vulnerability (heh) by using a "tap" if needed (if done in isolation not in a string). Which is to say they don't use a palm back position to differentiate them from W and F.

I stand by my assertion that the palm-back thing is indeed more about "less effort" than from differentiating a 2 from a V.

That which typically distinguishes 2-D from V-D is not the handshape -- it is the context (and in some cases an added mouth morpheme).

I will go so far as to state that the principle of "palm back" (for 1 - 5) when in isolation AND "palm forward when doing a string of characters" even applies to "2D." Which is to say that the (cough) right (cough)* way to sign "2D" is to have the "2" palm forward because it is part of the string "2" and "D" and thus takes less effort if done palm forward as part of the "string" (even though the string is only two characters long). For a real life example of this see the one minute and fifteen second mark of this video: https://youtu.be/1M40DOru15Y?t=72

Notice the signer (who is obviously very skilled and is presenting on a Deaf / ASL-related channel) is choosing to do the opposite of what you are suggesting.

The likelihood that any skilled ASL signer is going to misunderstand the person in that video and assume that the person just randomly decided to start talking about venereal disease while discussing design formats is near zero.

Context and ease of signing triumph for skilled signers.

Comment from Darla:
I am C.O.D.A. and I teach Sign Language classes at my local V.F.W. I should say I volunteer my time. Love it!
I always thought numbers 1-5 palm is facing the person. I never seen it the way you are showing [palm back].
Maybe becuz of different state I'm from Iowa. Thanks for ur time


Response from Dr. Bill:
Hello Darla!
Numbers 1 - 5 are certainly done both ways in the Deaf community. For isolated numbers 1 through 5 (meaning, when the number is done alone -- not in a series) the citation (the basic or dictionary) version is palm back and the inflected version is palm forward. By inflected I'm referring to the very, very tiny bit more effort to do the number palm forward (a micro bit more tension in the wrist). Since that inflection takes a micro bit more effort to do it begs the question: What is the linguistic purpose of doing the isolated numbers 1-5 forward?

Often there is no linguistic purpose or additional meaning -- it is just how the person learned and now it is how their subconscious assumes it is done and being done by others.
However sometimes the palm forward version of isolated numbers 1-5 is used for emphasis and/or clarity.

There is no doubt that we see the palm-forward version when used in combination with other numbers and/or signs such as "o'clock" or ages.

What I'm showing on the video however is what I consider to be the most relaxed, common version when those numbers (1 - 5) are shown in isolation. I encourage you to tune your "signing radar" for casual situations where people are just "chatting" with each other and not standing in front of a camera teaching or engaged in some other artificially formal situation. Chances are you will start noticing the palm-back version showing up rather often.