American Sign Language: "California"
The sign for gold starts with a loose index-finger handshape pointing at the earlobe and then you shake a "Y" handshape.
But this is a "flexible" sign. While most people use an index-finger or "L" hand as the first handshape in the sign for California; some people use a "five handshape."
CALIFORNIA:
I tend to just sign "gold" using the index finger and "y" handshape to mean, "California."
CALIFORNIA:
In everyday usage the sign CALIFORNIA "actually" starts with somewhat of a loose "L" hand (rather than a "tight" "index hand"). Quite often it starts with an "ILY" (I love you) handshape!
Memory aid: California is the Golden State.
The non-initialized sign for GOLD (the version that uses a "Y" hand) is the basis of the sign for California.
You will also see quite a few people starting the sign for California with a "5" handshape rather than an "1" or "L" handshape.
CALIFORNIA (version)
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