In a message dated 11/23/2006 1:01:05 AM Pacific Standard Time, a Deaf factory worker writes:
Hi,
I went to your website to look up the sign for "official" like an official notice...you did not have that word there unless I
did not see it....a sign language lady at my work gave a two weeks notice to leave my work and she asked me the sign for
official like an official two weeks notice.
--name on file
Dear name on file,
There is no "one" sign for "official." I'll suggest a few of the possible approaches to dealing with that term.
In choosing the most appropriate sign or set of signs to express the concept we have to consider the context in which it is
being used.
If we mean "official" as in "not false" then we could sign "TRUE." Or perhaps even "FOR TRUE" meaning "for sure."
If we mean a representative of an organization then we could sign "SHOW-PERSON" using an "R" handshape, to mean
"representative."
If we "approved" we show an "A" handshape and change it into a "P" handshape as we slap the dominant hand into the palm of the
flat "base" hand.
Some people might tap an "O" on the dominant shoulder to mean "official" or "officer."
Some people might sign "polite" (a tight version of "FANCY") to mean "official."
Another way is to sign "ACCEPT" to mean that something has been "officially accepted."
"ESTABLISH" or "DECIDE" can also be used to mean "official" and either of these ways might apply to your situation wherein you
are being transferred. For example "HEY INFORM-you H-Q (headquarters) DECIDE FINISH YOU CONTINUE HERE TWO WEEK, SWITCH
DEPARTMENT." Which would mean, "I'm letting you know that it is official, you have two more weeks here and then you will
switch to the other department."
Good luck with the transfer.
--Bill