American Sign Language: "responsible" RESPONSIBLE: Note: This sign can be done with "bent hands" and doesn't need to be done with "R" hands. Usage note: You will see this done with either a single or a double movement. I tend to see the "double" movement for the concept "responsibility." As in "It is your responsibility." I tend to use a single, longer contact when signing things such as, "You are responsible." OPTIONAL READING / NOT REQUIRED FOR CLASS A student asks: "What is the difference between using the sign for “blame, accuse” to indicate “fault” versus the sign where the hand drops down from “responsibility”? do either of these signs represent the concept of ‘having many faults’ (shortcomings)? Thanks for your help!" - Linda Dear Linda, The "BLAME" sign can mean "accuse," "It is your/my/his/her/its fault" or "blamed." This sign is directional thus it can indicate who or what is "at fault" or who is being "accused" as well as who is doing the accusing. See: BLAME The "FAULT" sign is non-directional and needs a sign such as "YOUR," "MY," or "HIS/HER" to indicate the object. This sign cannot be used directly to indicate "accusation." You would need to sign, "SHE INFORM-me your-FAULT" or "SHE TOLD-me YOUR FAULT." FAULT: Here's a view of the sign "FAULT" from an angle: Also see: FAULT "Shortcomings" would not use the sign "FAULT." Shortcomings would be described with phrases such as: "HE/SHE PROBLEMS MANY!" "HE/SHE WEAK MANY!" "HIS/HER CHARACTER? SO-SO." "HE/SHE not-GOOD-ENOUGH." Such phrases would be accompanied by non-manual markers (facial expressions/body language) such as a "scrunched nose." -- Dr. Bill Linda writes: "Ok, so besides one sign being directional and one needing a possessive pronoun both signs mean the same thing?" Linda, No. Each sign has its own semantic range (a range of meanings). The semantic ranges of the two signs do overlap, but not completely. If you look the words up in an English dictionary you will note that the word "fault" has about twice as many meanings as the word "blame." The ASL sign FAULT only expresses two or three of the meanings of the word "fault." The meanings of the word "blame" generally contain the concept of "to" as in "to find fault," "to accuse," "to attribute." I generally think of the ASL sign "FAULT" as being limited to meaning "responsibility for some negative occurrence or situation." The ASL sign BLAME carries a wider semantic range than the ASL sign "FAULT." - Dr. Bill You can learn American Sign Language (ASL) online at American Sign Language University ™ ASL resources by Lifeprint.com © Dr. William Vicars Want to help support ASLU? It's easy :)

American Sign Language: "responsible"

RESPONSIBLE:
Note: This sign can be done with "bent hands" and doesn't need to be done with "R" hands.

Usage note: You will see this done with either a single or a double movement.
I tend to see the "double" movement for the concept "responsibility." As in "It is your responsibility."
I tend to use a single, longer contact when signing things such as, "You are responsible."

OPTIONAL READING / NOT REQUIRED FOR CLASS

A student asks:
"What is the difference between using the sign for “blame, accuse” to indicate “fault” versus the sign where the hand drops down from “responsibility”? do either of these signs represent the concept of ‘having many faults’ (shortcomings)? Thanks for your help!" - Linda

Dear Linda,
The "BLAME" sign can mean "accuse," "It is your/my/his/her/its fault" or "blamed." This sign is directional thus it can indicate who or what is "at fault" or who is being "accused" as well as who is doing the accusing. See: BLAME

The "FAULT" sign is non-directional and needs a sign such as "YOUR," "MY," or "HIS/HER" to indicate the object. This sign cannot be used directly to indicate "accusation." You would need to sign, "SHE INFORM-me your-FAULT" or "SHE TOLD-me YOUR FAULT."

FAULT:

Here's a view of the sign "FAULT" from an angle:

Also see: FAULT

"Shortcomings" would not use the sign "FAULT." Shortcomings would be described with phrases such as:
"HE/SHE PROBLEMS MANY!"
"HE/SHE WEAK MANY!"
"HIS/HER CHARACTER? SO-SO."
"HE/SHE not-GOOD-ENOUGH."
Such phrases would be accompanied by non-manual markers (facial expressions/body language) such as a "scrunched nose."
-- Dr. Bill

Linda writes:
"Ok, so besides one sign being directional and one needing a possessive pronoun both signs mean the same thing?"

Linda,
No. Each sign has its own semantic range (a range of meanings). The semantic ranges of the two signs do overlap, but not completely.
If you look the words up in an English dictionary you will note that the word "fault" has about twice as many meanings as the word "blame."
The ASL sign FAULT only expresses two or three of the meanings of the word "fault."
The meanings of the word "blame" generally contain the concept of "to" as in "to find fault," "to accuse," "to attribute."
I generally think of the ASL sign "FAULT" as being limited to meaning "responsibility for some negative occurrence or situation."
The ASL sign BLAME carries a wider semantic range than the ASL sign "FAULT."
- Dr. Bill

You can learn American Sign Language (ASL) online at American Sign Language University ™
ASL resources by Lifeprint.com © Dr. William Vicars

Want to help support ASLU? It's easy :)