"salt" American Sign Language (ASL)

American Sign Language: "salt" Note: I went to a picnic one summer and while sitting around with a bunch of my friends I held up a salt shaker and asked, "What is your sign for this?" Ha! 5 different answers! One of the oldest and most respected (4th generation Deaf, white hair, married to a Deaf man, has Deaf children, etc.) did a shaking movement (as if holding a salt shaker) and mouthed the word "salt." I kid you not! Then we all spent another 15 minutes ~~arguing~~, er, I mean discussing the "right" sign for "salt." SALT: Version 1 (recommended) SALT (variation) Okay, so I'm the only person on the planet who likes this version. But I have my reasons (see below). In the pictures above, I'm using just my index finger on my left hand, (remember, my wife (and a zillion other people) use "V" handshapes on both hands. Not that she is right mind you. I just put her version above mine as the recommended version because I want to make her happy. The left (or non-dominant) hand stays stationary. The right index and middle fingers alternate moving up and down. As the story goes, in the old days, crusty old wayfarers upon sitting down to meat, would stick their knife into the salt jar or bag. As they withdrew their knife they made sure there was an amount of salt resting on the blade. They'd hold the knife over their food and tap it with their fingers, knocking the salt off somewhat evenly onto their food. [What? You think I'd make something like that up?!?] SALT: Version 2 Remember, there are a BUNCH of ways to sign salt. Go with whatever your instructor or local Deaf friends use. SEASONING / sprinkle on / salt Also see: "PEPPER" Want to help support ASLU? It's easy :) You can learn sign language online at American Sign Language (ASL) University ™ Sign language lessons and resources. Dr. William Vicars © Lifeprint.com

American Sign Language: "salt"

Note: I went to a picnic one summer and while sitting around with a bunch of my friends I held up a salt shaker and asked, "What is your sign for this?"
Ha! 5 different answers! One of the oldest and most respected (4th generation Deaf, white hair, married to a Deaf man, has Deaf children, etc.) did a shaking movement (as if holding a salt shaker) and mouthed the word "salt." I kid you not! Then we all spent another 15 minutes ~~arguing~~, er, I mean discussing the "right" sign for "salt."

SALT: Version 1 (recommended)

SALT (variation)

Okay, so I'm the only person on the planet who likes this version. But I have my reasons (see below).
In the pictures above, I'm using just my index finger on my left hand, (remember, my wife (and a zillion other people) use "V" handshapes on both hands. Not that she is right mind you. I just put her version above mine as the recommended version because I want to make her happy.

The left (or non-dominant) hand stays stationary. The right index and middle fingers alternate moving up and down.

As the story goes, in the old days, crusty old wayfarers upon sitting down to meat, would stick their knife into the salt jar or bag. As they withdrew their knife they made sure there was an amount of salt resting on the blade. They'd hold the knife over their food and tap it with their fingers, knocking the salt off somewhat evenly onto their food.

[What? You think I'd make something like that up?!?]

SALT: Version 2

Remember, there are a BUNCH of ways to sign salt. Go with whatever your instructor or local Deaf friends use.

SEASONING / sprinkle on / salt

Also see: "PEPPER"

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

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