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SCHOOL: The American Sign Language (ASL) sign for "school"

This sign can also mean things such as academic or academy -- however there is a different sign that specifically means "college" or university.
See: COLLEGE

 

The sign for "school" uses flat hands.  Quickly bring your your dominant hand down onto your base hand twice as if clapping.


It is okay if the fingers are a bit loose and/or the thumb sticks out loosely.  It is okay if the non-dominant hand moves somewhat but most of the motion should be in the dominant hand.
 

 





Memory Aid:
Think of a teacher clapping her hands to get the student's attention.
Other meanings:  "Academic" 
Handshape:  loose "flat" hands. (Or even "5" hands, but the fingers are not widely splayed.)
Location: In the neutral signing space in front of the body
Orientation: Dominant hand faces down.  Non-dominant hand faces up.
Movement:  "Clap" the hands together twice.  (Do it quietly. No need to make noise. Duh.)
 



DEAF SCHOOL:
Many people just combine the sign DEAF and the sign SCHOOL to create the meaning of "a school for the Deaf."
That approach isn't "wrong" but advanced signers know there is a separate and specific sign that means "Deaf School" that initializes the sign "SCHOOL" with "i" handshapes.
This sign is not signed English but rather it is a long-used sign in the Deaf Community to refer to a residential state-run school for the Deaf.
 
See: DEAF SCHOOL
 



 

Notes: 

While all academic colleges are schools -- not all schools are colleges. The sign SCHOOL and the sign COLLEGE are not the same.

See: COLLEGE

See: ACADEMIC

 




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