American Sign Language: "snow" To do the sign for "snow" hold your hands up in the air. The fingers flutter as you move the hands down and side to side. SNOW: Sample sentence: Do you like to build a snowmen? = YOU LIKE MAKE SNOW-MAN? Notes: Some people touch their hands to their shoulders at the beginning of the sign snow. I've never liked that version because it makes me think of dandruff. Some people do the sign "WHITE" at the beginning of the sign "snow." I suppose that is to distinguish it from "yellow snow?" -- Which could be a very helpful distinction if you happen to be thirsty. See: "snowboarding" See: STORM Notes: In a message dated 5/21/2012 2:00:52 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time, an ASL teacher writes: Dear Dr. Vicars, I am starting lessons 13 & 14 with one of my classes. As always, I check to see if I sign the same way you do before assigning vocabulary. I looked at snow and we do sign that differently. You sign it like a "flurry" (I like!). When I learned snow, I learned it "White+rain" Did it change or do you think this is regional? My professor / boss was a CODA. Thanks! Cynthia Cynthia, Hello :) The sign for snow varies widely by region (and from signer to signer). I choose to do the "fluttering-fingers side-to-side downward movement" version of SNOW because it is the simplest and most straightforward of the various versions out there. The other versions are not "wrong" they are just more complex and take more work. I don't know about you, but my life is complex enough and I have more than enough work, so I think I'll keep doing it the simple way. I differentiate SNOW from RAIN by using a fluttering downward side to side movement for SNOW and using a down, up, down movement for rain. -- Bill Want to help support ASLU? It's easy :) You can learn sign language (ASL) online at American Sign Language University ™ Lifeprint.com © Dr. William Vicars

American Sign Language: "snow"

To do the sign for "snow" hold your hands up in the air. The fingers flutter as you move the hands down and side to side.

SNOW:

Sample sentence: Do you like to build a snowmen? = YOU LIKE MAKE SNOW-MAN?

Notes:
Some people touch their hands to their shoulders at the beginning of the sign snow. I've never liked that version because it makes me think of dandruff.

Some people do the sign "WHITE" at the beginning of the sign "snow." I suppose that is to distinguish it from "yellow snow?" -- Which could be a very helpful distinction if you happen to be thirsty.

See: "snowboarding"

See: STORM

Notes:

In a message dated 5/21/2012 2:00:52 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time, an ASL teacher writes:
Dear Dr. Vicars,
I am starting lessons 13 & 14 with one of my classes. As always, I check to see if I sign the same way you do before assigning vocabulary. I looked at snow and we do sign that differently. You sign it like a "flurry" (I like!). When I learned snow, I learned it "White+rain" Did it change or do you think this is regional? My professor / boss was a CODA.
Thanks!
Cynthia

Cynthia,
Hello :)
The sign for snow varies widely by region (and from signer to signer).
I choose to do the "fluttering-fingers side-to-side downward movement" version of SNOW because it is the simplest and most straightforward of the various versions out there.
The other versions are not "wrong" they are just more complex and take more work. I don't know about you, but my life is complex enough and I have more than enough work, so I think I'll keep doing it the simple way.
I differentiate SNOW from RAIN by using a fluttering downward side to side movement for SNOW and using a down, up, down movement for rain.
-- Bill

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