American Sign Language: "What do?" / "Do what?"
Also see: DO
WHAT-DO / "Do what?" As in "What are you doing?"
The sign "WHAT-DO" is sometimes listed as "#DO" because it is a lexicalized form of spelling the letters "D" and "O."
To do this sign, turn your hands palm up in "D" handshapes and hold them in front of you with your index fingers pointing out/forward. Then keeping your hands in that position, spell the word "DO" twice.More advanced signers tend to do the same thing except they have "mutated" the "D" handshapes into "G" handshapes. The movement for this variation is to bring the pads of the index fingers and the thumbs together twice.
Make sure to use a "Wh-q" facial expression with this sign because it translates to "What are/is we/he/she/it doing?" If you put a y/n-q facial expression on this sign it means, "What did I do? Why are you on my case?"
DO-what?:
DO-what? (one handed version)
(What are you doing!?)
Side view: (G hand version)
WHAT-DO? (D hand variation)
Notice, you can use a "D" handshape instead of the "G" handshape.
Discussion:
A student asks:
"Can the sign “what-do” be used for asking “what do I do?” i.e., “Suppose, fingerspelling, make mistake, what-do?”
Response: The sign "what-DO?" can indeed be used to mean "What do I do?"
Dr. Bill's new iPhone "Fingerspelling Practice" app is available now for just 99 cents! GET IT HERE!
NEW! Online "ASL Training Center!" (Premium Subscription Version of ASLU) ** CHECK IT OUT **
Also available: "ASLUniversity.com" (a mirror of Lifeprint.com less traffic, fast access) ** VISIT NOW **
You can learn sign language online at American
Sign Language
(ASL) University (tm)
Sign language lessons and resources. Dr. William Vicars (c) Lifeprint.com