The sign for "aide" or "assistant" in general uses the dominant
"L" hand to lift the base "A" hand. It is also common to see this sign
done with both hands in an "A" handshape. If you are right-handed, tap the
tip of the thumb of the right "L" hand twice on the bottom of the left "A" hand.
AIDE / ASSISTANT: ("L-hand" version)
Note: I was at a faculty meeting at my day job and my terp signed
"ASSISTANT D-E-A-N" (using the "L"-hand version of ASSISTANT and then
spelling the word "dean") to refer to the "Associate Dean" of the college.
In my mind I thought, "Wow -- great sign choice!" (And I've adopted it ever
since for "associate dean."
At the local Deaf church I see the ASSISTANT sign used to refer to "1st
Counselor" which is the second highest in local leadership of that
particular congregation. Thus the "ASSISTANT" sign can mean such things as
"second in command."
Also of interest is in that organization there is a "Second Counselor" who
is functionally the third highest in leadership. For that position the sign
ASSISTANT is commonly done using a "3"-handshape on the dominant hand
(instead of an "L" handshape).
The AIDE or ASSISTANT sign does not mean "assistance" if you mean
"assistance" then just do the sign for
HELP.
You may on occasion still see an initialized version of the sign for "aide" or "assistant." This version
is what you would call an "initialized" sign. It uses the initial of the
English word "aide" as the handshape for the ASL concept "aide/assistant."
I no longer think this version is "okay" I don't consider it a good version. I encourage you instead to use the "L" hand version (above).
ASSISTANT (version) (not recommended)
Notes:
As time goes on it seems to me that I'm seeing more and more people do this
sign with an "L" hand using a double tap and no "person" ending.
Why? Well, one reason is that it takes less effort. Doing the
very small double tap of the "L" hand takes less effort than adding the
"person" ending to the "A" hand version.
Another reason, and maybe this is just me -- but doing this sign with an "A"
hand on the dominant hand feels weirdly close to doing the sign for "poop."
(Sorry, too much information, I know.)
The sign for AIDE / ASSISTANT is based on the sign "HELP." You
could express the concept of "aide" or "assistant" by signing HELP-PERSON
which would mean "helper" which is more or less equal in meaning to
"assistant."
Want to help support
ASL University? It's easy:
DONATE (Thanks!)
(You don't need a PayPal account. Just look for the credit card
logos and click continue.)
Another way to help is to buy something from the ASLU "Bookstore."
Want even more ASL resources? Visit the "ASL Training Center!" (Subscription
Extension of ASLU)
CHECK IT OUT >
Bandwidth slow? Check out "ASLUniversity.com" (a
free mirror of
Lifeprint.com less traffic, fast access)
VISIT >