BUILDING: The American Sign Language (ASL) sign for "building"

I tend to use all four fingers on each hand when I'm signing a "building."   I tend to use just the index and middle fingers when I'm signing "build" or the process of "building."

"H" hand version:

Bent hand version:

Sample sentence: I THINK I LEAVE MY KEYS THIS BUILDING GARAGE [OR] ELEVATOR.

Notes: 

Some skilled signers seem feel that the two digits version and the four digits version of BUILD / BUILDING -- can help us differentiate between:

BUILDING (as a noun -- as in an existing or planned structure referred to as "a building") -- using four digits
vs
BUILDING (as a verb --as in the process of building or constructing something) -- using two digits

As time goes on the evolution of the sign BUILD / BUILDING will likely move toward two digits and away from four digits similar to how signs like CHAMP transitioned to 3 digits from a full claw, BLOCK transitioned to two digits on each hand instead of full flat hands, and other signs have also reduced to fewer fingers.

BUILD / BUILDING is a good concept for all of us to put on our radar to note how others are signing it.

I'll note here that whatever "rule" someone comes up with in regard to two vs four digits -- it likely won't be an actual rule but rather the use of two vs four digits will be more of an occasionally used and often not used option that can be used for distinction.

A challenge or problem we face is that "language" is messy, complex, and ever changing. Humans tend to like things that are tidy, simple, and that stay the same.

Some humans come up with tidy, simple rules that only sometimes or partially apply to real life but sound (appear) so good to other humans that the other humans start sharing those rules without adding all of the caveats.

Sometimes those tidy rules then start shaping future language use instead of simply describing existing language use.

Also see: SKYSCRAPER
Also see: BUILD

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