American Sign Language: "dirty-minded" Some people may tell you that you can't use the sign "DIRTY" as part of the ASL phrase for "dirty minded." But that simply isn't true. The Deaf Community has long ago adopted the combination of DIRTY and BRAIN to refer to someone who thinks about sex a lot. Do the sign for "dirty" by holding your hand under your chin and wiggle your fingers. Then touch your index finger to your forehead as if pointing at your mind. SEX on the BRAIN: How you do this sign is you fingerspell the letters S-E-X on your forehead going from your right to your left. (This same technique is also used for similar statements such as "F-O-O-D on the brain.") Another way to sign DIRTY-MINDED would be to point at the person (or point off to the side as an absent referent after having identified the person by spelling their name or doing their name sign) and then signing "DWELL-on" and spelling SEX or signing SEX. History note: In the old-days some people actually used the "THICK LAYER" sign to mean "dirty minded." It had to do with the concept of a layer of filth covering your brain. I've only actually seen the sign once in actual usage and that was back in 1986 at the Deaf Club in Indianapolis. An old codger used it on some other old codger. (Or maybe he was using it on me. Hard to remember now that I'm getting to be and old codger.) My old friend Annette Tull (who has passed on) jumped out of her chair when I showed that sign at a workshop and she told me that she recalled seeing her Dad use that sign when she was a little girl but when she asked him what it meant he wouldn't tell her! Anyway don't use this sign (to mean dirty minded). It is no longer standard. I'm only showing it to you here as one of those "gee, that's interesting" bits of info. THICK LAYER: \ 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 > You can learn sign language (ASL) online at American Sign Language University ™ Lifeprint.com © Dr. William Vicars

American Sign Language: "dirty-minded"

Some people may tell you that you can't use the sign "DIRTY" as part of the ASL phrase for "dirty minded." But that simply isn't true.
The Deaf Community has long ago adopted the combination of DIRTY and BRAIN to refer to someone who thinks about sex a lot.

Do the sign for "dirty" by holding your hand under your chin and wiggle your fingers. Then touch your index finger to your forehead as if pointing at your mind.

SEX on the BRAIN:
How you do this sign is you fingerspell the letters S-E-X on your forehead going from your right to your left. (This same technique is also used for similar statements such as "F-O-O-D on the brain.")

Another way to sign DIRTY-MINDED would be to point at the person (or point off to the side as an absent referent after having identified the person by spelling their name or doing their name sign) and then signing "DWELL-on" and spelling SEX or signing SEX.

History note:
In the old-days some people actually used the "THICK LAYER" sign to mean "dirty minded."
It had to do with the concept of a layer of filth covering your brain. I've only actually seen the sign once in actual usage and that was back in 1986 at the Deaf Club in Indianapolis. An old codger used it on some other old codger. (Or maybe he was using it on me. Hard to remember now that I'm getting to be and old codger.) My old friend Annette Tull (who has passed on) jumped out of her chair when I showed that sign at a workshop and she told me that she recalled seeing her Dad use that sign when she was a little girl but when she asked him what it meant he wouldn't tell her!

Anyway don't use this sign (to mean dirty minded). It is no longer standard.
I'm only showing it to you here as one of those "gee, that's interesting" bits of info.

THICK LAYER:
\

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 >