In American Sign Language (ASL) instruction and written materials, the term "IX" is an abbreviation for "INDEX" -- which typically refers to pointing at something or someone using your index finger.
How IX is used in ASL:
Spatial Setup: If a person or object isn't physically in the room, a signer can "set them up" by pointing to an empty space.
For example, someone might sign: "fs-BOB IX-left"
In other words, the signer fingerspelled "B-O-B" and then pointed to the signer's left. For the rest of the conversation, pointing to that same location becomes a way of referring to "Bob". If you are facing your signing partner and your signing partner puts Bob on their left that means Bob (or rather "the idea of Bob") is on your right. You have, in effect, created a pronoun. Pointing to that space for the rest of your conversation is now a "proxy" for the noun "Bob."
Pointing can be used to create meanings such as: he, she, me, you, that-person, them, there, it, etc.
For example, pointing at yourself is IX-me (I/me). Pointing at someone else is IX-he, IX-she, IX-they-singular,
IX-loc: Indexing a location. This instructs you to point to a specific spot to mean "there" or to indicate where an object is (e.g., pointing
under a table).
For example: IX-under-table
IX-dir: Indexing a direction. This means your pointing finger traces a path or shows orientation, such as "around the corner" or "to the right".
For example: IX-left
For now just remember that IX is a short way to type "INDEX" or "use your
index finger to point at someone, some place, or something as a way of referring
to that person, place, or thing.
Examples:
IX-he
IX-she
IX-they
IX-that-person
IX-Bob
IX-the-dog
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Notes: