American Sign Language: "main / major / specialize / line of work / field-of-endeavor"


This sign can mean a wide variety of related concepts such as: major (in school), main, field of work, a discipline, specialization," etc.


The dominant flat hand moves forward along the top of the stationary non-dominant flat hand.

MAIN / major:

0:00 / 0:00


(My dominant hand is moving forward. My non-dominant hand is not moving.)

 


NOTES:

Sometimes you might see people initialize this sign with a "P" to mean "profession."

PROFESSION: 


To indicate a "professional," you can add the "PERSON-[agent]" sign to the "profession" sign. 
 



SPECIALIZE:
Variation:  Some people do this sign using an "index finger" on the dominant hand or even with both fingers in "index finger" handshapes.  By using an index finger for the dominant hand (instead of a flat hand) you cause the sign to mean "specialize," "niche," or "narrow field of endeavor."