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ASL: "meet"


The sign "MEET" (as in "two people meet) uses "index finger" handshapes. 
The two hands "meet" in the middle. (Make sure to scroll down and check out the variations on this sign.)

MEET:


Animated gif of MEET:

 

 




The sign "MEET" can incorporate the subject (me) and object (you) of the sentence without needing to add the sign ME nor the sign YOU. 

The sign "me-MEET-you" or "I  meet you"  uses the movement direction of the dominant hand to establish who is meeting whom.  Notice how the dominant hand (the right hand for right handed people) moves from me toward you.  The non-dominant hand (the left hand for right handed people) is held away from the body.  The right hand "meets" the left hand. (It is the opposite for left handed people.)  You don't need to add the signs "I" or "YOU."  This one sign includes that information already.

 

me-MEET-you:



(Yes, I used to have some hair up top.  Let's not make an issue of it.)

Note: The tips of the index fingers do not touch during the sign for meet.
That would be awkward since it would indicate two people meeting and pressing their faces together.
Fun perhaps, but still...awkward.  So don't do it if you ever want to be invited anywhere in polite society.
Let me show you another version where it is more clear that the fingertips don't touch:

 



On the other hand (heh) if you move the non-dominant hand toward you it changes the meaning to:

you-MEET-me  (you came up to me / you approached me).

you-MEET-me:



Animated gif of you-MEET-me:

 



The sign MEET is "directional."  You can modify the direction in which you do the sign to indicate who is meeting whom.
For example you can hold the non-dominant hand a bit off to the side and move the dominant hand toward it to mean "meet that person."

MEET him / her / that person:

 



If you mean "meet" as in "a meeting" and/or a group of people meeting, see:

MEETING
 



 

Notes:

The sign MEET can "level up."
By that I mean that the sign MEET can be used in increasingly powerful ways at differing levels of complexity:
Level 1: MEET: Plain verb version -- not inflected
Level 2: me-MEET-you: Indicating verb version
Level 3: me-MEET-you-[there]: indicating + locative verb version
Level 4: me-MEET-you-[there]-[speedily] indicating + locative + depictive verb version (in other words the "classifier" version of "MEET."
Once you reach Level 4 you can have arrived at the stage where you indicate "how."
Level 1 = what? -- a meeting of two people
Level 2 adds "who" = me and you (etc.)
Level 3 adds "where" = you and me meet there
Level 4 adds "how" = manner or affect (emotion) and can include a wide variety of inflections: reluctantly, excitedly, quickly, after summoning willpower, etc. For example, a person could roll-their eyes while signing MEET to indicate that the person doesn't think the meeting is of value or is a waste of time.

 


 


It's sort of funny how often students mess up and sign "Nice to date you" instead of "Nice to meet you."

There is a difference between a "D" handshape and a "1" (also called an "index-finger") handshape.  
You should do signs like "MEET" and "WHERE" using the "1" (or "index-finger) handshape not a "D" handshape.

Compare MEET vs DATE (as in "romantic dating").  



The sign MEET can "level up."
By that I mean that the sign MEET can be used in increasingly powerful ways at differing levels of complexity:

Level 1: MEET: Plain verb version -- not inflected

Level 2: me-MEET-you: Indicating verb version

Level 3: me-MEET-you-[there]: indicating + locative verb version

Level 4: me-MEET-you-[there]-[speedily] indicating + locative + depictive verb version (in other words the "classifier" version of "MEET."

Once you reach Level 4 you can have arrived at the stage where you indicate "how."

Level 1 = what? -- a meeting of two people

Level 2 adds "who" = me and you (etc.)

Level 3 adds "where" = you and me meet there

Level 4 adds "how" = manner or affect (emotion) and can include a wide variety of inflections: reluctantly, excitedly, quickly, after summoning willpower, etc. For example, a person could roll-their eyes while signing MEET to indicate that the person doesn't think the meeting is of value or is a waste of time.

 




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