Location: STARS is done at around face level, whereas SOCKS
is done near belly button level.
Additionally, there is a difference in the parameter known as "palm
orientation."
Orientation: STARS is palm forward, whereas SOCKS is palm
backward/downward.
The "movement" is essentially the same, however it might be argued that
the sign STARS uses a (slightly) larger movement and or tends to
be inflected more than SOCKS. Often you will see people signing
STARS using a repetitive movement while sweeping it through the air (as
if to show "many stars in the sky). Additionally, we tend to use
"eye gaze" much more with the sign "STARS" than we do SOCKS -- look at
the sign STARS and/or look toward the "stars" while doing the sign STARS
much more so than we look at the sign SOCKS. We do not look at our feet
while doing the sign SOCKS.
Also (since we are getting picky) from time to time you may notice some
people opening their mouths in a shape that looks as if they are
pronouncing the first three letters of the English word "stars." (Note:
I'm not advocating that, I'm just simply pointing out that I see it from
time to time. This seems to stem from the fact that when a person tilts
their head to look upward, it is easy for the mouth to open a bit.)
I rarely see people mouthing the word "socks" while doing the sign
"SOCKS."
Cordially,
Dr. Bill
See:
SOCKS