ASL University ►


American Sign Language: "throat"


THROAT:
A general way to refer to most body parts is to simply point at them or tap them twice.  When I sign "neck" or "throat" I just tap my neck with my index finger once or  twice.


THROAT or esophagus:
If I need to specify the part of the body down which food, water, and air travels, I can use a "C" hand as a classifier to show the general shape and distance of a throat.  I start at the base and work up.


When I need to talk about a "throat" as an "area of the body" for example, a person whom didn't put on sunscreen and now has a sunburned throat--I would use the following sign.  It means "the throat from here to here."


SORE THROAT:
If I had a sore throat I'd use a loose "G" handshape and move it down the throat twice while using a pained expression.
Don't you feel sorry for me?  (Note: Some people just spell S-O-R-E and sign throat.")


 


You might also see this sign used to mean "my throat hurts."  Thus is the sign for "pain/hurt" done near the throat.


 


Suppose someone is a "pain in the neck?"  That would be shown by using a single hand twisted into the side of the neck.
"He (or she) is a pain in the neck!"


 


The general sign for "swallow"


 


You might also see this sign done with a "flat hand."
When you add the tongue and open mouth that change into the closed mouth it can be used to mean "gullible."  The more you exaggerate the sign, the more gullible the person.  Memory aid: "to swallow a fish."


Here is a side view of "SWALLOW/gullible."



You can learn American Sign Language (ASL) online at American Sign Language University ™
ASL resources by Lifeprint.com  ©  Dr. William Vicars


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 >

 


back.gif (1674 bytes)

American Sign Language University ™ ASL resources by Lifeprint.com © Dr. William Vicars