American Sign Language: woman
The sign for "woman"
has a couple of variations.
Here is a good general version used by many adult, native Deaf. Touch the
thumb-tip of your dominant "5"-hand to your chin and then bring it down to
your chest.
WOMAN:
Notes:
Regarding this version: Students sometimes ask me, "Isn't that the sign for
mom? My other instructor showed me a sign that combined the signs GIRL
and FINE."
Response:
The sign "WOMAN" has evolved over time to the point where the initial
handshape and movement for the sign "GIRL" tend to be dropped and the sign
actually looks more like a combination of the signs "MOM" and "FINE."
MOM + FINE
= "WOMAN"
However, I really don't think that the first part of the current sign for
WOMAN is actually based on the sign "MOM" though. I think that the
dominant hand (your brain actually) is simply anticipating the final
handshape and for efficiency sake the first handshape (GIRL) has faded out
(been dropped) over time.
But yes, I still see people doing the GIRL + FINE version of WOMAN and it is
an "OK" sign.
To help you remember the sign think of it like
this: A woman is also sometimes called "a lady." A "lady" is a "girl or
female who is refined" or a "girl who is fine." So a combination of the
signs "GIRL" and "FINE" end up representing the concept of "WOMAN" (or
lady).
WOMAN:
FEMALE + FINE (version)
Regardless, you should do your
signs however your local (qualified) teacher or local (skilled/native) Deaf
do them.
See:
LADY
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