Topic:

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In American Sign Language (ASL), concepts and meanings are conveyed through the use of space, handshape, movement, and palm orientation.

 

The "Reversal of Orientation for Negation" is a specific linguistic phenomenon in ASL that utilizes a change in the palm orientation of a sign to convey negation or the opposite of a concept.


For some (but not all) ASL signs, simply reversing the orientation of the palm can change the meaning of a sign to its opposite

 

APPROVE "like" thumb-up / DISAPPROVE thumb-down

COME / GO

GOOD / BAD

KNOW / don't-KNOW

LIKE / don't-LIKE

TRUE / FALSE

WANT / don't-WANT

 

 

Related concept:  reversal of movement orientation for opposition

 

 

 

UP / DOWN

 

AGREE / DISAGREE

 

SAME / DIFFERENT

 

SAME / OPPOSITE

 

SUPPORT / RESIST

 

POINT on point the point / missed the point off topic non-sequitur

 

Bonus sign:  don't-MIND It is quite possible that the don't-MIND is a reversal of the sign MIND that migrated to the nose area and added a reversal of orientation for negation movement.

 

Bonus sign: INSIDE-OUT

 

 


 



 

Notes: 

 

Also see: Reversal of Orientation for Negation

 

 

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