TIRED in sign language

ASL sign for TIRED — Printable

This word entry contains ASL signs for "tired", baby signing "tired", and related words.

ASL sign for "tired"

"How do you say 'tired' in American Sign Language?"

Meaning: Definition: in need of sleep or rest; weary.

Pronunciation (sign description): Both half-bent flat hands with its fingertips in contact with the sides of torso "dropped" down without detaching from torso.

Learner tip: Not to confuse this sign with other sign ANIMAL (different movement).

Baby signing "tired"

Babies give cues when they are tired, such as crying, yawning, raising arms, twisting their hands in their eyes, sucking fingers, and so on.

The time-lapse video shows how the ASL-speaking baby acquired the word "tired". Apparently, toddler can understand the concept of being tired a while before they can utter the word whether in manually speaking or vocally speaking.

In the video, the early "unmarked" handshape first emerged as "flat O" long while before the child can form the correct handshape (bent flat handshape). The location is correct, but at this stage, a baby may not able to (linguistically) cross the arms as in LOVE or BEAR until later.

In my language acquisition documentation, the data shows that the ASL word "tired" and "sleep" were acquired during the one-word stage (12-18 months).

The video shows what how the process of language development (phonological acquisition in particular) works in general. Kids develop at different pace. Note that "baby sign language" is cultural appropriation; ASL signs are words, not "baby signs". Based on scientific studies, language development milestones are on the similar timeline for both signing and speech.

Vocabulary

Related signs: Your friend texted you if you want to go out for a sleigh ride tonight. No thanks, you're tired that you need to rest. No more activity or you would become WORN OUT. You experience FATIGUE when you feel unmotivated or have low or no energy. Exercise can help improve your energy. You grow WEARY that you want to quit your job. You are EXHAUSTED when you get home from working 14 hours a day for 14 days at the hospital. You look very JADED; you need a holiday. Ironically, planning a holiday trip SAPPED your energy. On the plane, you are DROWSY or SLEEPY that you try to take a nap.

Usage/Grammar

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Written ASL

[Note: ASL writing is not an official standard. This sign language writing remains in a state of open space to allow room for experiment, evolution, and improvement.]

ASL written for TIRED

Written ASL digit for "TIRED" contributed by Adrean Clark in the ASL writing community, 2018.

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