UNIVERSITY in sign language

This entry shows you how to sign 'university' and some vocabulary and also offers some tips on how to find colleges or universities to take ASL courses.

ASL signs for "university"

What is the sign for "university" in American Sign Language?

Definition: An educational institution of the highest level, having a college of liberal arts and a program of graduate studies together with several professional schools.

Pronunciation (sign description): Dominant "U" hand (handshape) with the palm outward in contact with the non-dominant flat palm-in hand (location) moves from the palm downward, sideways, and upward in a smooth arc motion.

If you see this variation, it's related to an informal register in contrast to the formal citation as shown above (first video).

This phonological variation in movement (opposite direction with the dominant hand) is sometimes seen.

University vocabulary

University and COLLEGE are where you go to get a higher EDUCATION (for better or for worse). Semester after SEMESTER, as a STUDENT, you STUDY hard and RESEARCH a lot. You find your brain begin to burn up. Your roomie recommend a party. Well, everyone needs a break once in a while, right?

In your UNDERGRADUATE program, you just found out that there is a foreign language requirement. Ah, you had already taken ASL classes in HIGH SCHOOL, and hmm, you stroke your chin, thinking it'd be an easy course for you to retake it. The Deaf ASL instructor caught you within minutes on the first day of class and sent you for a placement assessment. Now, you've been placed in advanced Deaf studies course taught by a tough, fast-signing Deaf professor. Oh well, tough luck, pal.

If you're looking for ASL coures, see some tips on how to find ASL programs or courses.

ASL Writing

Need to write down the ASL word to help you remember the sign? Here is the image showing how.

ASL written for UNIVERSITY — Printable, 2018.

Top image is what the listener views whereas the bottom image of the written ASL digit for "university" is the signer's perspective.

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Search Tips and Pointers

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Alphabetical letters: It's useful for 1) a single-letter word (such as A, B, etc.) and 2) very short words (e.g. "to", "he", etc.) to narrow down the words and pages in the list.

For best result, enter a short word in the search box, then select the alphetical letter (and page number if needed), and click on the blue link.

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Don't forget to click "All" back when you search another word with a different initial letter.

If you cannot find (perhaps overlook) a word but you can still see a list of links, then keep looking until the links disappear! Sharpening your eye or maybe refine your alphabetical index skill. :)

Add a Word: This dictionary is not exhaustive; ASL signs are constantly added to the dictionary. If you don't find a word/sign, you can send your request (only if a single link doesn't show in the result).

Videos: The first video may be NOT the answer you're looking for. There are several signs for different meanings, contexts, and/or variations. Browsing all the way down to the next search box is highly recommended.

Video speed: Signing too fast in the videos? See HELP in the footer.

ASL has its own grammar and structure in sentences that works differently from English. For plurals, verb inflections, word order, etc., learn grammar in the "ASL Learn" section. For search in the dictionary, use the present-time verbs and base words. If you look for "said", look up the word "say". Likewise, if you look for an adjective word, try the noun or vice versa. E.g. The ASL signs for French and France are the same. If you look for a plural word, use a singular word.