WHO sign language

This word entry contains 1) ASL signs for "who", 2) Old ASL, 3) toddler signing.

ASL signs for WHO

How to sign "who" in American Sign Language (ASL)?

Meaning: What or which person or people.

Pronunciation (sign description): Forefinger in dominant "L" hand (handshape), where tip of thumb is in contact with chin (location), flexes twice (movement).

Generational variation. Older common ASL sign. Less common than the other above.

Pronunciation (sign description): Forefinger of dominant hand in front of mouth circles around mouth twice.

Old ASL in Deaf History

The 1910 book The Sign Language, a Manual of Signs by J. Schupler Long, the illustration shows the old ASL for "who" which still has been used by Deaf signers for a very long time.

WHO in 1910
WHO in 1910

"Who -- Purse the lips as in pronouncing 'who', then pointing the forefinger at the mouth, a few inches away, move the end of the finger around in a circle. As interrogative, express inquiry on face or make '?' in air with forefinger." Ref (1910)

The excerpted clip above from the 1913 film "Memories of Old Hartford" shows American Deaf narrator John B. Hotchkiss (1845-1922) signing "who" with a larger movement. Ref

Baby Signing

See how the baby signs WHO in the video clip.

In the video, she was asking in ASL, translated as, "Who is this boy?" Isn't she really too young to check him out? Ha.

Vocabulary

Related words: WHOSE.

Other WH-Questions: WHERE, WHEN, WHAT, WHY, HOW, WHICH.

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 writing for WRITE

ASLwrite in 2015/2016. The eyebrows are meant to be down.

ASL writing for WRITE

Variation. Experimented with the alphabetical digits by Jolanta, 2017. Contributed the ASLwrite community.

ASL writing for WRITE

Variation. Experimented with the alphabetical digits by Jolanta, 2017. Contributed the ASLwrite community.

ASL writing for WHO variation

Variation of the ASL sign. Image added, 2021.

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