Signs for PENCIL

"How do you sign 'pencil' in American Sign Language (ASL)?" And mechanical pencil?

Meaning: a slender instrument of wood, metal, plastic, etc., containing a core or strip of graphite, used for used for writing or drawing.

Pronunciation (sign description): Dominant "20" or "baby O" handshape with thumb and forefinger together points toward the lip and then moves in a brief "N-like" motion on non-dominant palm-up flat hand.

Learner tips: Some 101 beginners may sometimes mix up PENCIL with PEN.

mechanical pencil also known as clutch pencil: a made of metal or plastic pencil with a replaceable extendable solid lead (graphite) core that is mechanically moved forward by the clutch pencil.

Pronunciation (sign description): It's a two-part or compound word. Thumb of dominant "thumb-up", palm facing in, in space, bows down twice and then sign PENCIL as described above.

Related signs: PEN, pen sharpener, GRAPHITE, CHARCOAL.

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 PENCIL

Written ASL digit for "PENCIL" contributed by Jolanta in the ASLwrite community, 2018.

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