DIFFERENT in sign language

Different is something that contrasts one from another. Or, something that stands out. Something is unique. Life is full of diversity (and surprises). No two snowflakes are alike. Nor fingerprints. Celebrate the differences in all people.

ASL signs for "different"

How to sign "different" in American Sign Language (ASL)? Plus a few inflections.

Meaning: Not the same as another or each other; distinct in nature; dissimilar.

Pronunciation (sign description): Two upright index fingers, palms facing out, cross at the middle of forefingers held in space. The forefingers diverge sideways.

Tips for ASL students: not to be confused by the ASL sign OPPOSITE which has a different palm orientation and movement. Also, not to confuse this similar sign with BUT.

Beyond basics

Deaf native signers have some inflected signs/words to convey a gradient meaning. Here is a few examples.

In grammar, this ASL adjective is plural glossed as DIFFERENT+. Three movements are glossed as DIFFERENT++. A modification of this plural with a movement and speed can express a nuance of meaning.

Context or usage examples: "There are different sign languages around the world, such as Auslan (Australian Sign Language), BSL (British Sign Language), and so on, just like there are different spoken languages".


Sign description: Same as the base word, except that the movement and intonation show an emphasis. Two upright index fingers, palms facing in, cross at the middle of forefingers held in space. The forefingers diverge sideways.

Meaning: so different, very different.


Sign description: Two upright index fingers, palms facing in, cross at the middle of forefingers held in space. The forefingers diverge sideways where the wrists twist. Intonation and facial expression may be accompanied.

Meaning: so different, very different, completely different, not that kind of, unlike anything. Note that these English translations may come from subtle variants of this ASL sign along with the stress of movement and intonation or facial expression.

Vocabulary

Antonym: SAME.

Synonyms: UNLIKE, DISSIMILAR.

First 100 words.

  1. again
  2. also
  3. ask
  4. bad
  5. boy
  6. but
  7. can
  8. come
  9. deaf
  10. different
  11. drink
  12. drive
  13. eat
  14. email
  15. excuse
  16. family
  17. feel
  18. few
  19. find
  20. fine
  21. fingerspell
  22. finish
  23. food
  24. for
  25. forget
  26. friend
  27. get
  28. girl
  29. give
  30. go
  31. good
  32. have, has, had
  33. he
  34. hearing
  35. hello
  36. help
  37. home
  38. how
  39. Internet
  40. know
  41. later
  42. like (feeling)
  43. little
  44. live
  45. man
  46. many
  47. me
  48. meet
  49. more
  50. my
  51. name
  52. need
  53. new
  54. no
  55. not
  56. now
  57. ok, okay
  58. old
  59. other
  60. please
  61. remember
  62. same
  63. say
  64. school
  65. see
  66. she
  67. should
  68. sign, signed word
  69. slow
  70. some
  71. sorry
  72. store
  73. take
  74. tell
  75. text, sms
  76. thank, thank you
  77. their
  78. they
  79. think
  80. time
  81. tired
  82. try
  83. understand
  84. use
  85. wait
  86. want
  87. what
  88. when
  89. where
  90. which
  91. who
  92. why
  93. will
  94. with
  95. woman
  96. work
  97. write
  98. yes
  99. you
  100. your

As you feel more comfortable with the first few hundreds of ASL signs, progress further with your vocabulary and learn signing more.