EMAIL in sign language

"How do you say 'email' or 'e-mail' in American Sign Language (ASL)?" In addition to these signs, fingerspelling is also commonly used in some contexts.

ASL verb for email

There are two phonological versions (not in the order). The verb can be inflected to agree with the subject/object in grammar.

Pronunciation (sign description): Dominant index finger in front of the non-dominant "C" handshape, close to the palm, both palms facing each other, the dominant forefinger swings once at the wrist sideways/outward.

Grammar: The movement in the opposite direction indicates "EMAIL-ME", where the dash means one (ASL) word, not "EMAIL ME" (two signed words).

Plural verb: The movement may be repeated twice or more, depending on the expression of meaning. E.g. in ASL glossed as: PAST+NIGHT, /\MY fs-EMAIL ADDRESS/\ IX-me 2h-PUT-on MY WEBSITE, conj-WRONG, EMAIL-ME++++. English translation: "Last night, I placed my email address on my website; regrettably, I got a lot of (spam) emails."

Meaning: To send an email.

Phonological variation (sign description): Dominant bent hand with extended thumb in front of the non-dominant "C" handshape, close to the palm, both palms facing each other, the dominant hand swings once at the wrist sideways/outward.

ASL noun

Meaning: A system for sending and receiving messages electronically over a computer network.

Phonological variation (sign description): Dominant bent hand with extended thumb in front of the non-dominant "C" handshape, close to the palm, both palms facing each other, the dominant hand swings twice at the wrist sideways/outward.

Variation.

Pronunciation (sign description): Dominant index finger in front of the non-dominant "C" handshape, close to the palm, both palms facing each other, the dominant forefinger swings twice at the wrist sideways/outward.

Sometimes the movement is once when compounded with other word in sentences. E.g. EMAIL + ADDRESS. It's not something a native/fluent Deaf signers are conscious of the natural linguistic processing.

Vocabulary

Related signs: INTERNET, CORRESPONDENCE, REPLY.

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First 100 words.

  1. again
  2. also
  3. ask
  4. because
  5. boy
  6. but
  7. can
  8. come
  9. condone
  10. deaf
  11. different
  12. drink
  13. drive
  14. eat
  15. email
  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
  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.