Vocabulary review for:
How to sign "must" in American Sign Language:
Definition: To be obliged to; to be required or compelled to.
Pronunciation (sign description): Dominant clawed forefinger (handshape) held in space (location), palm down (palm orientation), moves downwards once at the wrist with a strong intonation (movement) with the mouth morpheme (NMS).
ASL Learner Tip: Not to be confused with SHOULD, HAVE-TO (kind of more euphemism than MUST).
Language play is often used by Deaf signers.
Inflection and language play: The meaning of this ASL sign is the same except that it's five times MUST. That is, absolutely must.
Another context in capture (April 2020): Marcus Bryant signed MUST, double-MUST, 5x-MUST when talking about wearing a mask as absolutely required for himself before entering a chain store.
The technique of this language play is the same true for REQUIRED.
Review 101 words. Refresher.