Meaning: Partially or wholly lacking or deprived of the sense of hearing; unable to hear.
Pronunciation/articulation: Tip of dominant forefinger points to the ear and then to the tip of mouth.
Regional/phonological variation. It's less used by Deaf signers than hearing signers.
Pronunciation/articulation: Tip of dominant forefinger points to the tip of mouth and then to the ear.
Old ASL sign (found in older generations prior to about mid-20th century): obsolete.
Pronunciation/articulation: Tip of dominant forefinger points to the ear and then two "B" hands (palm down) converges together.
Meaning: absolutely deaf; profoundly deaf; very deaf; not hearing at all. [Video courtesy of Jonathan Pokorny (coda), 2018.]
Used by Deaf signers and sometimes codas only.
Pronunciation/articulation: Thumb of dominant "10" handshape in contact with the ear transforms into "5" handshape.
Note that the term HEARING-IMPAIRED is inappropriate and unacceptable. Use "deaf" instead.
Related signs: sign language, ASL (American Sign Language, Deaf culture, Deaf community, Deaf world, Deaf Gain, DEAFHOOD, deafness, deafened, CODA.
Opposite: hearing.
Review 101 words. Refresher.