surprise / wake up

sometimes the only thing
that differentiates two signs
is your facial expression
for example
the sign for “wake up”
and the sign for “surprise”
use the same hand signs

start with your eyes closed
bring both hands up
to their respective
sides of your face
just on the outside
of your still-closed eyes
thumb and index fingers
pinched together
pointing in
towards each other

then as you open your eyes
you also spread wide
both sets of fingers

index fingers moving up towards the sky
thumbs moving down towards the ground
your fingers representing your eyelids
opening in surprise
or opening as you awake

when you make this sign
with a straight face
that means “wake up”
but if you mean to sign “surprise”
you also need to make
a surprised facial expression
as you make the sign
with your hands

open your eyes
and your mouth
at the same time
raise your eyebrows wide
you can even
quickly shake your head
as your eyes and fingers open
to really make
your surprise clear.

nervous

The sign for “nervous” is made
by bringing both hands up
just below your chest
open hands
fingers spread apart
palms facing down
to the ground

then shake
both of your hands
really fast
as if they were vibrating
like you are
really nervous
and can't keep
your hands still.

play

to make the sign for “play”
as in “playing around”
form both hands
into the shape
of the letter “Y”
which is made by
extending only
your thumb and pinkie
out to the sides
while your index,
middle, and ring fingers
are all folded down
into your palm
the one handed version
of this ASL sign
is also known as
the “shaka” hand sign
for both the shaka sign
and the “play” ASL sign
you shake your “Y” hands
quickly back and forth
twisting your wrists
with your palms facing in
thumbs pointed up
pinkies pointed down
the shaka sign
is the official gesture
of the state of Hawaii
according to whom
the gesture means
“aloha spirit, love, and local pride"  



Bobby Vanecko is from Chicago, Illinois.

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