What Are Basic Words in Sign Language?

Are you interested in learning what are basic words in sign language?  People who have speech and hearing impairments (as well as those who would like to communicate with a hearing impaired person) learn to use sign language in order to communicate with the world. Much like an infant learns to communicate throughout the ears by picking up every day basic words, those who are unable to hear are taught how to shape their hands to mean words instead.

Basic Words in Sign Language

There are a lot of different basic words in sign language, depending on what sentiment you want to express.

Mom and Dad

Since most people's first words are "mom" and "dad" (or some variation thereof), these basic words are frequently learned early when learning basic words in sign language:

• The sign for mother is made by placing the thumb of your right hand against your chin and holding up the remaining fingers of your right hand as if to illustrate the number five.
• The sign for dad is nearly the same, however, instead of placing the thumb on your chin, you should place the thumb on the center of your forehead. When you spread out your fingers for both signs, it should resemble something similar to the feathers on the headdress of an Indian.

Boy and Girl

Another set of basic sign language words that is generally taught in early signing classes is the sign for boy and girl.

• To make the sign for boy, you should place your right hand against your forehead and pinch it closed. It should look like you are removing a hat or a baseball cap by grabbing the bill.
• The sign for girl is a bit more difficult. You should make the sign by taking your right hand and making a fist with your thumb out. You then gently rub the side of your cheek. This is the sign for female.
• To indicate girl, you then need to open your fist and with the palm facing downwards indicate the height of the girl.

Day and Night

Another set of words that is taught as part of basic sign language is the sign for day and night.

• To sign the word day, you will take your left arm and hold it in front of your chest with the palm flat and facing downward. You then take your right arm and place your right elbow on the back of your left hand. The fingers of your right hand should either be completely open and held close together or closed with your index finger pointing towards the sky. To complete the sign, you move your right arm in a arching motion across your chest until it comes to rest on the left elbow. This is the sign of day.
• The sign for night is done by holding your left arm horizontally with the palm facing down and pointing to the right. You then put your right wrist on the top of your left hand and bring your right fingers out in front making sure to point them downwards. This is the sign for night.

People that learn to communicate by signing learn the same basic words in sign language that any other children and people learn - they just express those words in a different way.