SmallO@NearSfhead-PalmBack Release

American Sign Language

Etymology 1

Production

• This one-handed ASL sign is produced as follows:

  1. 

     Posture the dominant hand in the “Small O” handshape within a few inches of the dominant side of the forehead, near the temple, dominant palm facing back.
  2. Release the index finger from the thumb, extending it fully to the following posture.

  3. 

     Posture the dominant hand in the “1” handshape within a few inches of the dominant side of the forehead, near the temple, dominant palm facing back.
  4. Optionally close the index finger back to the thumb and release it again.

GUH Hand	LUH Hand	LUH Move	GUH Move	GUH Hand	LUH Hand
GUH Palm	LUH Palm	Second	Second	GUH Palm	LUH Palm
GUH Position	LUH Separation	Third	Third
closed-X			Flap	1
In				In
Close to Body
GUH Side
of Forehead

Verb

(ASL gloss: UNDERSTAND)

1. to understand

Etymology 2

Shaking the head “no” while producing the sign UNDERSTAND (above).

Production

• This one-handed ASL sign is produced while shaking the head “no” (turning it from side to side):

  1. 

     Posture the dominant hand in the “Small O” handshape within a few inches of the dominant side of the forehead, near the temple, dominant palm facing back.
  2. Release the index finger from the thumb, extending it fully to the following posture.

  3. 

     Posture the dominant hand in the “1” handshape within a few inches of the dominant side of the forehead, near the temple, dominant palm facing back.
  4. Optionally close the index finger back under the thumb and release again.

Verb

(ASL gloss: DONT-UNDERSTAND)

1. not to understand

Synonyms

• (not to understand): V@Forehead-PalmForward V@Forehead-PalmBack (“misunderstand”)