9.1: Introduction
Empha…what?! Next up is emphatic loan signs, or fingerspelling loan signs that move for emphasis. Emphatic, or directional loan signs are a unique category of ASL Loan signs. Get ready, it’s a little freaky because they move! Yes, after all this time of stressing the importance of keeping your hands still and not stamping, yada, yada, yada, we’re going to move our fingerspelled words all through space! The movement is purposeful, however, it’s not random. The decision to emphatically sign a loan sign is done similar to stressing a word or drawing out sounds.
To get us started practicing, below is an abbreviated list of emphatic loan signs with movement tips. Being mindful of your movements and practicing each emphatic sign until you develop muscle memory and fluidity will take time.
Mindful Tip 14: Expression and appropriate directional movement is vital when signing emphatic loan signs.
Below is a list of emphatic loan signs, categorized according to movement for ease of memorizing. There’s an alphabetized list of RS 10 Emphatic/Directional Loan Signs, at the end of this chapter, coming right after RS 9 Miscellaneous Loan Signs. Before beginning to implement emphatic signs into your fingerspelling protocol, it’s very important you see these modeled by a fluent signer so the freaky doesn’t become incorrectly freakier! When you do see emphatic/directional loan signs modeled, please be mindful, take notes and study video of the movements so that these can become a resource in your fingerspelling toolkit. Successful execution of fingerspelled emphatic/directional signs is an indication of advanced understanding.
Moves in Downward Circle
busy
early
fun
easy
style
Moves Outward
cool
NG – No Good
oh
or
ouch
well
wow
Exaggerated Downward “p” Movement
oops
upset
One Letter Wiggles
hahahaha – palm up, “h” wiggles
if – “i” stays up, “f” wiggles
Touches Head Region
K.O. – Knock Out – from forehead down
PF – Pissed Off – “p” “o” from nose down, palm stays in
EEK! – from ears outward
Repeated Letter Movement
OK
so
Moves Towards Reference
all
back
Uncategorized Movement
what! – letter combination twists palm in
yes – letter sequence nods downward