AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE
GREETINGS AND PHRASES

GOD BLESS AMERICA******I LOVE YOU

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

HAPPY With one or both flat hands with palms facing in do circular movements touching the chest. One hand is often used by itself. (This suggests happy feelings from within)

THANKSGIVING Touch the lips with fingertips of one or both flat hands. Move hands forward with palms facing up. Turn hands over and simulate picking up something Turn hand over and open palms up to simulate giving something. (A combination of thanks and give)

Back to Top

MERRY CHRISTMAS

MERRY With one or both flat hands with palms facing in do circular movements touching the chest. One hand is often used by itself. (This suggests happy feelings from within)

CHRISTMAS Move the right C hand in a sideways arc to the right with the palm facing up. Movement requires simultaneous lipreading for full comprehension

Back to Top

HAPPY NEW YEAR

HAPPY With one or both flat hands with palms facing in do circular movements touching the chest. One hand is often used by itself. (This suggests happy feelings from within)

NEW Pass back of slightly curved right hand across the left flat palm from fingers to heel. Continue movement of right hand in a slight upward direction. (Right hand seems to suggest a new direction to the left hand.)

YEAR Move the right S hand in a complete forward circle around the left "S" hand and come to rest with right "S" hand on top of left hand. (Movement of right hand suggests the earth's revolution around sun.

Back to Top

GOD BLESS AMERICA

GOD Point the right "G" finger in a forward-upward direction. Move right hand in a backward-downward arc toward self. End with a "B" in front of chest with palm facing left. (The finger or hand pointing upward suggests God is above)

BLESS Place thumbs of both "A" hands at lips. Move both hands in a forward-downward movement while changing them to palm-down flat hands. (Suggest the blessing of a kiss and laying on of hands.)

AMERICA Interlock fingers of both slightly curves open hands and move them from right to left in an outward circle. (Interlocked fingers suggest the log fences made by early settlers.)

Back to Top

I LOVE YOU

I LOVE YOU Hold the right hand up with palm facing forward. The thumb, index, and little finger are extended. (The letters I, L, and Y are combined.)

Back to Top

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

HAPPY With one or both flat hands with palms facing in do circular movements touching the chest. One hand is often used by itself.

BIRTHDAY Place back of right flat hand into upturned left palm. Move hands forward and upward together. Point left index finger to right, palm down. Rest right elbow on left index finger with right index finger pointing upward. Move right index finger and arm in partial arc across body from right to left. The signs for "birth" and "day")

Back to Top

SIGNS FOR HOLIDAY SONGS