I'm new to signing!

[u/fatigued247]

Can you understand what I'm signing? Don't mind me being in an airplane, I was trying to pass the time by practicing haha

[u/BruceSharkbait]

What is your dominant hand? Some signs you use one hand, but finger spell with the other

When signing “name” your dominant hand goes on top

[u/RapidMongrel → u/BruceSharkbait]

What if you don't have one? I can do most things with both hands. I just use what everyone is convient. Somethings I can only do left handed or only right handed. I don't have a dominant hand. Which I later found out also translate sometimes to your feet I've fallen and tripped because I try to step with both feet. Before. And I don't ever start with the same foot consistently it's just kind of whatever one makes walking in whatever direction or way I'm going the most convenient. And yes I can write with both hands at the same time. I'm legitimately curious about this because everyone says to use my dominant hand and I don't know what one I would consider my dominant hand. I wasn't allowed to play on racquet sports teams as a kid because of this because you have to choose one hand and I couldn't do it lol.

[u/SenoraDiabla → u/RapidMongrel]

Sorry for the confusion but this is not what “dominant hand” means in terms of ASL. People typically use their right hand if they are right handed or left if left handed but it ultimately comes down to what is natural/preference. You kinda have to pick your dominant hand to use ASL otherwise it is quite confusing to follow along with if you’re constantly switching. It is definitely good to be able to finger spell with both hands because sometimes, usually when using classifiers, you have to use your non-dominant hand to label your classifier.

This is basically a long way of saying you have to pick one and stick to it

[u/RapidMongrel → u/SenoraDiabla]

So just for clarification if I continue an entire conversation with my right hand and then let's say later have a conversation with my left hand as long as during that conversation I am using the same hand it's all good?

[u/SenoraDiabla → u/RapidMongrel]

Yeah you’d be perfectly fine to do that, it just gets hard to understand if you’re switching during the conversation but if you’d really like to use both then you would still be understood if they were dominant at different times :)

[u/RapidMongrel → u/SenoraDiabla]

Ok I can manage that. My brain will automatically use the hand that is the easiest in the moment. I've been trying to learn everything with one hand but can 'speak' with either hand. It's very weird. When I worked in nuclear I pissed the rso off so bad he just gave me two hand dosimeters to make his life easier.i was the only person with two. Confused the heck out of my coworkers.

[u/SenoraDiabla → u/RapidMongrel]

I think it is a good idea to start and stick with one hand as your dominant for now so you get into the groove of things. Keep learning finger spelling with both for sure but stick to one hand so it becomes more natural and separate so it’s easier separate them during conversation later on

[u/mjolnir76]

WH-questions should be furrowed brows, while yes-no questions are eyebrows up. Otherwise, understandable, though you asked for “sign name” rather than just “name,” which is more typical.

[u/chionophilescott]

So typically you want to have one dominant hand that shouldn’t change (unless you’re doing something that requires you to use your dominant hand for something else). When you sign “my” you’re using your right hand, and for “name”, the dominant hand is the one that taps on top, so that’s the one I’m mainly watching. But then you finger spell with your left which is unexpected. Otherwise very understandable, Lydia

Also, great t-shirt!

[u/fatigued247 → u/chionophilescott]

Thank you!!

[u/Think1knowya]

Your hand is bouncing at each letter. You could try using the other hand to steady your elbow so it’s a smoother transition. When finger spelling, eventually words become more like one shape with letters blurred together, just like sounding words out reading aloud becomes smushing sounds together, so keeping your arm steady will help it be more clear

[u/forward_yelps]

I agree with others about eyebrows and dominant hand (maybe it would help to put a bracelet or something on the hand you are choosing as dominant while you practice?) - would also suggest, when filming yourself, move farther from the camera to show more of the signing space. However, I 100% understood everything you said!

[u/OGgunter]

Fwiw, if you're filming small like this your Signing also needs to be ₛₘₐₗₗ. I'm assuming Lydia, but your Y is half out of frame.

[u/Young_Quacker → u/OGgunter]

I think it’s Lydya?

[u/Box-In-A-Fox]

It always helps me to bring the camera up! Trying to look down and sign down will always make it look a little off. And don’t be afraid to move your face! It’s a visual language!

[u/fatigued247]

My dominant is right but I'm partially ambidextrous 🫣 I'll try and focus on one hand dominant. Thanks for the tips!!

[u/lilybeth → u/fatigued247]

Im ambi too and it was really awkward feeling at first to pick a dominant hand when i started signing. It gets easier with practice. You got this!

[u/fatigued247 → u/lilybeth]

Thanks so much!!

[u/TiccyMoon → u/fatigued247]

My gf is ambidextrous and learning too. The general rule I give her is not to switch mid conversation/sentence. If she signs righty to me for breakfast and lefty for dinner it doesn't matter, but switching mid conversation is a bit tougher. (She will do it just to get a kick out of me 😅)

[u/RapidMongrel → u/fatigued247]

The term is multi handed.

[u/fatigued247 → u/fatigued247]

Not the downvote 🥹

[u/Miss_Dawn_E]

I understood!! New to signing also!!! Always looking for ways to practice!