Religious Signing: A Comprehensive Guide For All Faiths - Softcover
Since the fourth century, when Spanish monks first started signing to communicate during their vows of silence, sign language has been used in religious communities of all faiths. Present-day American Sign Language (ASL) carries on that tradition. Like any living language, it continues to grow and change to meet the communication needs of an ever more diverse religious population. This comprehensive guide, newly revised, updated, and expanded, gives you all the vocabulary you need to communicate effectively in any religious setting.
From Alleluia to Zizith, more than 750 signs and their specific meanings
Large, clear, upper-torso illustrations that show the corresponding movements of hands, body, and face
Easy-to-follow instructions to help you master the art of expressing signs
A complete index for quick access to any sign
With an essential section of religious “name signs,” the addition of signs for the Muslim faith, and an expanded selection of favorite verses, prayers, and blessings, this book is an indispensable resource for signers of all denominations. Written with expertise by an educator and author associated with the field of deafness for more than thirty years, it makes communicating by ASL in a religious setting simple and easy, no matter your level of experience.
From Alleluia to Zizith, more than 750 signs and their specific meanings
Large, clear, upper-torso illustrations that show the corresponding movements of hands, body, and face
Easy-to-follow instructions to help you master the art of expressing signs
A complete index for quick access to any sign
With an essential section of religious “name signs,” the addition of signs for the Muslim faith, and an expanded selection of favorite verses, prayers, and blessings, this book is an indispensable resource for signers of all denominations. Written with expertise by an educator and author associated with the field of deafness for more than thirty years, it makes communicating by ASL in a religious setting simple and easy, no matter your level of experience.
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
About the Author:
Dr. Elaine Costello has been an educator and author associated with the field of deafness for more than twenty years. For ten years she was a classroom teacher and supervisor in schools for the deaf. She is now the director and editor in chief of the Gallaudet College Press at Gallaudet College in Washington, D.C., the world's only liberal arts college for the deaf.
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.:
SIGN ENTRIES
ABIDE (A)
This sign indicates a place where one is to remain or stay for a period of time.
Formation: Move the right Y hand, palm facing down, downward in front of the right side of the body with a deliberate movement.
Same sign for STAY
ABIDE (B) See LIVE
ABOVE, OVER
The hand moves to a position above the other hand and symbolizes the area on high from where God rules the world.
Formation: Starting with the palm of the right open hand lying on the back of the left open hand, elbows out and palms facing down, bring the right hand upward in a spiraling movement.
ABRAHAM, IBRAHIM (Hebrew)
The formation of this sign represents God staying Abraham’s arm as he raised the knife to slay his son Isaac.
Formation: The right A hand, palm facing left, is brought deliberately down at a forward angle from in front of the right shoulder. The left C hand, palm up, moves upward to clasp the right forearm and stop it abruptly as it descends.
ABSOLUTION (A)
This sign is a combination of ANNOUNCE and FORGIVE signifying the declaratory statement that sins are forgiven after confession or penance.
Formation: Start with both extended index fingers touching each side of the mouth, palms facing in. Twist the wrists to bring the fingers outward past the shoulders, palms facing forward and fingers pointing upward at an angle. Then brush the fingers of the right open hand across the palm of the left open hand from heel to the fingers with a repeated movement.
ABSOLUTION (B) See BLESS (A)(B), FORGIVE
ABSTAIN See FAST (A)
ABUNDANT (A), BOUNTY, PLENTY
The hands indicate a cup that is full and overflowing.
Formation: Push the palm of the right open hand, palm down and fingers pointing forward, across the thumb side of the left S hand, palm right, curving the hand downward as it goes over the left index finger.
Related forms: ABUNDANCE, ABUNDANTLY, BOUNTIFUL, PLENTIFUL
ABUNDANT (B), BOUNTIFUL
The hands in this sign seem to hold a large quantity.
Formation: Beginning with the fingertips of both curved hands touching in front of the body, palms facing each other, bring the hands outward to in front of each side of the chest.
Related form: ABUNDANCE
Same sign for A LOT
ACCOMPLISH See FULFILL
ACCUSE, AT FAULT, BLAME
This is a directional sign that seems to push responsibility or blame at whomever it is directed.
Formation: Move the right A hand, palm left and thumb extended upward, in a downward arc toward the referent across the back of the left open hand, palm down.
Note: If you are the one being accused, direct the right thumb back toward oneself. The left hand may be an S hand instead of an open hand.
ACKNOWLEDGE See CONFESS (A)
ACQUIRE See OBTAIN
ADAM (A)
This is an initialized sign in the masculine position and signifies Adam’s position as the first man.
Formation: Touch the right temple with the thumb of the right hand, palm facing forward.
ADAM (B)
This is the Islamic sign for Adam, the father of humankind and God’s first prophet. In Islam, Adam is considered God’s ?vice-?regent (caliph) on earth.
Formation: Move the right B hand, palm facing left and fingers pointing up, upward in front of the right shoulder.
ADMIT See CONFESS
ADMONISH, WARN
The sign represents a slap on the wrist as a warning.
Formation: Slap the back of the left open hand with the fingers of the right open hand, both palms facing down.
Related forms: ADMONITION, WARNING
ADORE See WORSHIP
ADULTERY (A)
This is an initialized sign and the movement indicates the alternating attention that an unfaithful married person gives his or her spouse and then another person outside the marriage
Formation: Tap the heel of the right A hand, palm facing forward, alternating on each finger of the left V hand held in front of the chest, palm facing in and fingers pointing up.
ADULTERY (B)
The sign seems to show someone slipping around the corner or behind someone’s back for an affair.
Formation: Move the palm side of the right open hand, palm facing right and fingers pointing forward, around the ?little-?finger side of the left open hand, palm facing right and fingers pointing up.
ADVENT, COMING
This is a directional form of COME and signifies the birth of Christ and the preparation period of four weeks before His Coming at Christmas.
Formation: Beginning with both extended index fingers pointing up in front of the head, palms facing in, bring both hands down simultaneously.
ADVERSARY See ENEMY
ADVOCATE, FOUNDATION, SUPPORT
The action of the right hand pushing the left hand upward shows active support for a cause.
Formation: Bring the knuckles of the right
S hand upward under the little-finger side of the left S hand, both palms facing in, pushing it upward in front of the chest.
Same sign used for ADVOCACY, IN FAVOR OF
See also HELP and VICAR for signs formed in a similar manner.
AFFILIATE See UNITE
AFFLICTION, PATIENT, SUFFER
The movement of the hand in this sign indicates a person keeping quiet or without complaint while enduring suffering.
Formation: Move the thumb of the right A hand, palm facing left, downward from the mouth to the chin.
Same sign for BEAR, ENDURE, TOLERATE
AFRAID See FEAR (A)(B)(C)
AGAPE
This sign is a combination of GOD and LOVE signifying the Greek word meaning “selfless love.”
Formation: Move the right B hand, palm left, from above the front of the head downward in an arc toward the forehead and down in front of the face. Then with both palms facing the body, hold the right S hand across the left S hand, which is held on the chest over the heart.
AGONY See SUFFER (B)
AISLE, WAY
The hands outline a passageway, such as between rows of seats in a church.
Formation: Move both open hands forward simultaneously, palms facing each other and fingers pointing forward and held several inches apart in front of the waist.
Same sign for PATH, ROAD
ALIVE See LIVE
ALLAH, GOD
This is the foremost name for the supreme being according to Islamic belief. Humans are called to worship and devote their faith only to him; hence he is the object of Islam (“submission”).
Formation: Move the extended right index finger, palm facing left and finger pointing up, upward in front of the right shoulder.
ALLELUIA, HALLELUJAH
As an expression of praise of thanksgiving to God, this sign is a combination of PRAISE and CELEBRATION.
Formation: Bring both open hands, palms facing each other and fingers pointing up, together in front of the chest. Then raise both modified A hands near each shoulder, moving them in small circles outward.
ALMIGHTY (A), OMNIPOTENT
This sign is a combination of ALL and POWER, an attribute referring to God’s unlimited universal power.
Formation: With the right open hand, palm facing forward, near the left shoulder, make a large loop to the right ending in the upturned palm of the left open hand. Then move both S hands, palms facing in, from near each side of the chest forward with a deliberate movement, ending abruptly.
See also POWER and MIGHTY for alternate signs.
ALMIGHTY (B) See POWER (A)(B)
ALONE
The single finger moving in a circle is an emphatic form of the sign ONE.
Formation: With the right extended index finger pointing up, palm facing in, rotate the arm and hand in a counterclockwise circle.
ALTAR
The sign is an initialized form of TABLE. The hands outline the shape of the altar, the structure before which the divine offices are recited and upon which the Eucharist is celebrated.
Formation: With the thumbs of both A hands touching each other in front of the chest, palms facing forward, move the hands apart to about shoulder width and then downward a short distance without changing orientation.
ALWAYS, CONSTANTLY, EVER
The circular motion of this sign shows something never ending.
Formation: Move the extended right index finger, palm angled up, in small clockwise circles near the right shoulder.
See also ETERNAL for an alternate sign.
AMAZE See ASTONISH
AMEN See PRAY
AMISH See MENNONITE
ANGEL, CHERUB, SERAPH
The hands represent the movement of wings traditionally attributed to angels, the immortal spiritual beings attending to God’s will.
Formation: Touch the fingertips of both bent hands to the shoulders, palms facing down and elbows close at the sides. Turn the wrists outward and bend the hands up and down.
Same sign for WINGS
ANGER, FURY, RAGE, WRATH
The tense fingers represent angry emotions rased up in the body.
Formation: Bring both claw hands, palms facing in and fingers pointing toward each other, upward from near each other at the waist and out toward each shoulder.
ANGLICAN CHURCH, THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND
This sign is a combination of ANOINT (A) and CHURCH and refers to the form of Christianity that was shaped when, during the reign of Henry the VIII, England broke away from the Catholic Church by dissolving allegiance to the Pope.
Formation: Draw the thumbnail of the right A hand, palm down, first downward on the forehead a short distance and then from left to right. Then tap the thumb side of the right C hand on the back of the left open hand, palm facing down.
ANNOUNCE, ANNUNCIATION, CONFESS (FAITH), DECLARE, EVANGELISM,
NOEL, PROCLAIM
The fingers indicate taking words from the mouth and declaring them broadly.
Formation: Start with both extended index fingers touching each side of the mouth, palms facing in. Twist the wrists to bring the fingers outward past the shoulders, palms facing forward and fingers pointing upward at an an...
ABIDE (A)
This sign indicates a place where one is to remain or stay for a period of time.
Formation: Move the right Y hand, palm facing down, downward in front of the right side of the body with a deliberate movement.
Same sign for STAY
ABIDE (B) See LIVE
ABOVE, OVER
The hand moves to a position above the other hand and symbolizes the area on high from where God rules the world.
Formation: Starting with the palm of the right open hand lying on the back of the left open hand, elbows out and palms facing down, bring the right hand upward in a spiraling movement.
ABRAHAM, IBRAHIM (Hebrew)
The formation of this sign represents God staying Abraham’s arm as he raised the knife to slay his son Isaac.
Formation: The right A hand, palm facing left, is brought deliberately down at a forward angle from in front of the right shoulder. The left C hand, palm up, moves upward to clasp the right forearm and stop it abruptly as it descends.
ABSOLUTION (A)
This sign is a combination of ANNOUNCE and FORGIVE signifying the declaratory statement that sins are forgiven after confession or penance.
Formation: Start with both extended index fingers touching each side of the mouth, palms facing in. Twist the wrists to bring the fingers outward past the shoulders, palms facing forward and fingers pointing upward at an angle. Then brush the fingers of the right open hand across the palm of the left open hand from heel to the fingers with a repeated movement.
ABSOLUTION (B) See BLESS (A)(B), FORGIVE
ABSTAIN See FAST (A)
ABUNDANT (A), BOUNTY, PLENTY
The hands indicate a cup that is full and overflowing.
Formation: Push the palm of the right open hand, palm down and fingers pointing forward, across the thumb side of the left S hand, palm right, curving the hand downward as it goes over the left index finger.
Related forms: ABUNDANCE, ABUNDANTLY, BOUNTIFUL, PLENTIFUL
ABUNDANT (B), BOUNTIFUL
The hands in this sign seem to hold a large quantity.
Formation: Beginning with the fingertips of both curved hands touching in front of the body, palms facing each other, bring the hands outward to in front of each side of the chest.
Related form: ABUNDANCE
Same sign for A LOT
ACCOMPLISH See FULFILL
ACCUSE, AT FAULT, BLAME
This is a directional sign that seems to push responsibility or blame at whomever it is directed.
Formation: Move the right A hand, palm left and thumb extended upward, in a downward arc toward the referent across the back of the left open hand, palm down.
Note: If you are the one being accused, direct the right thumb back toward oneself. The left hand may be an S hand instead of an open hand.
ACKNOWLEDGE See CONFESS (A)
ACQUIRE See OBTAIN
ADAM (A)
This is an initialized sign in the masculine position and signifies Adam’s position as the first man.
Formation: Touch the right temple with the thumb of the right hand, palm facing forward.
ADAM (B)
This is the Islamic sign for Adam, the father of humankind and God’s first prophet. In Islam, Adam is considered God’s ?vice-?regent (caliph) on earth.
Formation: Move the right B hand, palm facing left and fingers pointing up, upward in front of the right shoulder.
ADMIT See CONFESS
ADMONISH, WARN
The sign represents a slap on the wrist as a warning.
Formation: Slap the back of the left open hand with the fingers of the right open hand, both palms facing down.
Related forms: ADMONITION, WARNING
ADORE See WORSHIP
ADULTERY (A)
This is an initialized sign and the movement indicates the alternating attention that an unfaithful married person gives his or her spouse and then another person outside the marriage
Formation: Tap the heel of the right A hand, palm facing forward, alternating on each finger of the left V hand held in front of the chest, palm facing in and fingers pointing up.
ADULTERY (B)
The sign seems to show someone slipping around the corner or behind someone’s back for an affair.
Formation: Move the palm side of the right open hand, palm facing right and fingers pointing forward, around the ?little-?finger side of the left open hand, palm facing right and fingers pointing up.
ADVENT, COMING
This is a directional form of COME and signifies the birth of Christ and the preparation period of four weeks before His Coming at Christmas.
Formation: Beginning with both extended index fingers pointing up in front of the head, palms facing in, bring both hands down simultaneously.
ADVERSARY See ENEMY
ADVOCATE, FOUNDATION, SUPPORT
The action of the right hand pushing the left hand upward shows active support for a cause.
Formation: Bring the knuckles of the right
S hand upward under the little-finger side of the left S hand, both palms facing in, pushing it upward in front of the chest.
Same sign used for ADVOCACY, IN FAVOR OF
See also HELP and VICAR for signs formed in a similar manner.
AFFILIATE See UNITE
AFFLICTION, PATIENT, SUFFER
The movement of the hand in this sign indicates a person keeping quiet or without complaint while enduring suffering.
Formation: Move the thumb of the right A hand, palm facing left, downward from the mouth to the chin.
Same sign for BEAR, ENDURE, TOLERATE
AFRAID See FEAR (A)(B)(C)
AGAPE
This sign is a combination of GOD and LOVE signifying the Greek word meaning “selfless love.”
Formation: Move the right B hand, palm left, from above the front of the head downward in an arc toward the forehead and down in front of the face. Then with both palms facing the body, hold the right S hand across the left S hand, which is held on the chest over the heart.
AGONY See SUFFER (B)
AISLE, WAY
The hands outline a passageway, such as between rows of seats in a church.
Formation: Move both open hands forward simultaneously, palms facing each other and fingers pointing forward and held several inches apart in front of the waist.
Same sign for PATH, ROAD
ALIVE See LIVE
ALLAH, GOD
This is the foremost name for the supreme being according to Islamic belief. Humans are called to worship and devote their faith only to him; hence he is the object of Islam (“submission”).
Formation: Move the extended right index finger, palm facing left and finger pointing up, upward in front of the right shoulder.
ALLELUIA, HALLELUJAH
As an expression of praise of thanksgiving to God, this sign is a combination of PRAISE and CELEBRATION.
Formation: Bring both open hands, palms facing each other and fingers pointing up, together in front of the chest. Then raise both modified A hands near each shoulder, moving them in small circles outward.
ALMIGHTY (A), OMNIPOTENT
This sign is a combination of ALL and POWER, an attribute referring to God’s unlimited universal power.
Formation: With the right open hand, palm facing forward, near the left shoulder, make a large loop to the right ending in the upturned palm of the left open hand. Then move both S hands, palms facing in, from near each side of the chest forward with a deliberate movement, ending abruptly.
See also POWER and MIGHTY for alternate signs.
ALMIGHTY (B) See POWER (A)(B)
ALONE
The single finger moving in a circle is an emphatic form of the sign ONE.
Formation: With the right extended index finger pointing up, palm facing in, rotate the arm and hand in a counterclockwise circle.
ALTAR
The sign is an initialized form of TABLE. The hands outline the shape of the altar, the structure before which the divine offices are recited and upon which the Eucharist is celebrated.
Formation: With the thumbs of both A hands touching each other in front of the chest, palms facing forward, move the hands apart to about shoulder width and then downward a short distance without changing orientation.
ALWAYS, CONSTANTLY, EVER
The circular motion of this sign shows something never ending.
Formation: Move the extended right index finger, palm angled up, in small clockwise circles near the right shoulder.
See also ETERNAL for an alternate sign.
AMAZE See ASTONISH
AMEN See PRAY
AMISH See MENNONITE
ANGEL, CHERUB, SERAPH
The hands represent the movement of wings traditionally attributed to angels, the immortal spiritual beings attending to God’s will.
Formation: Touch the fingertips of both bent hands to the shoulders, palms facing down and elbows close at the sides. Turn the wrists outward and bend the hands up and down.
Same sign for WINGS
ANGER, FURY, RAGE, WRATH
The tense fingers represent angry emotions rased up in the body.
Formation: Bring both claw hands, palms facing in and fingers pointing toward each other, upward from near each other at the waist and out toward each shoulder.
ANGLICAN CHURCH, THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND
This sign is a combination of ANOINT (A) and CHURCH and refers to the form of Christianity that was shaped when, during the reign of Henry the VIII, England broke away from the Catholic Church by dissolving allegiance to the Pope.
Formation: Draw the thumbnail of the right A hand, palm down, first downward on the forehead a short distance and then from left to right. Then tap the thumb side of the right C hand on the back of the left open hand, palm facing down.
ANNOUNCE, ANNUNCIATION, CONFESS (FAITH), DECLARE, EVANGELISM,
NOEL, PROCLAIM
The fingers indicate taking words from the mouth and declaring them broadly.
Formation: Start with both extended index fingers touching each side of the mouth, palms facing in. Twist the wrists to bring the fingers outward past the shoulders, palms facing forward and fingers pointing upward at an an...
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- PublisherBantam
- Publication date1997
- ISBN 10 0553342444
- ISBN 13 9780553342444
- BindingPaperback
- Number of pages240
- IllustratorLois Lehman
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