Sign Language Lessons - Brief Introduction to Name-Signs

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Hello! Name signs or, signed more correctly (using compound signing (future lesson)), name-sign. There are three basic types. The first is "arbitrary." The second, "descriptive." The third, really doesn't have a name/label. The first two types go way back. And have been used since the beginning. The third is quite new and not been used very long.
An arbitrary name-sign is typically created from the first letter of your name. For example, Bernard Bragg (famous Deaf person). The first letter of his first and last name are B and B. So, his name is signed this way [B-B on the side]. Another example, Chuck Baird (famoust Deaf person). His name-sign is C-B on the chin. My name is Rob Nielson. So you have the letters R and N. Here are some examples using just the R. And more more examples using both R and N.
NOTE (not in video) - Arbitrary name-signs are NOT signs. They do not have meaning (hence the term "arbitrary"). They have only one purpose - a unique identifier of the person of that name-sign. They can be in neutral space (in front of the body, not touching the body) or touching typically one or two places on the body. SOME arbitrary name-signs might have special meaning. For example, an entire family might have their name sign touching the side of the chin.
Next we have descriptiive. An example - Gallaudet (famous hearing person in Deaf history). He wore glasses. So this was his name-sign. Another example - Laurent Clerc (famous Deaf person). He had a scar on his cheek. His name-sign was in reference to that scar. As for me, my name-sign is NUTS, and this is how you do the sign.
NOTE (not in video) - Descriptive name-signs ARE signs or a classifer (handshape). They do have meaning. Typically a very unique identifying trait of the individual. A physical feature, something about their personality, etc. Descriptive name-signs are not modified in any way - such as attaching a letter to it.
Lastly, we have the third type of name-sign. For lack of a better way to describe it, they are kind of a combination from parts of arbitrary and descriptive. They have a letter and it is used in a sign. For example - Rachel has long, curly hair. By combining "long curly hair" with the letter R, you get this name-sign. Anther example is Dan. He is very tall! So, by using the "D" with this sign, that could represent Dan's name-sign. Now, a bit of caution. Using Susan as an example. She LOVES snakes. So doing a name-sign with that idea is very confusing. The meaning of the name-sign is not clear. Same with Sean. He's very tall but it would not make much sense at all to create a name-sign referencing his height, but doing it with an S. So, name-signs such as these two should be avoided. Rachel and Dan, we can pretty much "see" the normal sign that has been SLIGHTLY modified by adding the letter. So those might be more acceptable.
Arbitrary and Descriptive are great types of name-signs (they have been around a long time) but the third one, you need to be very careful with.
NOTE (not in video) - The third type is becoming very popular. No one is allowed to give themselves their own name-sign and hearing people are not allowed to give name-signs to others. Hearing students learning to sign often approach a Deaf person asking them for a name-sign. This creates a challenging situation where a new student, who is not immersed in the culture yet, is jumping the gun. Because over 85% of Deaf now are mainstreamed (taught in hearing schools rather than Deaf schools), they miss out on valuable cultural lessons such as how to correctly give name-signs (and perhaps they might have gotten their own name sign from a hearing Deaf Ed teacher who doesn't know either). So, want a name-sign? Immerse yourself in the Deaf world. When they have "adopted" you into their world, they'll give you a name-sign. That's all there is to it! Those Deaf who are familiar with how to correctly give name-signs will give you an appropriate one.
(Back to the video) NUTS. Me NUTS?! Yes. I'll tell you the story behind my name-sign. A long time ago I had no name-sign. I was hanging out with a group of friends. I was absolutely evil. Constantly teasing my friends and making them crazy! But, I enjoyed it and kept doing it. Over time, they were trying to think of a good name-sign for me. Meanwhile, I continued to tease and torment them over and over again. One of them said to the others, "he's driving me nuts! Oh, wait a second... c'mere, c'mere, c'mere!" They huddled up to discuss. I'm watching from outside the huddle wondering what they're up to. They told me to be quiet and go away. I'm still curious and kept asking what they were discussing. But they kept me excluded until finally they reached an agreement. All of them turned to face me. I'm staring at them apprehensively as they all look at me very gleefully. "We christen thee NUTS!" Me, NUTS? After taking a moment to absorb that I loved it! It fits me perfectly.