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How is "I Love You" signed?

SAMM

By SAMM
in What is the BSL sign for:

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SAMM Newbie

SAMM

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Hello.

I am from America and new to this site.  I realize British Sign Language is unique from American Sign Language (ASL).  ASL has a "one-hand" sign for "I Love You" which combines the letters I, L, and Y using the ASL alphabet.  (Please see the link below which shows this ASL sign).  Is there a "one-hand" sign British equivalent for "I Love You"?

Thank you.

SAMM

https://www.lifeprint.com/asl101/topics/i_love_you.htm

SAMM Newbie

SAMM

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Hi KatM.  Thank you.  Yes, I saw the BSL sentence form earlier when I was researching.  ASL uses a slightly different sign for "love" with both arms crossed across one's chest.

I had wondered if there was a one-hand BSL sign as in ASL.  Leighanna (above) indicated the one-hand sign is the same in ASL and BSL.

Have a good day.

SAMM

SAMM Newbie

SAMM

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To Leighanna and KatM and other fellow newbies:

I knew ASL and BSL have different "dialects" for words and sentences, but only a few years ago did I learn ASL and BSL do not share the same fingerspelling alphabet! 

ASL uses a fingerspelling alphabet performed with one hand.  Most of the ASL consonants resemble the letter (c, d, j, k, l, m, n, v, w, y, and z) which made it easier for me to memorize.  A few of the vowels are that way also (i, o, and u). 

https://www.lifeprint.com/asl101/topics/wallpaper1.htm (ASL alphabet)

BSL vowels are easily understood, if signed slowly to a BSL beginner (like me); the consonants will take time for me to learn.

Enjoy your time learning BSL!

SAMM

KatM Newbie

KatM

Posted
Posted

Hey SAMM, it's funny, but for me I struggle most with the vowels! I think because they are not quite so distinctive - I struggle most with the 'middle' ones, O and I! 

SAMM Newbie

SAMM

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Hi KatM.

I associate the BSL vowels with a fun word guessing game played many years ago at a friend's birthday party.

The leader said clue phrases while drawing mindlessly on the ground.  (I later guessed correctly the spoken phrases were consonant clues and was able to guess many of the words without any vowel clues).  I later learned not all the "ground drawing" was mindless as the vowels were disguised by tapping a stick on the ground....one tap = A, two taps = E, three taps = I, four taps = O, and five taps = U.

  • 3 years later...

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