PocketSign
Basic

Job Signs Without PERSON

Some profession signs are already complete. Doctor, nurse, police, president, and judge do not need an extra PERSON ending.

All Agent Marker lessons
ASL signer showing that some job signs do not use the PERSON ending

Learn It

Start with the simple version, then practice it with real signs.

The PERSON ending is useful, but it is not automatic.

Some job signs already mean the person and the job together.

For those signs, adding PERSON can look awkward or redundant.

Learn the complete sign from the dictionary video, then stop there.

Complete signDoctor, nurse, police, president, and judge already name the job.
No extra endingDo not add PERSON after these common job signs.
Copy the videoThe dictionary video shows where the profession sign naturally ends.

Try It

Practice slowly. Watch how the hand movement changes the meaning.

  1. English:doctorDecide if PERSON is needed:DOCTOR is already a complete job sign.Now sign: no ending.
  2. English:nurseDecide if PERSON is needed:NURSE is already a complete job sign.Now sign: no ending.
  3. English:teacherDecide if PERSON is needed:TEACHER uses the PERSON ending.Now sign: + ending.

Simple Examples

Read the ASL line first. A dark green pill names the hand movement or lack of extra movement.

ASL line no ending.
Meaningdoctor
TipThe doctor sign is already the profession sign.
Hand movementno PERSON endingStop after DOCTOR. Do not add the PERSON ending.
doctor
ASL line no ending.
Meaningnurse
TipNURSE is also already complete.
Hand movementno PERSON endingStop after NURSE.
nurse
ASL line no ending.
Meaningpolice officer
TipUse the dictionary sign and do not tack PERSON onto the end.
Hand movementno PERSON endingPOLICE already names the role.
police
ASL line drop the extra .
Meaningpresident
TipPRESIDENT is not built by adding the PERSON ending.
Hand movementdrop the extra PERSONUse the complete PRESIDENT sign by itself.
president
ASL line no ending.
Meaningjudge
TipJUDGE is a complete profession sign.
Hand movementno PERSON endingStop after JUDGE.
judge

Common Mistake

Do not add PERSON to every profession sign. If the job sign is already complete, stop there.

Deeper Note

A little more grammar

The reference calls many of these frozen or lexicalized forms. That means the job meaning is built into the sign already, so beginners should learn the whole sign instead of forcing the PERSON ending onto it.