To sign America, start by interlacing the fingers of both hands together in front of your chest. Keep your fingers slightly relaxed but clearly interlocked. Then, move your joined hands in a horizontal circle, as if you are outlining a boundary or stirring a large pot. The circular motion is usually done smoothly just once or twice.
Point to yourself for 'I', sign 'live' by moving two A-hands upward on your chest, and then sign 'America' by interlacing your fingers and making a horizontal circular motion.
Point to the person for 'you', sign 'from' by pulling your dominant X-hand away from your non-dominant index finger, and finish with 'America', making sure to raise your eyebrows to indicate a yes/no question.
Sign 'America' first to establish the topic, then sign 'large' by using L-hands moving outward from each other to visually show the vast size of the country.
Point to yourself for 'I', sign 'live' by moving two A-hands upward on your chest, and then sign 'America' by interlacing your fingers and making a horizontal circular motion.
Point to the person for 'you', sign 'from' by pulling your dominant X-hand away from your non-dominant index finger, and finish with 'America', making sure to raise your eyebrows to indicate a yes/no question.
Sign 'America' first to establish the topic, then sign 'large' by using L-hands moving outward from each other to visually show the vast size of the country.
Generally, the circular motion goes outward and around, but the exact direction isn't strictly policed as long as it is a smooth, horizontal circle. Most right-handed signers naturally circle counter-clockwise.
This sign is primarily used to mean the United States of America. If you want to specify the entire continent of North America, you would typically sign 'North' (moving an N-handshape upward) followed by 'America'.
The interlaced fingers historically represent the overlapping logs used to build log cabins by early settlers. It serves as a visual reminder of the country's early history, as well as the concept of unity and togetherness.
