How to Sign "Doing"
the sign 'doing' uses both hands. Bring both hands in front of you, with the palms facing up. Curl the fingers in against the palm. Tap the fingertips of the index fingers and the thumbs together.
Examples Using "Doing" in a Sentence
1
What are you doing this weekend?
Sign 'weekend' first, then point to the person to indicate 'you', and use the 'doing' sign while furrowing your eyebrows to show it is a 'wh-' question.
2
I have a lot of things to do.
Sign 'I', then 'have', 'many', 'things', and finish with the 'doing' sign to emphasize the actions or tasks you need to complete.
3
What should we do now?
Point back and forth between yourself and the other person for 'we', sign 'now', and then use the 'doing' sign with furrowed eyebrows to ask the question.
How to Sign "Doing"
the sign 'doing' uses both hands. Bring both hands in front of you, with the palms facing up. Curl the fingers in against the palm. Tap the fingertips of the index fingers and the thumbs together.
Visual Logic(Etymology)
This sign visually represents the concept of handling or manipulating objects, which is a metaphor for taking action or performing a task. The repeated pinching motion of the index fingers and thumbs mimics the physical act of working with your hands, conveying the idea of being busy or 'doing' something.
Signing Tips
To make this sign look natural, keep your movements relaxed and rhythmic. The tapping motion of your index fingers and thumbs should be quick and light, usually repeating two or three times. Make sure your palms stay facing upward throughout the entire sign, and keep your other fingers curled neatly out of the way. When asking a question like 'What are you doing?', remember to furrow your eyebrows!
Common Mistakes
A common mistake is facing the palms downward or toward the body instead of keeping them facing up. Beginners also sometimes use their whole hand to make a grasping motion rather than isolating the index finger and thumb. Make sure only the tips of your index fingers and thumbs are tapping together.
Regional Variations
This sign is widely used and understood across the ASL community with minimal regional variation.
Examples Using "Doing" in a Sentence
1What are you doing this weekend?
Sign 'weekend' first, then point to the person to indicate 'you', and use the 'doing' sign while furrowing your eyebrows to show it is a 'wh-' question.
2I have a lot of things to do.
Sign 'I', then 'have', 'many', 'things', and finish with the 'doing' sign to emphasize the actions or tasks you need to complete.
3What should we do now?
Point back and forth between yourself and the other person for 'we', sign 'now', and then use the 'doing' sign with furrowed eyebrows to ask the question.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use this sign to say 'I am doing my homework'?
No, this specific sign is typically used to mean 'What are you doing?' or 'What should we do?'. For a sentence like 'I am doing my homework,' you would usually just sign 'I write homework' or use the sign for 'work' rather than this specific pinching 'do' sign.
Why do I need to furrow my eyebrows when signing 'doing'?
In ASL, furrowed eyebrows are the grammatical marker for 'wh-' questions (who, what, where, when, why, how). Since this sign is most often used to ask 'What are you doing?', the furrowed eyebrows are essential to show you are asking a question.
How many times should I tap my fingers together?
Generally, you should tap your index fingers and thumbs together two or three times in a quick, rhythmic motion. Tapping just once might look incomplete, while tapping too many times can look exaggerated unless you are emphasizing that you have a ton of things to do.
ASL is a beautiful, expressive language. Practice regularly and have fun!