How to Sign "Earlier"
To sign 'earlier', start with your dominant hand open, fingers together, and palm facing your body. Move your hand backward over your dominant shoulder. This backward motion visually represents moving back in time.
Examples Using "Earlier" in a Sentence
1
I woke up earlier today.
Sign 'I', 'wake up', 'earlier', and 'today'. The sign 'earlier' establishes that the waking up happened in the past.
2
We met earlier this week.
Sign 'We', 'meet', 'earlier', 'this', and 'week'. The backward motion of 'earlier' clearly places the meeting in the past.
3
Can we leave earlier?
Sign 'We', 'leave', and 'earlier', while raising your eyebrows and tilting your head slightly forward to indicate a yes/no question.
How to Sign "Earlier"
To sign 'earlier', start with your dominant hand open, fingers together, and palm facing your body. Move your hand backward over your dominant shoulder. This backward motion visually represents moving back in time.
Visual Logic(Etymology)
In American Sign Language, time is represented spatially relative to the signer's body. The space in front of you represents the future, the space right at your body is the present, and the space behind you is the past. Moving your hand backward over your shoulder visually demonstrates moving backward on this timeline to indicate something that happened 'earlier'.
Signing Tips
Keep your hand flat and your fingers together for a clean, recognizable sign. Ensure the movement goes clearly backward over your shoulder to emphasize the concept of the past.
Common Mistakes
Moving your hand forward instead of backward is a common mistake; moving forward indicates the future or 'later', which changes the meaning entirely. Also, make sure you don't just tap your shoulder, but actually move your hand past it.
Regional Variations
This sign is widely used and understood across the ASL community with minimal regional variation.
Examples Using "Earlier" in a Sentence
1I woke up earlier today.
Sign 'I', 'wake up', 'earlier', and 'today'. The sign 'earlier' establishes that the waking up happened in the past.
2We met earlier this week.
Sign 'We', 'meet', 'earlier', 'this', and 'week'. The backward motion of 'earlier' clearly places the meeting in the past.
3Can we leave earlier?
Sign 'We', 'leave', and 'earlier', while raising your eyebrows and tilting your head slightly forward to indicate a yes/no question.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the sign for 'earlier' the same as 'past' or 'before'?
Yes, the sign for 'earlier' is the same sign used for 'past' or 'before'. The exact meaning is usually clear from the context of your sentence.
How do I show that something happened *much* earlier?
You can modify the sign by moving your hand further back over your shoulder. Using a larger, slightly slower movement can emphasize that a significant amount of time has passed.
Does it matter which hand I use to sign 'earlier'?
You should use your dominant hand for this sign. If you are right-handed, use your right hand and move it backward over your right shoulder.
ASL is a beautiful, expressive language. Practice regularly and have fun!