To sign "flame," start with both hands in front of you, palms facing toward your body with your fingers spread and slightly curved. Wiggle your fingers continuously while moving your hands in an alternating up and down motion. This movement mimics the flickering and dancing of a fire's flames.
Sign 'candle' first, then use the sign for 'flame' just above your base hand, finishing with a sign for 'extinguish' or by blowing slightly to show it going out.
Point to the imaginary object, sign 'bright,' and then use the wiggling 'flame' sign to describe the visual appearance of the fire.
Sign 'camp' and 'fire,' then emphasize the 'flame' sign by making the alternating upward movements much larger and more dramatic to show the size of the blaze.
Sign 'candle' first, then use the sign for 'flame' just above your base hand, finishing with a sign for 'extinguish' or by blowing slightly to show it going out.
Point to the imaginary object, sign 'bright,' and then use the wiggling 'flame' sign to describe the visual appearance of the fire.
Sign 'camp' and 'fire,' then emphasize the 'flame' sign by making the alternating upward movements much larger and more dramatic to show the size of the blaze.
Yes, the signs for 'flame' and 'fire' are generally the exact same. The context of your sentence will let the other person know whether you are talking about a single flame, like on a match, or a larger fire.
To show a very small flame, you can make the sign much smaller, keeping your hands close together and using gentle, subtle finger wiggles. You might also purse your lips slightly, which is an ASL facial grammar marker for something tiny.
Your palms should generally face toward your body or slightly upward. This natural angle allows your wiggling fingers to point up, representing the tips of the flames reaching into the air.
