To sign forty, start with your dominant hand in front of your shoulder in a '4' handshape, with your palm facing outward and your four fingers pointing up. Then, smoothly close your fingers and thumb together to form an 'O' handshape, representing the number zero. This fluid motion of signing four and then zero creates the sign.
To sign this, point to yourself for 'I', sign 'age' by pulling an 'O' handshape down from your chin, and then sign 'forty' by changing your hand from a 4 to an O.
Sign 'speed limit' or 'drive', then clearly sign 'forty' by holding up four fingers and smoothly closing them into a zero handshape facing outward.
Sign 'here' and 'people', then sign 'forty' using the fluid 4-to-0 handshape motion to indicate the exact quantity.
To sign this, point to yourself for 'I', sign 'age' by pulling an 'O' handshape down from your chin, and then sign 'forty' by changing your hand from a 4 to an O.
Sign 'speed limit' or 'drive', then clearly sign 'forty' by holding up four fingers and smoothly closing them into a zero handshape facing outward.
Sign 'here' and 'people', then sign 'forty' using the fluid 4-to-0 handshape motion to indicate the exact quantity.
No, you should keep your hand relatively still in front of your shoulder. The only movement needed is your fingers closing from the '4' handshape into the 'O' handshape.
Your palm should face outward, toward the person you are signing to. This is the standard orientation for most double-digit numbers in ASL, making it easy for others to read.
No, they are quite different! Fourteen is signed with a '4' handshape facing inward toward yourself, with the fingers bending or fluttering twice. Forty faces outward and changes from a 4 to a 0.
