To sign 'Gallaudet,' start by forming your dominant hand into a 'G' handshape, with your index finger and thumb extended and slightly apart. Place this hand near the outer corner of your eye. Pull the hand slightly backward towards your ear while simultaneously pinching your index finger and thumb together. The movement is short and distinct, mimicking the adjustment of glasses.
To sign this, point to yourself for 'I,' sign 'WANT,' and then 'GO.' Follow this with the sign for 'Gallaudet' near your eye, and finish with the sign for 'UNIVERSITY' by twisting a 'U' handshape into your non-dominant palm.
Point to the person for 'YOU,' sign 'GRADUATE' by bringing a 'G' handshape down onto your open palm, and then sign 'Gallaudet.' Remember to raise your eyebrows and lean forward slightly to indicate a yes/no question.
Sign 'Gallaudet' first to establish the subject. Then, sign 'WASHINGTON' by bringing a 'W' handshape forward from your shoulder, and fingerspell 'D-C.' You can nod affirmatively to confirm the statement.
To sign this, point to yourself for 'I,' sign 'WANT,' and then 'GO.' Follow this with the sign for 'Gallaudet' near your eye, and finish with the sign for 'UNIVERSITY' by twisting a 'U' handshape into your non-dominant palm.
Point to the person for 'YOU,' sign 'GRADUATE' by bringing a 'G' handshape down onto your open palm, and then sign 'Gallaudet.' Remember to raise your eyebrows and lean forward slightly to indicate a yes/no question.
Sign 'Gallaudet' first to establish the subject. Then, sign 'WASHINGTON' by bringing a 'W' handshape forward from your shoulder, and fingerspell 'D-C.' You can nod affirmatively to confirm the statement.
The sign for Gallaudet is historically related to the sign for glasses, and they look very similar. However, 'glasses' is often signed using two hands or with a repeated tapping motion, whereas 'Gallaudet' is typically a single, distinct backward pull with just the dominant hand.
Not always! In the Deaf community, if the context is clearly about education or the famous school in Washington D.C., simply signing 'Gallaudet' is usually enough. People will understand you mean the university. You only need to add 'University' if you want to be highly formal.
Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet was a co-founder of the first permanent school for the deaf in North America. Gallaudet University, the world's premier higher education institution designed specifically for deaf and hard-of-hearing students, was named in his honor to recognize his massive contributions to Deaf education.
