To sign 'gator' (or alligator), hold both hands out in front of you with your fingers bent into claw shapes. Position your dominant hand above your non-dominant hand, with the top palm facing down and the bottom palm facing up, resembling an open jaw. Bring your hands together to snap them shut, mimicking an alligator snapping its jaws.
Point to the imaginary gator, sign 'gator' by snapping your clawed hands together, and then use your hands to emphasize its large size.
First, sign 'gator' using the snapping jaw motion, then follow it with the sign for 'swimming' by paddling your hands in front of you.
Point to the person, sign 'scared', and then sign 'gator'. Make sure to raise your eyebrows and lean forward slightly to indicate a yes/no question.
Point to the imaginary gator, sign 'gator' by snapping your clawed hands together, and then use your hands to emphasize its large size.
First, sign 'gator' using the snapping jaw motion, then follow it with the sign for 'swimming' by paddling your hands in front of you.
Point to the person, sign 'scared', and then sign 'gator'. Make sure to raise your eyebrows and lean forward slightly to indicate a yes/no question.
Yes, the sign is exactly the same whether you are saying 'gator' or 'alligator'. ASL focuses on the concept of the animal rather than the exact English abbreviation.
Typically, signers place their dominant hand on top and their non-dominant hand on the bottom. However, the sign is easily understood regardless of which hand is positioned as the upper jaw.
In everyday, conversational ASL, the same snapping jaw sign is often used for both alligators and crocodiles. If the distinction is scientifically important, a signer might fingerspell 'C-R-O-C' or 'crocodile' for clarity.
