To sign 'I don't know sign language', begin by signing 'sign'. Hold both hands in front of your chest with your index fingers extended, and rotate them in alternating backward circles. Next, indicate that you don't know by opening both hands with palms facing forward, lifting them slightly in a shrugging motion, and shaking your head with an apologetic or confused facial expression.
Sign 'sorry' by rubbing an 'A' handshape on your chest, then use the 'sign' and shrugging 'don't know' motions described above.
After signing 'want learn', transition into the alternating index fingers for 'sign' and finish with the open-handed shrug.
Establish the context of interpreting first, then clearly shake your head while performing the 'sign' and 'don't know' sequence.
Sign 'sorry' by rubbing an 'A' handshape on your chest, then use the 'sign' and shrugging 'don't know' motions described above.
After signing 'want learn', transition into the alternating index fingers for 'sign' and finish with the open-handed shrug.
Establish the context of interpreting first, then clearly shake your head while performing the 'sign' and 'don't know' sequence.
In ASL, the pronoun 'I' is often implied by the context and your body language. The shrugging motion naturally indicates that you are the one who doesn't know, making a separate sign for 'I' optional.
Yes! You can sign 'don't know' by touching your forehead with your fingertips and turning your hand outward. However, the open-handed shrug shown here is very common and easily understood in casual conversation.
ASL often uses a topic-comment sentence structure. By signing 'sign' first, you establish the topic (sign language), and then you provide the comment (you don't know it or have no knowledge of it).
