To sign "killer", start by signing the verb "kill". Hold your non-dominant hand in a "1" handshape with the index finger pointing up. With your dominant hand also in a "1" handshape, push your index finger forward so it strikes and pushes past the non-dominant index finger. Next, add the "person" marker by changing both hands to flat "B" handshapes, palms facing each other, and moving them straight down.
To express this in ASL, you would establish the subject by signing "detective", follow it with the verb "catch", and then conclude the sentence with the sign for "killer".
For this sentence, you can start by signing "movie", then use the sign for "about", followed by "famous", and finish with the compound sign for "killer".
You can convey this idea by pointing to indicate "they", using the sign for "search" or "look for", and then signing "killer" to show who they are trying to find.
To express this in ASL, you would establish the subject by signing "detective", follow it with the verb "catch", and then conclude the sentence with the sign for "killer".
For this sentence, you can start by signing "movie", then use the sign for "about", followed by "famous", and finish with the compound sign for "killer".
You can convey this idea by pointing to indicate "they", using the sign for "search" or "look for", and then signing "killer" to show who they are trying to find.
The word "kill" is an action verb, which is represented by just the first part of the sign. To change the meaning to "killer", you must add the "person" marker at the end by moving two flat hands downward, indicating the person performing the action.
It is best to avoid using this literal sign for slang or figurative English phrases. ASL relies on conveying the actual meaning of the concept. For "a killer workout", you would use signs that convey "hard", "intense", or "awesome" instead.
The flat hands moving downward represent the sides of a person's body. This is known as the "agent suffix" or "person marker" in ASL. It is a common grammatical tool used to change a verb (like "teach" or "kill") into a noun (like "teacher" or "killer").
