To sign lamp, start with your dominant hand in a closed 'O' shape (fingertips touching the thumb), held up near your shoulder level with your palm facing downward. Move your hand slightly downward while opening your fingers wide into a '5' handshape. This motion represents the light from a lamp shining down.
Sign 'please', then 'lamp', and follow with the sign for 'turn on' by mimicking the action of twisting a switch or flicking it up.
Point to the lamp, sign 'lamp', and then use the sign for 'bright' by bringing both closed hands together and opening them outward.
Point to yourself for 'I', sign 'need', 'lamp', and then sign 'desk' by tapping your forearms together to show a flat surface.
Sign 'please', then 'lamp', and follow with the sign for 'turn on' by mimicking the action of twisting a switch or flicking it up.
Point to the lamp, sign 'lamp', and then use the sign for 'bright' by bringing both closed hands together and opening them outward.
Point to yourself for 'I', sign 'need', 'lamp', and then sign 'desk' by tapping your forearms together to show a flat surface.
They are related but different. The general sign for 'light' often involves the hand pointing forward or upward, or flicking the chin. 'Lamp' specifically points downward to show a fixture shining down onto a surface.
The sign for 'lamp' is typically done with just your dominant hand. You do not need to use your non-dominant hand for this specific sign.
The motion doesn't need to be very large. A small, deliberate downward movement of a few inches while opening your hand is enough to convey the meaning clearly.
