The sign for 'last name' is a combination of two signs: 'last' and 'name'. First, make 'I' handshapes with both hands by extending only your pinky fingers. Hold your non-dominant hand out, and strike its pinky with the pinky of your dominant hand as it moves downward. Then, immediately change both hands to 'H' handshapes (index and middle fingers extended together). Tap the fingers of your dominant hand crosswise over the fingers of your non-dominant hand twice.
To sign this, point to the person for 'YOUR', sign 'LAST NAME', and finish with the sign for 'WHAT'. Remember to furrow your eyebrows at the end, as this is a wh-question.
Point to yourself for 'MY', sign 'LAST NAME', and then clearly fingerspell S-M-I-T-H. You do not need a separate sign for the word 'is'.
Sign 'WE', then 'SAME', and finally 'LAST NAME'. When signing 'SAME', you can move the 'Y' handshape back and forth between you and the other person to show the shared connection.
To sign this, point to the person for 'YOUR', sign 'LAST NAME', and finish with the sign for 'WHAT'. Remember to furrow your eyebrows at the end, as this is a wh-question.
Point to yourself for 'MY', sign 'LAST NAME', and then clearly fingerspell S-M-I-T-H. You do not need a separate sign for the word 'is'.
Sign 'WE', then 'SAME', and finally 'LAST NAME'. When signing 'SAME', you can move the 'Y' handshape back and forth between you and the other person to show the shared connection.
While you will always fingerspell your actual surname, you should use this compound sign when asking for someone else's or referring to the concept of a surname. It is much faster and more natural in ASL than fingerspelling the English words 'L-A-S-T N-A-M-E'.
In ASL, nouns typically have a repeated, smaller movement, while verbs have a single, larger movement. Tapping the fingers twice indicates the noun 'name', whereas a single tap means the verb 'to name' or 'to be called'.
No, the sign for 'last' used here specifically means 'final' in a sequence. For time-related concepts like 'last week' or 'last year', ASL uses entirely different signs that involve moving backward over the shoulder to indicate the past.
