To sign 'lay,' start by holding your non-dominant hand flat in front of you with the palm facing up, representing a surface like a bed or the floor. Form a 'V' handshape with your dominant hand by extending your index and middle fingers. With the palm of your dominant hand facing down, bring it downward so the extended fingers lie flat across your non-dominant palm. This motion visually represents a person's legs resting horizontally on a surface.
Sign 'lay' by placing your flat 'V' handshape onto your open non-dominant palm, followed by the sign for 'nap'.
After signing 'he' and 'couch', use the 'lay' sign to show the action of him resting horizontally on the surface.
Sign 'dog' and 'sun', then use the 'lay' sign. The 'V' handshape can also represent an animal resting on the ground.
Sign 'lay' by placing your flat 'V' handshape onto your open non-dominant palm, followed by the sign for 'nap'.
After signing 'he' and 'couch', use the 'lay' sign to show the action of him resting horizontally on the surface.
Sign 'dog' and 'sun', then use the 'lay' sign. The 'V' handshape can also represent an animal resting on the ground.
Both signs use the exact same handshapes, but the orientation is different. For 'stand,' the tips of your 'V' fingers touch the palm vertically. For 'lay,' the fingers rest horizontally and completely flat against the palm.
No, this specific sign uses a classifier that represents a person or animal with legs. If you are laying an object down, you would use a different sign or a classifier that matches the shape of the specific object being placed.
While the palm-down version shown here is very common (often representing lying on one's stomach), you will also frequently see 'lay' signed with the dominant palm facing up to represent lying on one's back. Both variations are correct and widely understood.
