To sign "ma," you will fingerspell the letters M and A. First, form the letter 'M' with your dominant hand by tucking your thumb under your index, middle, and ring fingers. Next, transition smoothly into the letter 'A' by making a fist with your thumb resting against the side of your index finger. Keep your palm facing forward and your hand steady in front of your shoulder.
Fingerspell M-A to represent the standard abbreviation for the state of Massachusetts.
Fingerspell M-A to indicate a Master of Arts degree, keeping your hand steady between the letters.
While you can fingerspell M-A for the casual nickname, using the standard ASL sign for 'mother' is much more common.
Fingerspell M-A to represent the standard abbreviation for the state of Massachusetts.
Fingerspell M-A to indicate a Master of Arts degree, keeping your hand steady between the letters.
While you can fingerspell M-A for the casual nickname, using the standard ASL sign for 'mother' is much more common.
If you are referring to your mother, it is much more common to use the standard ASL sign for "mother" (tapping a '5' handshape on your chin). Fingerspelling "M-A" is typically used for abbreviations like Massachusetts or a Master of Arts degree.
No, you should keep your hand relatively still in front of your shoulder. Avoid bouncing your hand between letters; just let your fingers do the work to transition smoothly from 'M' to 'A'.
For a clear 'M', ensure your thumb is tucked under your index, middle, and ring fingers. If it is only under two fingers, it becomes an 'N', and if it is under one, it becomes a 'T'.
