To sign 'matter' (as in importance), form both hands into 'F' handshapes, with your index fingers and thumbs touching to make circles. Hold your hands slightly apart in front of your chest, then bring them together so the tips of your index fingers and thumbs touch.
Sign 'NOT' followed by 'MATTER' to express that something is not important. Shake your head slightly to emphasize the negative.
Point to the object in question, sign 'MATTER', and then point to the person you are asking. Remember to raise your eyebrows since this is a yes/no question.
Sign 'FAMILY', then 'MATTER', and finish with the sign for 'MOST' to show that family is the highest priority.
Sign 'NOT' followed by 'MATTER' to express that something is not important. Shake your head slightly to emphasize the negative.
Point to the object in question, sign 'MATTER', and then point to the person you are asking. Remember to raise your eyebrows since this is a yes/no question.
Sign 'FAMILY', then 'MATTER', and finish with the sign for 'MOST' to show that family is the highest priority.
Yes! In ASL, the concepts of 'matter' (as in significance) and 'important' use the exact same sign. The context of your sentence and your facial expressions will help clarify your exact meaning.
No, this sign is strictly for the concept of importance or significance. If you are talking about physical matter in a scientific context (like solids, liquids, and gases), you would typically fingerspell M-A-T-T-E-R.
As a beginner, you can simply sign 'NOT' followed by 'MATTER'. While there are specific, more advanced ASL idioms for 'doesn't matter' or 'don't care', signing 'NOT MATTER' is perfectly clear and widely understood.
