To sign "narrow," start with both hands in front of your chest, using flat handshapes with your palms facing each other and your fingers pointing straight forward. Begin with your hands a few inches apart, then smoothly move them slightly closer together, stopping before they touch. This simple, intuitive motion visually represents the concept of a space, path, or object being tight or shrinking in width.
Sign "hallway" followed by "narrow." When signing "narrow," bring your hands quite close together and perhaps purse your lips slightly to emphasize just how tight the physical space is.
You can use "narrow" to describe limited time. Sign "time" and then "narrow," moving your hands close together to visually show the small margin or tight schedule you are working with.
Sign "road" and then transition into "narrow." You can start with your hands a bit wider apart and bring them closer together to show the width of the path actively decreasing.
Sign "hallway" followed by "narrow." When signing "narrow," bring your hands quite close together and perhaps purse your lips slightly to emphasize just how tight the physical space is.
You can use "narrow" to describe limited time. Sign "time" and then "narrow," moving your hands close together to visually show the small margin or tight schedule you are working with.
Sign "road" and then transition into "narrow." You can start with your hands a bit wider apart and bring them closer together to show the width of the path actively decreasing.
While you can use this sign literally for physical spaces, "narrow-minded" is often signed differently in ASL. It is typically signed by placing flat hands near the sides of your eyes (like blinders) and moving them forward, which visually represents restricted vision or thought.
Yes, the starting distance helps establish context. If you start very wide and bring them close, it implies something actively became narrow. If you just start them a few inches apart and move them slightly, it simply describes something as already being narrow.
No, your hands should never touch when signing "narrow." Leaving a small gap between your palms is crucial to show that there is still a space, just a tight one. Touching hands usually implies closing, finishing, or bringing things together.
