How to Sign "Neck"
To sign 'neck,' form a flat handshape with your dominant hand, keeping your fingers together. Gently tap your fingertips against the side of your neck. Your palm should be facing toward your body.
Examples Using "Neck" in a Sentence
1
My neck hurts.
Sign 'my,' then 'neck' by tapping the side of your neck, and finish with the sign for 'hurt' positioned near your neck to show where the pain is.
2
The giraffe has a long neck.
After signing 'giraffe,' you can emphasize the length of the neck by using a 'C' handshape moving upward from your shoulders to show a long neck.
3
Wrap the scarf around your neck.
Sign 'scarf' by mimicking the motion of wrapping a piece of clothing around your neck, which naturally incorporates the location of the neck.
How to Sign "Neck"
To sign 'neck,' form a flat handshape with your dominant hand, keeping your fingers together. Gently tap your fingertips against the side of your neck. Your palm should be facing toward your body.
Visual Logic(Etymology)
This sign is highly iconic and indexical. Like many signs for body parts in ASL, it simply involves pointing to or touching the specific area of the body being referenced.
Signing Tips
Keep your hand relaxed and use a gentle tapping motion. You don't need to use your whole palm; a light touch with your fingertips is perfect. Always use your dominant hand and tap the same side of your neck for the most natural movement.
Common Mistakes
A common mistake is grabbing the neck or using a closed fist instead of a flat, relaxed handshape. Another mistake is reaching across the body to tap the opposite side of the neck, which can look awkward and disrupt your signing flow.
Regional Variations
This sign is widely used and understood across the ASL community with minimal regional variation.
Examples Using "Neck" in a Sentence
1My neck hurts.
Sign 'my,' then 'neck' by tapping the side of your neck, and finish with the sign for 'hurt' positioned near your neck to show where the pain is.
2The giraffe has a long neck.
After signing 'giraffe,' you can emphasize the length of the neck by using a 'C' handshape moving upward from your shoulders to show a long neck.
3Wrap the scarf around your neck.
Sign 'scarf' by mimicking the motion of wrapping a piece of clothing around your neck, which naturally incorporates the location of the neck.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to tap my neck multiple times?
Usually, a single deliberate touch or a quick double tap is used. A double tap is very common since 'neck' is a noun, and nouns in ASL often use a repeated motion.
Can I just point to my neck with my index finger?
While pointing with your index finger will be understood in context as indicating your neck, using the flat handshape with your fingers together is the standard dictionary sign for the word.
Does it matter which side of the neck I touch?
Yes, it is best to touch the side of the neck that corresponds to your dominant hand. If you are right-handed, use your right hand to tap the right side of your neck.
ASL is a beautiful, expressive language. Practice regularly and have fun!