To sign Oklahoma, hold your dominant hand in front of you in an 'O' handshape with your palm facing forward. Move your hand slightly outward to the side while smoothly changing it into an 'A' handshape. This fluid motion is a lexicalized abbreviation of spelling O-K-L-A, where the middle letters are blended together.
Point to yourself, sign 'grow up' by raising a flat hand upward, and then sign 'Oklahoma' by sliding from an 'O' to an 'A' handshape.
Sign 'Oklahoma', then use both index fingers to mimic a swirling funnel shape moving across your body to sign 'tornado'.
Sign 'my', then 'family', followed by 'live' (two 'A' hands moving up the chest), and finish with the 'Oklahoma' sign.
Point to yourself, sign 'grow up' by raising a flat hand upward, and then sign 'Oklahoma' by sliding from an 'O' to an 'A' handshape.
Sign 'Oklahoma', then use both index fingers to mimic a swirling funnel shape moving across your body to sign 'tornado'.
Sign 'my', then 'family', followed by 'live' (two 'A' hands moving up the chest), and finish with the 'Oklahoma' sign.
No, you do not need to spell the full name. It is standard to use this lexicalized sign instead. Spelling out the entire state name letter-by-letter is unnecessary, takes much more time, and will look unnatural in fluent ASL conversation.
While 'O-K' is the official postal abbreviation and might be understood in context, the most widely recognized ASL sign for the state uses the fluid O-K-L-A motion. Using the 'O' to 'A' transition is much clearer and prevents confusion with the common word 'okay'.
You should always use your dominant hand to perform this sign. If you are right-handed, use your right hand and move it slightly to the right as you transition from the 'O' to the 'A'. Left-handed signers will use their left hand and move it slightly to the left.
