the sign 'smile' uses both hands. Relax both hands so the fingers are pressed together and the hands are bent at the knuckles. Bring the hands up so the fingertips are pointed towards each other. Starting with where the fingertips meet at the middle fo your mouth, draw the hands up in a curve like you are drawing a smile with both hands.
Sign 'beautiful' and then trace the smile starting from the middle of your mouth upwards, just as described, to emphasize the expression.
Sign 'please', then execute the 'smile' sign by drawing the curve up from your mouth with both hands, followed by the sign for 'camera'.
Point to him, sign 'smile' by tracing the upward curve from your lips with your bent hands, and finish with 'happy' to show the effect.
Sign 'beautiful' and then trace the smile starting from the middle of your mouth upwards, just as described, to emphasize the expression.
Sign 'please', then execute the 'smile' sign by drawing the curve up from your mouth with both hands, followed by the sign for 'camera'.
Point to him, sign 'smile' by tracing the upward curve from your lips with your bent hands, and finish with 'happy' to show the effect.
Yes! In ASL, your facial expressions are just as important as your hand movements. Smiling while signing 'smile' reinforces the meaning and makes your signing much more natural.
Your fingertips should start very close to or lightly touching the middle of your mouth, but you don't need to drag them heavily across your skin. A light hover or gentle touch as you draw the upward curve is perfect.
While some casual signers might use one hand in rapid conversation, the standard and clearest way for beginners—as described here—is to use both hands to trace the full, symmetrical curve of the smile.
