To sign 'sound', start by bringing your dominant hand up to your ear, pointing to or touching it briefly with your index finger. Then, bring both hands out in front of you with open '5' handshapes, palms facing down. Move both hands forward and slightly downward while wiggling your fingers or shaking your hands, mimicking the movement of sound waves traveling through the air.
To sign this, use the sign for 'loud' followed by 'sound'. Make sure to emphasize the intensity of the noise by using a startled or intense facial expression.
Sign 'sound' and then 'what'. Remember to furrow your eyebrows and lean forward slightly, which is the standard ASL facial grammar for asking a 'wh-' question.
Sign 'rain', then 'sound', followed by 'relax'. Keep your hand movements smooth and your facial expression calm to convey the soothing nature of the noise.
To sign this, use the sign for 'loud' followed by 'sound'. Make sure to emphasize the intensity of the noise by using a startled or intense facial expression.
Sign 'sound' and then 'what'. Remember to furrow your eyebrows and lean forward slightly, which is the standard ASL facial grammar for asking a 'wh-' question.
Sign 'rain', then 'sound', followed by 'relax'. Keep your hand movements smooth and your facial expression calm to convey the soothing nature of the noise.
They are very similar and often use the same base movements. However, 'noise' is typically signed with larger, more erratic shaking movements and a bothered or annoyed facial expression to indicate that the sound is loud, disruptive, or unwanted.
In this specific variation, bringing both hands forward helps clearly illustrate the sound waves spreading out into the environment. While there are one-handed variations, using both hands is very common, highly visual, and easy for beginners to master.
You should always point to the ear on the same side as your dominant hand. If you are right-handed, point to your right ear with your right index finger before bringing both hands forward to complete the sign.
