This sign is a compound of the words KILL and SELF. First, hold your non-dominant hand in a '1' handshape with the index finger pointing up. With your dominant hand in an 'A' handshape, strike the side of your non-dominant index finger as you move it outward. Then, change both hands into 'A' handshapes with the thumbs pointing straight up, and move them downwards together in a short, firm motion in front of your chest.
Sign 'suicide', then 'rate', followed by 'decrease' and 'this year'.
Sign 'he', 'write', 'book', 'about', 'suicide', and 'prevent'.
Sign 'suicide', 'hotline', 'available', 'for', 'call'.
Sign 'suicide', then 'rate', followed by 'decrease' and 'this year'.
Sign 'he', 'write', 'book', 'about', 'suicide', and 'prevent'.
Sign 'suicide', 'hotline', 'available', 'for', 'call'.
This is a compound sign in ASL. It combines the signs for 'kill' and 'self' to literally express the concept of taking one's own life.
While signing 'kill' and then pointing to yourself with an index finger might be understood in context, using the formal two-handed 'A' handshape for 'self' is the grammatically correct way to sign this specific compound word.
Yes, during the 'self' portion of the sign, both hands should be in 'A' handshapes with the thumbs pointing straight up as they move downward in front of your chest.
