To sign 'tall', start by holding your non-dominant hand flat in front of you, palm facing sideways or slightly up, to act as a base. Form your dominant hand into a '1' handshape with the index finger pointing up. Place your dominant hand near your non-dominant palm, then move it straight up high above your head to demonstrate height.
Sign 'brother', then use the sign for 'tall'. To emphasize the word 'very', extend your dominant hand extra high and look upward slightly to show just how tall he is.
Point to the building, sign 'building', and then sign 'tall'. Make sure your upward movement matches the impressive height you are describing to make the sentence more visually engaging.
Sign 'you', 'tall', then 'short'. Because this is a question, remember to keep your eyebrows raised and lean forward slightly while signing to indicate that you are asking for an answer.
Sign 'brother', then use the sign for 'tall'. To emphasize the word 'very', extend your dominant hand extra high and look upward slightly to show just how tall he is.
Point to the building, sign 'building', and then sign 'tall'. Make sure your upward movement matches the impressive height you are describing to make the sentence more visually engaging.
Sign 'you', 'tall', then 'short'. Because this is a question, remember to keep your eyebrows raised and lean forward slightly while signing to indicate that you are asking for an answer.
While this specific '1' handshape sign is most commonly used for tall people, it can sometimes be used generally. However, for tall buildings or trees, ASL often uses classifiers or a flat hand moving upward to better show the shape and size of the object.
Yes, your dominant hand should always be the one moving upward. Your non-dominant hand acts as the stationary base. This follows a standard ASL rule where the dominant hand performs the primary action while the non-dominant hand provides a reference point.
In ASL, you modify the sign to show intensity. To say 'very tall', extend your dominant hand much higher, move it a bit slower for dramatic emphasis, and use an exaggerated facial expression, perhaps looking up as if staring at a giant.
