To sign 'tease,' form both hands into 'X' shapes with your index fingers hooked and the rest of your fingers curled. Hold your non-dominant hand in front of you with the palm facing sideways. Place your dominant hand on top of your non-dominant hand, and slide it forward twice, brushing against the bottom hand as it moves.
Sign 'STOP' followed by 'TEASE' directed slightly toward where the brother is, and then sign 'BROTHER'. Use a firm facial expression to show you are serious.
Point to yourself for 'I', sign 'TEASE' moving your dominant hand forward toward the person you are talking to, and smile to show it is lighthearted.
Point to the people for 'THEY', sign 'ALWAYS', and then sign 'TEASE' by moving the dominant hand backward toward your own body to show the action is happening to you.
Sign 'STOP' followed by 'TEASE' directed slightly toward where the brother is, and then sign 'BROTHER'. Use a firm facial expression to show you are serious.
Point to yourself for 'I', sign 'TEASE' moving your dominant hand forward toward the person you are talking to, and smile to show it is lighthearted.
Point to the people for 'THEY', sign 'ALWAYS', and then sign 'TEASE' by moving the dominant hand backward toward your own body to show the action is happening to you.
They are very similar and use the exact same handshapes and motion. However, 'joke' is usually signed in a neutral space in front of you, while 'tease' is often directional, moving toward the person being teased or toward yourself if you are the one being teased.
Because 'tease' is a directional verb, you can show who is doing the teasing by changing the movement. To sign 'tease me,' start the sign slightly away from your body and slide your dominant hand inward toward yourself.
Yes, absolutely! Your face gives the sign its context. A playful smile shows lighthearted, friendly teasing, while a frowned or upset expression indicates mean-spirited or unwanted teasing.
