To sign 'thick,' form a 'C' handshape with your dominant hand and place it near your cheek. Pull your hand slightly outward and downward away from your face. As you do this, it is essential to puff out your cheeks—this facial expression is a crucial part of the sign to emphasize the concept of thickness or density.
Sign 'soup,' then use the sign for 'thick' with a pronounced puffed-cheek expression to show just how dense and hearty the liquid is.
Sign 'blanket,' then sign 'thick' to describe its heavy weight and warmth, followed by the sign for 'winter' or 'cold.'
Point to the person, sign 'hair,' and then use the 'thick' sign near your cheek to describe the heavy volume and fullness of her hair.
Sign 'soup,' then use the sign for 'thick' with a pronounced puffed-cheek expression to show just how dense and hearty the liquid is.
Sign 'blanket,' then sign 'thick' to describe its heavy weight and warmth, followed by the sign for 'winter' or 'cold.'
Point to the person, sign 'hair,' and then use the 'thick' sign near your cheek to describe the heavy volume and fullness of her hair.
Yes! In ASL, puffing your cheeks is a non-manual marker (NMM) that conveys the idea of something being thick, dense, or large. Without it, the sign loses a significant part of its grammatical meaning and visual impact.
You can, but it is often more visually accurate to use a two-handed 'C' handshape classifier to show the actual physical thickness of the book. The cheek sign is excellent for thick liquids, layers of snow, or general density.
You should use the cheek on the same side as your dominant hand. If you are right-handed, use your right hand near your right cheek. This keeps the movement natural, comfortable, and easy to read.
