American Sign Language (ASL) is a visually rich language, and mastering basic signs is the first step to communication. One of the fundamental signs you’ll need to know is how to sign “learn.” This article will guide you through the sign for “learn,” its variations, and the related sign for “student,” ensuring you grasp these essential ASL concepts.
The sign for “learn” in ASL is visually descriptive and quite intuitive. It’s like you’re physically taking information and placing it into your mind. Imagine holding a book or a piece of paper in your non-dominant hand. Your dominant hand then “grabs” information from this imaginary page and brings it to your forehead, symbolizing the act of acquiring knowledge.
This is the standard way to sign “learn.” The hand motion is deliberate, showing the action of taking in information. Here are a few still images to further illustrate the sign:
You might also encounter a slightly different, more casual version of the “learn” sign. In this variation, the motion is abbreviated. Instead of bringing your hand all the way to your forehead, you stop partway. This casual sign still means “learn” and is commonly used in everyday conversation to save effort.
Now, let’s talk about “learning.” In ASL, you can often modify verbs to indicate ongoing action or a process. For “learn,” you can sign “learning” by repeating the motion of the “learn” sign. Instead of a single, deliberate movement, you use a double motion, emphasizing the continuous nature of learning.
Building upon the sign for “learn,” we can create the sign for “student.” In ASL, to signify a “person” who performs an action, we often add the “person” suffix. For “student,” we combine the sign for “learn” with the “person” sign. The “person” sign, also known as the “agent suffix,” is a downward movement with flat hands. So, “student” becomes “LEARN-PERSON.”
Sometimes, in informal settings, you might see a more abbreviated sign for “student.” This variation looks like you are discarding information after learning it. The hand movement involves grabbing something from your palm and then moving both hands downwards with palms facing inward. While this is less formal, it’s good to be aware of this variation.
A common point of confusion for beginners is distinguishing between “learn” and “student.” Remember, “student” builds on “learn” by adding the “person” suffix. If you find yourself signing “learn” when you mean “student,” focus on incorporating that downward “person” sign after the “learn” motion.
To effectively learn ASL signs like “learn” and “student,” practice is key. Use a mirror to check your handshapes and movements against the images provided. If possible, connect with deaf individuals or ASL learners in your community for practice and feedback. Understanding and correctly using signs like “learn” is a crucial step in your ASL journey.
