1^o-f@IpsiChest-FingerBack RoundHoriz 1^o-f@ContraChest-FingerBack

American Sign Language

Alternative forms

(shifted toward the dominant side to indicate that the non-first-person members are literally or figuratively on the dominant side of the signer) 1^o-f@IpsiChest-FingerBack RoundHoriz 1^o-f@Chest-FingerBack
(shifted toward the nondominant side to indicate that the non-first-person members are literally or figuratively on the nondominant side of the signer) 1^o-f@Chest-FingerBack RoundHoriz 1^o-f@ContraChest-FingerBack

Etymology

From the typical ASL method of referring to a group by pointing to it with a sweeping motion.

Production

This one-handed ASL sign is produced as follows:
1. Posture the dominant hand in the bent variation of the “1” handshape on the dominant side of the chest, extended finger(s) of the dominant hand pointing back.
2. Move the hand in a horizontal arc forward then to the nondominant side.
3. Posture the dominant hand in the bent variation of the “1” handshape on the nondominant side of the chest, extended finger(s) of the dominant hand pointing back.
4. Hold the hand still briefly.
To indicate that the non-first-person members of the group are literally or figuratively located somewhere, the signer may lean his or her body and shift the contact point toward that location.

GUH Hand	LUH Hand	LUH Move	GUH Move	GUH Hand	LUH Hand
GUH Palm	LUH Palm	Second	Second	GUH Palm	LUH Palm
GUH Position	LUH Separation	Third	Third
bent-1			LUH Side
In			Out-Return
Close to Body
GUH Side
of Chest

Pronoun

(ASL gloss: US, WE, PRO-PL-1, PRO-PL^→1)

we; us

Usage notes

This sign is used when the number of people in the group is large or unknown. For small groups (depending on the signer, groups sized two through five or two through nine, including the signer), specific signs like K@NearCenterChesthigh-PalmUp Nod (“the two of us”) and 3@NearCenterChesthigh-PalmUp CirclesHoriz (“the three of us”) are typically used instead.

Related terms

FlatB@IpsiChest-RadialBack RoundHoriz FlatB@ContraChest-UlnarBack (“our”)
OpenA@IpsiChest-TipHandBack RoundHoriz OpenA@ContraChest-TipHandBack (“ourselves”)
A@IpsiChest-RadialBack RoundHoriz A@ContraChest-RadialBack (“we only”)
1^o-f@Sternum-FingerBack (“me”)
1@Left1Chesthigh-FingerForward 1@Right1Chesthigh-FingerForward (“them, you all”)