US States Signs (Version 2)

[jaytalex10]

For Oklahoma, both the signs from your first and second videos are considered correct... I think OKLA is the "technical" form but most people around here do just spell OK....

[p3ac3s1gn]

hey, this is great, thanks!

but what's the sign for washington, dc?

[MYshellzMAZING]

The sign for Washington DC is the same as Washington... just add D-C to the end of it.

[BYUFanatic]

That's correct. Simply sign WASHINGTON and add D-C or you can also just sign D-C.

[Banerika]

Do you happen to know the origin of the sign for Maine? I am curious. I spent a lot of my childhood in Maine and I haven't met at Deaf Mainers to ask. Thanks.

[Banerika]

PS. Excuse the typo ... "any" Deaf Mainers, not "at" Deaf Mainers. Not that they would necessarily know how that sign originated, I am just curious and would like to find out.

[BYUFanatic]

If memory serves correctly (and my memory is definitely not perfect) a colleague mentioned to me that the sign refers to the textile workers from years ago that would have straight pins stuck in their shirt which they would use while folding shirts.

[Banerika]

Thanks!

[Banerika]

Again, this is very helpful and very well done.

[BYUFanatic]

Thanks! I try. *smile*

I'm working on putting together a better "blue wall" so that I can make better quality videos. Hopefully I'll succeed in that this summer!

[1111272]

I am in ASL, I am hearing, in my school and I absolutly love the language! I am so excited to persue it further. I hope to become a Deaf physiologist one day and mabye do some interpreting of the side in hospitals or police stations. I loved the video it really helped me a lot thanks! :)

[BYUFanatic]

Thanks Alexis!

Good luck with learning ASL. Where do you attend? I teach ASL at a local high school here in Texas.

[1111272]

I go to a high school in Ohio :)

[BYUFanatic]

Cool. Who's your teacher? Maybe I know them?

[1111272]

her name is Maggie Cobb-Wessling

[Ultrapolitan]

Why limit only to signs used by the locals? Why not add more use by the non-locals? Maybe the locals would change their preferences when they see a non-local sign(s) for their homestate?

[BYUFanatic]

Good question!

In my reply to another comment I stated - "One criteria I have is that signs must be regionally or nationally recognized. There are a LOT of small and local variations and it's impossible to include them all."

The signs I have selected are the ones most commonly used by locals AND by other signers across the United States.

[gukauno]

two thing. first. you forget to add ohio on the list for state signs, and secondly; the sign for delaware is wrong. it supposed to sign like the way u said first, but in the handshape of 'd'

thanks!

[BYUFanatic]

Ohio (signed by shaking the "O") will be added in the next release. Delaware (signed by tapping the "D" against the forehead) is used in this version (look closely). If you have a different version, I'd be happy to see it and also an explanation of where in Delaware that sign is used (gotta have research for all the signs *smile*). Thanks!

[jesussigner]

Many native Oregonians prefer the first sign. Also, I have a friend from Ohio, and she signs OHIO the same way most Oregonians sign OREGON (the first way!). : )

[BYUFanatic]

Hi jesussigner! Thanks for the input. I've included both the "regional" (preferred) sign and the more well-known "national" sign for Oregon. Hopefully over time the second one will phase out, but for now I'll keep it in the video because it is the most commonly used. As for OHIO being signed the same as OREGON. Can you verify how popular that sign is? My sources tell me that it is most often simply fingerspelled - O-H-I-O.

[MissMystery10]

Mr Neilson, I loveeddd it :)

[hinabina]

i see what you mean about the white balance between you and/or the screen -- it is tricky!

[BYUFanatic]

Yep. Didn't help that in this version I'm wearing a dark shirt. *grin* But, as I've said on the email list, these are only "drafts." The "final" version will be much nicer.

[gnarlydork]

and for South Dakota, i sign "SOUTH" then add a "D"... because I am from San Diego and too many people got confused so I am trying to make it obvious that I am referring to South Dakota by using the "south" sign-- I am beginning a movement with the new sign for South Dakota!

[BYUFanatic]

Thanks for the replies! One criteria I have is that signs must be regionally or nationally recognized. There are a LOT of small and local variations and it's impossible to include them all.

I think I'll use what I had in my first video for Kansas - KAN and KS.

I started with PENN, but was told that PA is correct. So unless some more Deaf from Pennsylvania tells me what they prefer I'll stay with PA.

I've checked with some Deaf Hawaiians and the only sign they use is BEAUTIFUL with an "H".

[gnarlydork]

Hawaii-- It is pretty hard to describe, but the sign I used for Hawaii refers to the flower in your hair--the handshape is bent five, and the movement is that you rotate your wrist as you move it toward to the sie of your head near your ear as if you are putting a flower in your hair.

Pennsylvania-- I actually spell "PENN"-- PA feels too odd for me.

[gnarlydork]

Alabama-- I do an "A-L" while tapping on the nose.

Kansas-- I fingerspell "KS"-- i think this is generational variation-- the older generation (30-yr-old above) uses KAN or KANS but the younger generation (like me) just fingerspell KS (got some friends in Olathe).