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Signsand

Symbols

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©2019 People First Forum

Redesigned from original work“Dorset Total Communication

Signs and Symbols” (2005)

Signalong descriptions are reproduced underlicence from Signalong and cannot be altered

without permission.

www.signalong.org.uk

Photosymbols and Widgit symbols have also beenreproduced under licence.

www.photosymbols.com

www.widgit.com

Produced in association with Dorset HealthCare University NHSFoundation Trust and People First Dorset.

Thanks to Kirsty Mayhew, Sarah Joslin and the Speech and LanguageTherapy team for their expertise and assistance.

Thanks to the signers: Amanda Frost, James Bowen, Jo Davis,John Cotton and Natalie Joy, and to People First Forum, Regard theStable Family Home Trust for supporting them.

Thanks to the photographers: Anna Harris, Emily Snelling andMatt Tarling.

Contents

2. Why use signing

1. Introduction

3. How to sign

4. Fingerspelling alphabet

5. Signalong hand shapes

7. 101 signs and symbols

6. Useful contacts

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What does communication help us do?

Make choicesInfluence

peopleHave

relationships

Learn thingsExpress

ourselvesShow our

personality

Tell stories Ask questionsShare

memories

… and so much more!

1. Introduction

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For someone who finds itdifficult to use spoken words,signing can be the differencebetween being able to dothese things and not.

This book of signs and symbolshas been written to supportgood communication betweenpeople, their friends, family,carers and staff.

Use the book to learn signs,point to pictures, or whateverworks best for you.

Be creative with yourcommunication and makeit right for everyone.Above all, make it fun!

1. Introduction

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2. Why use signing

Many people find it easier tounderstand speech if it is usedwith hand signs. It gives astronger message, because weare using more of our senses.

It also makes the person whois communicating the messageslow down, think about whatthey are saying, and useeasier words.

So, signing is not just for peoplewho are deaf or cannot speak.It can help lots of people.

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3. How to signThink of what you want to say.Sign the words in the sentencethat carry the most meaning.These are called ‘key’ words.Here is an example. The keywords are in bold:

Do not try to sign every wordin the sentence.

Use finger spelling for the firstletter of names and places(see next page).

Finally …

Always speak and sign!

Have you got your bag and coat?

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5. Hand shapes

Bent hand

“C” hand

Closed hand

Bunched hand

Clawed hand

Closed pinched hand

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5. Hand shapes

Cupped hand

Flat hand

Full “O” hand

Fist hand

Full “C” hand

Index hand

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5. Hand shapes

“L” hand

“N” hand

Open hand

Little finger hand

“O” hand

Open pinched hand

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5. Hand shapes

Parallel flat hand

Thumb hand

“Y” hand

“R” hand

“V” hand

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6. Useful contacts

Training and resourcesSpeech and Language Therapy TeamLearning Disability ServicesHillcrest31 Slades Farm RoadEnsbury ParkBournemouthBH10 4EU

01202 636 174

www.dorsethealthcare.nhs.uk

Signalong The Communication Charity1 Old Winery Business ParkCawstonNorwichNR10 4FE

03301 200 770

www.signalong.org.uk

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6. Useful contacts

Easy read design and advicePeople First Dorset2 Herringston BarnDorchesterDorsetDT2 9PT

01305 257 600

www.peoplefirstdorset.org.uk

People First ForumRossmore Leisure CentreHerbert AvenuePooleBH12 4HR

01202 746 040

www.peoplefirstforum.co.uk

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7. 101 signs and symbols

Widgit symbol

Easy read description

Photosymbol

Signalongdescription

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angryClawed hands

move upand down

Clawed hands(palms in,

pointing forward)at waist height,

move up and downalternately with

emphasis.

17

bagMime pickingup bag

Working fist (palm in,pointing down)by side of bodymakes smallforward movement.

18

bathMime washingyour body with

your hands

Mime bathing e.g.rubbing arms etc.

19

beachMove hand likea wave downyour arm

Supporting closed hand(palm down, pointing in);working flat hand (palmdown, pointing forward)moves out along supportingforearm with wavy motion.

20

boatFingertips

touching moveforwards

Flat hands(palms in/ back,

pointing forward/ in)with fingertips

touching moveforwards.

21

bookMime openinga book

Flat hands (palmstogether, pointingforward) open topalms up, littlefingers remainingin contact.

22

brother

Closed hands(palms in,

pointing forward)rub together at

knuckles.

Close your handsand rub your

knucklesup and down

23

brush teeth

Working indexhand(palm down,pointing in)mimes brushingteeth.

Mime brushingteeth by movingyour fingeracrossyour teeth

24

busMime turning

large flat wheel

Full “O” hands(palms in, pointing

down) mime holdingflat steering wheel

and steering.

25

cafe1. Draw outlineof shop sign

2. Tap mouth

“L” hands (palms forward,pointing up) together at headheight, move out a short way;then working bunched hand(palm back, pointing up) tapstwice at working side of mouth.

1.

2.

26

carMime turning

car steeringwheel

Full “O” hands(palms in,

pointing forward)mime steering.

27

cerealMime holdingcereal box andshaking it

Full “C” hands(palms inpointing forward)mime holdingand shakingcereal box.

28

chooseMime pickingsomething upand moving it

towards you

Working openpinched hand (palm

forward, pointing up)moves back to signer,

becoming closedpinched hand.

29

cinemaWriggle your fingersand put fingerfrom your otherhand acrossyour wrist

Working open hand(palm forward, pointingup) behind supportingindex (palm back,pointing in); workinghand quivers.

30

clothes

Flat hands (palmsback, pointing in/up)

brush down upperbody twice

Brush handsdown body

2 times

31

coat

Closed hands mimepulling on coat,follow with mimedzip or buttonsas appropriateif necessary.

Mime puttingon coat

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coffeeMake a “C” shape

and moveyour hand to

your mouth

Working “C” hand(palm in, pointing

forward) moves uptowards mouth as

though drinkingfinishing

pointing up.

33

coldMimeshivering

Hunched shoulders,fists in front of body(palms in,pointing forward)mime shivering.

34

computer

Clawed hands(palms down, pointingforward) mime typing;

then index hands(palms down,

pointing forward)outline small screen.

1. Mime typing2. Make shapeof small screen

2.

1.

35

dentist

Working “R” hand(palm back,pointing in) held infront of mouth,makes short, sharpmovement down.

Point at mouth,make hook shapeand move down

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dinner

“N” hands(palms back,

pointing in)move alternately

to mouth.

Move pairsof fingers

up and down

37

doctor

Working extendedindex andthumb holdsupporting wrist.

Hold wristwith fingerand thumb

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drawMove two fingers

over hand in awavy line

Working ‘N’ hand(palm back/up,

pointing in)moves in wavy line

across supporting hand(palm up, pointing in).

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drinkMime holdinga cup andmove it toyour mouth

Working full“C” hand (palm in,pointing forward)moves up tomouth turningpoint up.

40

eatTap your

mouth withyour finger

tips andthumb

Working bunchedhand (palm back,pointing up) tapstwice at working

side of mouth.

41

fatherFingerspell“F” 2 times

Make letter shape“F” twice.

42

friendHold your

hands

Working hand (palmback, pointing

in/down) claspssupporting hand

(palm back,pointing in/down).

43

garden1. Make a circlewith your flat hand2. Mime smellinga flower

Working flat hand(palm down pointing in)makes inward circle to sign “place”;then working bunched hand(palm back, pointing up)held under the nose, waves fromside to side to sign “flower”.

44

giveMove flat hands

towards theanother person

Flat hands (palms up,pointing forward)

move towards receiver.“Give me”: hands move back

to signer, fingertips turn tobody (palms up, pointing

back.) Directional sign.

45

glassesPoint and makea circle aroundyour eyes

Index hands(palms back,pointing up)circle inwardsaround eyesonce.

46

goPoint and move

your fingerwhere youwant to go

Working index hand,sweeps away from body.

Directional sign. Indexfinger flicks away frombody in indeterminate

direction to sign “gone”.

47

goodThumbs up

Working thumbhand (palm back,pointing in) held upin front of body.Directional sign.

48

goodbyeWave your flat

hand fromside to side

Working flat hand(palm forward,

pointing up)waves twice.

49

happyCup yourhands andmove 12 times overthe otherWorking cuppedhand strikes twiceacross supportingpalm movingtowards heelof hand.

50

hearing aidPoint at ear

and movefinger aroundthe top of ear

Working index hand(palm forward,

pointing up) outlinesshape of hearing aid.

51

helloMake athumbs up andtwistbackwardsand forwardsWorking thumb hand(palm back, pointingin) held up in front ofbody, twistsbackwards andforwards at wrist.Directional sign.

52

helpPut your fist onyour flat hand

and move themup and forward

Blade of workingfist rests on

supporting palm;formation moves

up/forwards.“HELP ME”; move

formation up/back.Directional sign.

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holiday1. Put your handsat side of head2. Move handsforwards, turning

Flat hands (palmsin/down, pointing in/up),tips of indexes againstsides of forehead, moveforwards/out whileturning to palms forward,pointing in/up.

2.

1.

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homeBend your hand

and make anarch shape

Working bent hand (palmin, pointing up) bends

inwards from wrist whilemoving in a short way,

finishing palm down,pointing in.

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hot(weather)

Mime wipinghand acrossforehead

Working flat hand(palm back,pointing in) movesacross foreheadto working side.

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hot(food)

Move yourhand quickly

across mouth

Working flat hand(palm back, pointing

up) moves quicklyfrom mouth to

working side.

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IPoint atyourself

Working indexhand pointsto chest.

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illPut your little

fingers againstyour chestand move

them downLittle finger hands

(palms out,pointing up) at

upper chest, dropin straight line to

waist level.

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iPad1. Fingerspellthe letter “I”2. Swipeacross

Make letter shape “I”;then supporting wide full“C” hand (palm in,pointing forward) showsshape of tablet whileworking index handmimes scrolling on screen.

1.

2.

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keyMime turning

key withfinger and

thumb

Working closedpinched hand

mimes turningkey on

supporting palm.

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likeTap handat chestheight

Working flat hand(palm back,pointing in/up)taps supportingside of upperchest twice.

62

listen Cup your

hand behindyour ear

Workingcupped hand

(palm forward,pointing up)behind ear.

63

lookFinger movesfrom side ofeye towardsobject

Working index(palm in, pointingup) moves fromside of eyetowards object.Directional sign.

64

loveFlat hands

crossed overchest

Flat handscrossed over

chest, workinghand in front.

65

manMimestroking chin

Working parallel flathand (palm back,pointing in/up)strokes down chin,thumb and fingersclosing just belowchin level.

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medicineMake a cupshape and

mime stirringwith little

finger Supporting full “C”

hand (palm in, pointingforward) in front of body;working little finger hand

(palm back, pointingdown) mimes stirringinside supporting “C”.

67

meeting1. Point and circle

fingers2. Bend fingers and

make squareIndex hands; working hand(palm down, pointing forward/in)above supporting hand (palmup, pointing forward/in); handsmake parallel inward circles;then bent index hands (palmsdown, pointing forward) tracesquare shape as illustrated.

2.

1.

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milkMime milking

a cow withcup shaped

Full “C” hands (palmsin, pointing forward)move up and down

alternately with gentlesqueezing action. NB.

The hands do not close.

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moneyRub thumband fingerstogether aboveflat hand

Thumb of workingbunched hand rubsacross fingertips, handheld above supportingflat hand (palm up,pointing forward/in).

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moreMake a cup

shape and putyour flat hand

on top of it

Working hand(palm up, pointing

forward) movesand turns over

onto supporting full“C” hand (palm in,pointing forward).

71

motherFingerspell “M”2 times

Make lettershape “M” twice.

72

musicPoint fingers

and twistwrists

Index hands (palms inpointing forward)

make small outwardthen inward

downward arcs,moving from wrists.

73

name

Working “N” hand(palm back, pointing up)fingers against centreforehead, movesforwards turning topalm forward.

Put 2 fingers onyour forehead,then twist themaway from you

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no

Working flat hand(palm forward,

pointing up)moves sharply to

working side.

Put your handup and move

it acrossyour chest

75

nurse

Working thumbhand draws a crosson supportingupper arm.

Using your thumb,make a crossshape on your arm

76

pain

Working clawedhand shakes over

painful area.Directional sign.Use appropriate

facial expression.

Claw shapedhand shakesover painful

area

77

partyTwist “Y”shaped handsand sway

“Y” hands (palms in,pointing up) in front ofshoulders, twist topalms back pointing up.Repeat action whilebody sways.

78

phone

Working “Y” hand(palm in/back,

pointing in/up) byside of face.

Use “Y” shapedhand to mimeholding phone

to ear

79

photo

Working parallel flathand (palm forward,pointing up)moves back sharplywhile fingers closeonto thumb.(Directional sign).

Open handpulls backand closes

80

please

Working flat hand(palm back, pointing

up) fingers in frontof bottom lip, drops

forward and down(palm up,

pointing forward).

Flat hand dropsfrom lips

towards waist

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pub

Supporting bent hand(palm in, pointing up)held in front ofshoulder as workingfist (palm in pointingforward) arcs backtowards body.

Bend hand atshoulder. Makefist with otherhand and move upto other shoulder

82

sad

Index hands(palms back,

pointing in/up) atsides of lips make a

short downwardmovement.

Point at sides ofmouth and move

fingers down

83

sandwichPut palmsone abovethe otherthen swapWorking flat hand (palmdown, pointing in) abovesupporting flat hand(palm up, pointing in).Reverse positions toworking hand (palm up)and supporting hand(palm down).

84

shaveMime shaving

with thumb

Working thumbhand (palm in,

pointing up) movesdown cheek twice.

85

shopPoint handsdown and curlfingertips as youmove hands up

Flat hands (palms back,pointing down) pull uptowards body whilefingers curl under.Hands do not changeinto closed handsor fists.

86

showerPut hand

over head andopen and close

2 times

Working full “O”hand above head

springs opentwice.

87

signOpen handsmove in circles

Open hands(palms in pointingforward) move inalternate forwardcircles.

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sisterFingerspell “R”

and tap nose2 times

Working “R” hand(palm in, pointingup) taps bridge of

nose twice.

89

sitPut 1 flathand ontop ofthe other

Flat hands (palmsdown, pointing in)working hand ontop, make shortsharp downwardmovement.

90

sleepPut hands by

eyes andclose fingers

on thumbs

Parallel flathands (palms

in/down,pointing in/up)by side of eyes;fingers close on

to thumbs.

91

sorryClosed handmoves in acircle against

Working closed hand(palm back, pointingin) moves in smallinwards circleagainst chest. Useappropriate facialexpression.

92

stopHold flat

hand up infront of

body

Working flat hand(palm forward,

pointing up) is heldin front of working

side of body.

93

sugarClawedhandscratchesat cheek

Working clawedhand (palm in,pointing up)scratches atcheek.

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supportworker

1. Sign “help”2. Sign “work”

Blade of working fist rests onsupporting flat hand (palm up,

pointing forward/in); formationmoves forward/up, then flat

hands (palms in/back, pointingforward/in); blade of working

hand taps on supportingindex twice. Directional sign.

2.

1.

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swimFlat handscircle out

Flat hands(palmstogether,pointingforward)circle out.

96

tabletsPoint at hand

and makesmall circle

Working indexhand traces small

circle onsupporting palm.

97

talkPoint at lipsand movefinger away

Working index hand(palm in, pointingup) moves forwardsfrom lips.

98

taxiPoint up as

you click andtwist fingers

Working hand withextended index held

up beside head(palm in, pointingup), middle finger

clicks off thumbwhile hand twists at

wrist to palm back.

99

teaMime drinking withcup and saucer,little fingerpointing outWorking full “O” handwith little finger extended(palm in, pointingforward) moves fromsupporting flat hand(palm up, pointingforward/in) towards mouthfinishing pointing up.

100

televisionFingerspell

“T” and “V”

Make lettershape “T”; “V”.

101

thank youFlat handmakes a shortmovementforward

Working flat hand(palm back, pointingup) fingers in front ofbottom lip, makes ashort forwardmovement.

102

toiletMiddle finger

brusheschest on

opposite side

Extended middlefinger of workinghand (palm back,

pointing in/up)brushes supportingside of upper chest.

103

townBend hand at shoulder.Make a claw with otherhand and then make 3movements across.Supporting hand (palm in,pointing up) signs “building”*;then working clawed hand(palm down, pointing forward)makes three small downwardmovements while travelling fromsupporting to working side.*Building: working bent hand (palmin, pointing up) in front of shoulder.

104

trainClosed hand

moves insmall circles

Working closedhand (palm in,

pointing forward)moves in smallforward circles.

105

walkWalk fingersalong arm

Working “V” hand(palm out, pointingdown) “walks”along supportingforearm from backof hand to elbow.

106

washMime washing

Mime appropriatewashing action eg: -

wash hands - asillustrated; wash hair -

clawed hands on head.Otherwise use

appropriate actionand handshape.

107

waterCup hand andrun back offingers up anddown cheek

Working cuppedhand (palmforward, pointingin) backs of fingersrub up and downagainst cheek.

108

whatPoint finger upand bend hand

forwards andbackwards

Working index hand(palm in, pointing

up) by side of facebends forwards andbackwards at wrist

several times.

109

wheelchairMime turningwheels of yourown wheelchair

Fists at sides of hipsmove in forwardarcs twice.

110

whereFlat hands

circle outwards

Flat hands(palms up,

pointing forward)circle outwards.

111

womanPoint fingerand brushforwards anddown cheek

Working extendedindex (palm in,pointing up)brushes forward anddown cheek.

112

work

Flat hands(palms in/back,

pointingforward/in); blade

of working handtaps on supporting

index twice.

Tap edgesof flat hands

together2 times

113

worriedPoint up at side ofhead and take turnsmoving fingersbackwards andforwardsIndex hands (palmsback, pointing up) ateither side of forehead,make short alternatemovements backwardsand forwards.

114

writeUse thumb and

2 fingers tomime writing

on a flat hand

Working hand withbunched thumb, index

and middle fingers mimeswriting over supporting

flat hand (palm uppointing forward/in).

115

yesNod your fistup and downby your head

Working closedhand (palmforward, pointingup) by side ofhead, bendsdown and up innodding action.

116

youPoint finger

at person

Working index hand(palm in,

pointing forward)indicates person.Directional sign.

Index of signsSign Page Sign PageAngry 17 Father 42Bag 18 Friend 43Bath 19 Garden 44Beach 20 Give 45Boat 21 Glasses 46Book 22 Go 47Brother 23 Good 48Brush teeth 24 Goodbye 49Bus 25 Happy 50Cafe 26 Hearing Aid 51Car 27 Hello 52Cereal 28 Help 53Choose 29 Holiday 54Cinema 30 Home 55Clothes 31 Hot 56Coat 32 Hot food 57Coffee 33 I 58Cold 34 Ill 59Computer 35 60Dentist 36 Key 61Dinner 37 Like 62Doctor 38 Listen 63Draw 39 Look 64Drink 40 Love 65Eat 41 Man 66

iPad

Sign Page Sign PageMedicine 67 Stop 93Meeting 68 Sugar 94Milk 69 Support worker 95Money 70 Swim 96More 71 Tablets 97Mother 72 Talk 98Music 73 Taxi 99Name 74 Tea 100No 75 Television 101Nurse 76 Thank you 102Pain 77 Toilet 103Party 78 Town 104Phone 79 Train 105Photo 80 Walk 106Please 81 Wash 107Pub 82 Water 108Sad 83 What 109Sandwich 84 Wheelchair 110Shave 85 Where 111Shop 86 Woman 112Shower 87 Work 113Sign 88 Worried 114Sister 89 Write 115Sit 90 Yes 116Sleep 91 You 117Sorry 92