“What do you do for work” in ASL

Hey everyone! Following up on mastering 'What do you do for work?' in ASL, I wanted to share some more insights from my own learning journey about signing "work" in general and other career-related terms. When I first started, I thought signing 'work' was just one simple movement, but it's actually incredibly versatile, just like in spoken English! The basic sign for 'work' in ASL is formed by making two 'S' hands (fists with thumbs over fingers) and tapping the wrist of your dominant hand on the wrist of your non-dominant hand a couple of times. It's a foundational sign, and once you get it down, you can start building on it. I found that practicing this basic movement alongside the phrase 'What do you do for work?' really helped solidify my understanding. But what about expressing more nuance, like 'work hard' or 'working'? This is where ASL truly shines with its use of intensity and repetition. To sign 'work hard,' you'd use the basic 'work' sign but perform it with more force and a determined facial expression. For 'working' (as in, an ongoing action), you might repeat the 'work' sign several times or use a slightly larger, more fluid motion. I remember a moment where I was trying to explain I was 'working hard on a project,' and just adding that extra oomph and a focused face made all the difference in conveying my meaning! Another common question I had was 'what should I do?' in a professional context. This can be signed by combining 'WHAT' (hands open, moving side to side) with 'SHOULD' (index finger pointing up, shaking side to side) and then a general sign for 'DO' or 'ACTION' (fists together, twisting). It’s invaluable for asking for tasks or directions. Now, let's dive into some more specific career terms that many of you were curious about. Learning these really boosted my confidence in discussing professions! For 'accounting in ASL', you'd typically sign 'COUNT' (non-dominant hand flat, dominant hand 'F' shape moving up the palm) followed by 'JOB' or 'PERSON' (if referring to an accountant). Sometimes, 'MONEY' (non-dominant hand palm up, dominant hand 'O' shape tapping on palm) combined with 'COUNT' can also convey the idea of accounting. It's fascinating how descriptive ASL can be! I actually practiced this one a lot because I have a friend who's an accountant, and I wanted to be able to talk about her profession. And for 'job training program in ASL', you can break it down. 'JOB' (dominant hand 'J' tracing the non-dominant hand's wrist to elbow) followed by 'TRAIN' (two 'U' hands, dominant on top, rubbing back and forth) and then 'PROGRAM' (flattened 'O' hands, palms facing each other, moving outward horizontally). It might seem like a lot at first, but once you learn the individual signs, combining them becomes much easier. I’ve found that seeing these signs in context, perhaps through videos or with a Deaf mentor, helps them stick. Remember, ASL is a visual language, and your body language, especially facial expressions, is just as important as your hand shapes. It truly adds depth and emotion to your communication. Keep practicing, and don't be afraid to make mistakes – that's how we all learn! I hope these extra tips on 'work' and related terms help you on your ASL journey!