Learn How To Sign “Week” in ASL

Hey everyone! I've been diving deeper into ASL lately, and after mastering the basic 'week' sign (which is super useful!), I realized there's so much more to learn when talking about time. Many of you might be wondering, 'When signing the word "week," you use your index finger to indicate what?' Well, in the 'F' handshape for 'week,' your index finger is actually touching your thumb. It's not indicating a specific number or direction on its own but rather forms part of the crucial handshape that then moves in a circular motion on your non-dominant hand. This circular movement is what signifies the passage of a week. It's all about the combination of handshape and movement! Building on that, I wanted to share how to sign 'next week' and 'last week' because these come up all the time in conversations. For 'next week,' you start with the 'week' sign, but instead of the circular motion on your non-dominant palm, you move your dominant 'F' hand forward and slightly past your non-dominant hand. Imagine pushing the 'week' sign into the future! It’s a really intuitive way to show progression. And what about 'last week'? This one is just as easy! You perform the 'week' sign, but then you move your dominant 'F' hand backward, behind your non-dominant hand. Think of pulling the 'week' sign into the past. Once you get the hang of the basic 'week' sign, these variations for 'next' and 'last' become second nature. If you want to sign 'one week' or specify a number of weeks, you usually sign the number first, then the 'week' sign. For example, for 'one week,' you'd make the number '1' handshape (index finger pointing up) and then immediately transition into the 'week' sign. For 'weekly,' you often repeat the 'week' sign a couple of times, or you can use classifiers depending on the context – but usually, just repeating 'week' implies 'weekly' or 'every week.' Practicing these time-related signs together really helps them stick. I found it useful to practice sentences like 'See you next week!' or 'I went on vacation last week.' It helps contextualize the signs. While I haven't seen 'ALLAS' explicitly in ASL, focusing on the core signs like 'week' and its variations is a fantastic foundation. Learning ASL isn't just about individual signs; it's about understanding how they flow together to convey meaning. Keep practicing, and you'll be communicating about time like a pro in no time! Maybe even try to learn 'wait a minute' ASL sign next, as it's another common time-related phrase.