Month: October 2025

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KEYS PLEASE

Without the insertion and turn of this carved metal piece, the lock doesn’t open, and the car doesn’t start. This helpful device opens sealed doors, starts machines, and makes a good distraction if jiggled in front of a baby.

My ASL Dictionary’s cartoon of ASL instructor Paul Johnson dressed as a Security Guard shows the ASL hand sign for KEY.

The X hand twists on the opposite palm twice, like turning a key in a lock.

#ASL #americansignlanguage #signlanguage #key #cartoon #dictionary #comic #pauljohnson #education #myasldictionary

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ARTISTIC LICENSE

To legally drive anywhere in a vehicle, a driver’s license is mandatory. Received after government registration and passing a driving test, this permit gives official permission to drive a car, and acquiring one is a rite of passage for many young adults.

A cartoon of a teenage driver in shades shows the ASL hand sign for LICENSE (unfortunately, blinking in their license photo).

Tap the thumbs of both L hands together twice.

#ASL #americansignlanguage #signlanguage # license #certificate #cartoon #education #myasldictionary

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HIT THE BRAKES

A Moving Car is dangerous if it cannot stop. An essential part in controlling a vehicle is the application of the friction against the wheels to decelerate to a slow or a stop.
For his role in sabotaging his girlfriend’s truck to prevent her from visiting another man, a cartoon of the Twilight Vampire (and his infamous diamond sparkles) shows the ASL hand sign for BRAKE.

The Flat hand (or A hand), palm forward, firmly moves downward twice, like a foot on the brake pedal.

#ASL #americansignlanguage #signlanguage #brake #comic #twilight #education #cartoon #myasldictionary

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GAS STATION

While new models of cars use alternative fuels like electricity and solar power to run their engines, the majority of cars still run on Gasoline.

My ASL Dictionary’s cartoon of an old-time Gas Jockey in a Green uniform showing the ASL hand sign for GAS.

The thumb of the 10 hand dips into the opposite O hand twice, like inserting the fuel pump into the gas tank.

Insert the thumb of the 10 hand into the opposite O hand once, for the verb of putting gas in.

#asl #americansignlanguage #signlanguage #gas #comic #dictionary #cartoon #education #myasldictionary

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TEST DRIVE

After seeing My ASL Dictionary’s cartoon of a Racecar Driver for CAR, a new cartoon of a Chauffeur pulls out the ASL directional verb for DRIVE.
With the dictionary’s cartoon of Green Hornet’s Kato already showing the hand signs for CHINA and JAPAN, an updated cartoon of another famous Chauffeur, Hoke Colburn from Driving Miss Daisy, illustrates the hand sign for DRIVE.

The S hands are held parallel with the palms facing the body, simultaneously moving forward or back, like a car carrying its passengers.

#ASL #signlanguage #drive to #chauffeur #cartoon #education #comic #myasldictionary

First posted in DRIVE MY CAR, October 23, 2023.

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BUCKLE UP

While driving down roads at incredible speeds, the belt strap fastened around your midsection secures your safety inside the vehicle and distributes the force of impact during a sudden stop. First designed for aviators in gliders, the first seat belt predated the car and was only made mandatory in vehicles by 1976 (1984 for the United States). Seatbelts Save Lives.

My ASL Dictionary’s cartoon of a Race Car Driver (who risks constant crashes at high speeds) in a seatbelt and helmet shows the ASL hand sign for SEATBELT.

Clawed L hands at the waist join together like the two buckles of a seatbelt.

#ASL #americansignlanguage #signlanguage #seatbelt #cartoon #dictionary #education #comic #myasldictionary

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HOT WHEELS

The automobile is known worldwide as the vehicle for trips, deliveries, competitions, and racing. This week will display the hand signs related to the four-wheeled Horseless Carriage.

My ASL Dictionary’s updated cartoon of a Deaf Racecar Driver in a fancy long-sleeved racing suit and goggles showing the ASL hand sign for CAR and AUTOMOBILE.

While creating this 2013 illustration, I learned about the prejudice and discrimination against Deaf drivers. As the Deaf are more than capable of safe driving (Hearing Drivers are often distracted by sound), I added a Deaf Sticker behind my race car driver.
Facing each other, the S hands arc up and down, like a driver’s hands on the steering wheel.

#ASL #americansignlanguage #signlanguage #car #cartoon #deafdriver #education #myasldictionary

First Posted as RACE CAR October 24, 2023