Month: March 2026

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TEARS OF A CLOWN

Crying Tears is the human response to strong emotions of sadness, joy, fear, or pain. A visual of distress, grief, empathy, and humanity, this trailing water from the eyes can also be cathartic, therapeutic, and healing.

My ASL Dictionary’s cartoon of three sad Clowns, each one sadder than the next, illustrates the ASL hand signs for CRY.

With a sad face, the Index fingers are pulled down the cheeks from the eyes, like tracing running tears.
OR
From under the sad eyes, the 4 hands are pulled down cheeks like a flowing flood of tears.
OR
The clenched S hands on the cheeks pull down into 4 hands as the fingertips wriggle. Pained facial expression opens the mouth in distress.

😂Happy Tears, of course, are shown with a happy facial expression.

#ASL #americansignlanguage #signlanguage #cry #weep #sad #clown #cartoon #dictionary #myasldictionary

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EARLY SPRING

Groundhog predictions aside, it’s the Earth’s tilt on its axis that determines when the Winter season transitions tomorrow into the Vernal Equinox, the Season of Growth and Renewal.

My ASL Dictionary cartoon of a young Country Girl in a Calico dress with a crown of daisies illustrates the ASL hand sign for SPRING and PLANT.

The flattened O hand comes up through the opposite C hand to open into a 5 hand twice, like a plant sprouting from the ground.
Similar to the hand sign for GROW, with a Single movement.

#ASL #americansignlanguage #signlanguage #springequinox #spring #plant #grow #springequinox #cartoon #dictionary #myasldictionary

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LEPRECHAUN GOLD

For Saint Patrick’s Day, I drew and inked a Giant Leprechaun with a gold tooth and Pot of Gold on a large cardboard poster for Schlegel Villages The Village of Riverside Glen. When the Big Leprechaun was painted and decked out in green to be set up for the celebrations, I added a bit of Photoshop magic to this mischievous elf to have him show one of the ASL hand signs for LEPRECHAUN and then disappear with his gold the way leprechauns are said to do (my first time making gif animation from a photograph).
Happy Saint Patrick’s Day!
 
*Remember to wear green, or you might get pinched by a leprechaun.
 

First posted March 16, 2023 SAINT PATRICK’S DAY PIXIE

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A PIECE OF THE PIE

Yesterday, March 14, was Pi Day! The annual celebration of the mathematical constant of π, the 3.14 ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter.
Instead of the mathematical symbol, a cartoon of a smiling Grandmother with a Pie Apron and Super Gran tattoo shows the ASL hand sign for the circular baked dessert, PIE.
A cartoon of a Lemon Meringue Pie (one of my favourites) reveals the English word.
 
The flat edge of the Open Hand makes two slices across the opposite flat palm, showing the size and shape of a slice of Pie.
 
#ASL #americansignlanguage #signlanguage #pie #dessert #piday #dictionary #myasldictionary
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LADY FINGERS

Like the title of Gentleman for Men, Lady is a formal term of respect for Women of refinement, royalty, and superior social standing.
 
My ASL Dictionary’s cartoon of a French woman dressed in black with a long cigarette holder illustrates the ASL hand sign for LADY.
 
The thumb of the A hand traces down the jawline to the chin, opening into a flat 5 hand with the thumb touching the chest, a combination of the hand signs GIRL and FINE.
 
#asl #americansignlanguage #signlanguage #lady #cartoon #dictionary #myasldictionary
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GIRLS

Children are often known as the young jokers of the Family unit, this includes adorable and mischievous young ladies.

My ASL Dictionary’s cartoon of a young girl in a jester outfit illustrates the ASL hand sign for GIRL.

The thumb tip of the A hand traces the jawline from the ear to the chin, like the ribbon on a bonnet.

#ASL #americansignlanguage #signlanguage #girl #female #dictionary #education #myasldictionary

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BOYS

My ASL Dictionary features cartoons of the Royal Deck for each of the hand signs of Family Members. With Parents as Kings and Queens and Dukes and Duchesses for Aunts and Uncles, Children are dressed as Jokers.
 
My ASL Dictionary’s 2014 cartoon of a young boy in a jester’s outfit illustrates the ASL hand sign for BOY.
 
The Flat C hand in front of the forehead closes into an O hand, like grabbing the brim of a baseball cap.
 
#ASL #americansignlanguage #signlanguage #boy #male #cartoon #dictionary #education #myasldictionary