Author: elizabethh

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THE BITTER PILL

Medication comes in various forms, each one to best fit the needed treatment. The most common visual of Medicine is the Pill, with the term “A bitter pill to swallow” being an expression for something that is unpleasant but must be accepted.

On page 94 of My ASL Dictionary is a cartoon of a Candy Striper illustrating the hand sign for Medicine.
A new cartoon of a grey-haired Pharmacist with a lab coat and a medicine bottle illustrates the ASL hand sign for PILL.

The index finger of the G hand flicks off the thumb twice as the open mouth closes, mimicking popping a pill into the mouth.

#ASL #americansignlanguage #pill #cartoon #myasldictionary

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WATER IN SPRING

In addition to my work with My ASL Dictionary, I create monthly comics, Village Funnies, for Schlegel Villages, The Village of Riverside Glen Newsletter. For April’s edition, I was asked to create Gardening Club mishaps. As the grounds around Riverside Glen also have rabbits, they made a perfect fit for the cartoon.
 
For an extra spark, I had the resident with a yellow Watering Can tap the W hand on his chin, the ASL hand sign for WATER. While a subtle addition in the background, I may continue to add American Sign Language to the strips in the future.
 
#ASL #americansignlanguage #signlanguage #water #thevillageofriversideglen #schlegelvillages #myasldictionary
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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
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YUKON SNOW

Every Friday before the last Sunday of February is time for a Winter celebration in the coldest territory in Canada. While not a Statutory Holiday, government offices, schools, and some businesses close for Yukon Heritage Day. A celebration of the Klondike Gold Rush and everything that is the Yukon.

My ASL Dictionary cartoon of a woman in a large snow-covered parka illustrates the hand signs for YUKON.

The Y hand with the tip of the thumb on the forehead arcs from the temple to the chin in a C motion over the head, like the fur trim of a hood.

Fingerspell YUKON

The Y hand shakes in front of the chest.
 
#asl #americansignlanguage #signlanguage #signlanguage #yukon #yukonheritageday #dictionary #cartoon #myasldictionary