When you are beginning to learn ASL and meeting Deaf folks, it’s good practice to keep it visual. Try to avoid using English expressions. After you have mastered the basics of ASL you will better understand how to get more sophisticated with your signs.
Let’s look at a few examples here. This may help you understand just how literal American Sign Language can be.
What goes through your mind when you hear “twist my arm,” 💪
“throw in the towel,” 🧺
“piece of cake,” 🍰
“hold your horses,” 🐎
or how about “kick the bucket?” These idioms are common and easy to understand in spoken English, but can be confusing in conversation when signed literally.
👉 Avoid signing metaphors, idioms, and euphemism and keep your ASL conversations literal to prevent confusion.
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