Phrasesign

Phrasesign is a term used to describe a sequence of signs that form a complete thought or sentence in sign language. Just as spoken words are strung together to create meaning, individual signs are combined in a specific order and with appropriate grammatical structures to convey complex ideas. This involves not only the handshapes, movements, and locations of individual signs but also non-manual markers such as facial expressions and body posture, which are crucial for conveying grammatical information and emotional context.

The structure of a phrasesign is governed by the grammar of the particular sign language being used. Different sign languages, such as American Sign Language (ASL), British Sign Language (BSL), or French Sign Language (LSF), have their own unique syntactical rules for how signs are ordered and combined. Understanding these grammatical principles is essential for both producing and comprehending phrasesigns accurately. A literal translation of spoken words into a sequence of signs often results in grammatically incorrect or nonsensical phrases. Effective communication in sign language relies on signing what one means, rather than signing word-for-word. This concept is fundamental to fluency in any sign language.