Sign Language 101: Family and Friends
Few things can compare with the importance of family and friends. In this guide, you’ll learn the signs for all of your family members, the conversational signs for introducing family and friends to a deaf person, and how to answer the most common questions about family and friends that come up in conversation.
It’s All in the Family!
Here are some conversational signs that you can use when you’re communicating with a deaf person and want to introduce your family.
Key Conversational Signs
English: I am introducing my husband.
CS: INTRODUCE MY HUSBAND.
INTRODUCE
MY
HUSBAND
English: I’m happy you are here. This is my mother and father.
CS: HAPPY (GLAD) YOU HERE. THIS MOTHER, FATHER.
HAPPY (GLAD)
YOU
HERE
THIS
MOTHER
FATHER
English: Do you have children?
CS: YOU HAVE CHILDREN?
YOU
HAVE
CHILDREN
English: One son.
CS: ONE SON.
ONE
SON (a)
SON (b)
Additional/Interchangeable Signs
FAMILY, GRANDFATHER, GRANDMOTHER, BROTHER, SISTER, WIFE, DAUGHTER, UNCLE, AUNT, NEPHEW, NIECE, COUSIN, CHILD
FAMILY
GRANDFATHER
GRANDMOTHER
BROTHER
SISTER
WIFE
DAUGHTER (a)
DAUGHTER (b)
UNCLE
AUNT
NEPHEW
NIECE
COUSIN
CHILD
Can We Be Friends?
Here are some conversational signs that you can use when you’re communicating with a deaf person about friends and significant others.
Key Conversational Signs
English: Who is that man?
CS: WHO THAT MAN?
WHO
THAT
MAN
English: My best friend.
CS: MY BEST-FRIEND.
MY
BEST-FRIEND
English: Do you love him?
CS: YOU LOVE HIM?
YOU
LOVE
HIM
English: Yes. He is so cute.
CS: YES. HE CUTE.
YES
HE
CUTE
Additional/Interchangeable Signs
BOY, GIRL, WOMAN, FRIEND, PERSON, PEOPLE, LOOK (APPEARANCE), SAME, DIFFERENT
BOY
GIRL
WOMAN
FRIEND (a)
FRIEND (b)
PERSON (PERSON-MARKER)
PEOPLE
LOOK (APPEARANCE)
SAME
DIFFERENT
With these basic sign language phrases you can start a great conversation. For more sign language help, check out our Quick Guides Sign Language 101: Basic Phrases, Sign Language 101: How to Sign the Alphabet, and Sign Language 101: Making Small Talk. Happy signing!
From The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Conversational Sign Language Illustrated by Carole Lazorisak and Dawn Donohue
