The American Sign Language (ASL) gesture for “to” is a versatile sign that can be used in a variety of contexts. It is typically produced by touching the index finger to the thumb, then moving the hand downward. However, the exact form of the sign can vary depending on the context in which it is used.
For example, the “to” sign can be used to indicate direction. In this case, the sign is typically produced with the dominant hand oriented in the direction of the movement. For example, if you want to say “I am going to the store,” you would sign “I,” then “go,” then “to,” and then sign “store.” The “to” sign in this context indicates that you are moving towards the store.
The “to” sign can also be used to indicate purpose. In this case, the sign is typically produced with the dominant hand oriented towards the person or object that is the target of the action. For example, if you want to say “I am giving this book to my friend,” you would sign “I,” then “give,” then “this,” then “book,” then “to,” and then sign “friend.” The “to” sign in this context indicates that the purpose of the action (giving) is to transfer the book to your friend.
Greeting with “To”
Greeting someone with “To” in American Sign Language (ASL) is a simple and straightforward gesture. Follow these steps:
- Position your dominant hand in front of your body, palm facing towards you and fingers extended.
- Move your hand downward in a quick, slight motion, as if tapping the air.
- Keep your palm facing towards you and your fingers slightly curled.
This sign represents the concept of “to” or “towards” and is commonly used to indicate the direction or recipient of an action or statement.
Example
To sign “I go to school,” you would combine the following signs:
| Sign | Meaning |
|---|---|
| I | Person signing |
| GO | Action of going |
| TO | Direction or recipient |
| SCHOOL | Place of education |
Indicating a Person
To indicate a specific person in ASL, use the following steps:
1. Sign the Person’s Name or Characteristics
If the person’s name is known, spell it out using the ASL alphabet. If their name is not known or difficult to sign, describe their physical characteristics, such as their hair color, eye color, or clothing.
2. Point or Use Directionality
To further specify the person, point directly at them or use gestures to indicate their direction. For example, you can point with your index finger or use a sweeping motion with your hand to indicate the person’s location. Additionally, you can use facial expressions, such as nodding or raising your eyebrows, to emphasize the directionality.
Here’s a table summarizing the different handshapes, locations, and movements used to indicate a person:
| Handshape | Location | Movement |
|---|---|---|
| “P” hand | Toward the person | Pointing |
| “C” hand | In the direction of the person | Sweeping motion |
| “2” hand | Toward the person | Nodding or raising eyebrows |
3. Emphasize with Pronouns or Possessives
To further emphasize the person you’re indicating, use pronouns such as “he,” “she,” or “they” or possessive pronouns such as “mine,” “yours,” or “theirs.” This helps clarify which person you’re referring to within the context of the conversation.
Expressing a Relationship
In American Sign Language (ASL), there are several ways to express a relationship between people or things. One of the most common is the “to” sign, which can be used to indicate possession, location, or a connection between two individuals. Here are a few examples of how the “to” sign can be used:
- Possession: To sign “I have a book,” you would first sign the letter H for “have,” followed by the sign for “book,” and then the “to” sign. This would indicate that the book belongs to you.
- Location: To sign “The book is on the table,” you would first sign the letter B for “book,” followed by the sign for “table,” and then the “to” sign. This would indicate that the book is located on top of the table.
- Connection: To sign “My friend is coming to my house,” you would first sign the letter F for “friend,” followed by the sign for “come,” and then the “to” sign. This would indicate that your friend is coming over to your house.
| Relationship | Sign |
|---|---|
| Possession | H + Object + TO |
| Location | Object + Location + TO |
| Connection | Person1 + Verb + Person2 + TO |
Describing a Location
1. Pointing To A Place
To point to a place, simply extend your index finger and point in the direction of the location.
2. Using Sign Language Fingerspelling
If you know the exact name of the location, you can spell it out using sign language fingerspelling.
3. Using Descriptive Signs
For locations that don’t have a specific name, you can use descriptive signs to convey their characteristics.
4. Combining Signs
Often, you’ll need to combine multiple signs to accurately describe a location. Here’s a table with some common combinations:
| Location | Sign |
|---|---|
| House | Make a fist with your thumb extended and tap your forehead. |
| School | Make a fist with your thumb and index finger extended and tap your chin. |
| Store | Make a “C” shape with your hand and tap your palm. |
| Restaurant | Tap your index finger and middle finger to your lips, then make a circular motion. |
By combining these signs, you can describe almost any location. For example, to say “the house on the corner,” you would sign “HOUSE” and then point to the corner.
Conveying a Direction
To convey a direction in ASL, you can use a combination of hand gestures and facial expressions. Here are the steps to follow:
- Form the letter “T” with your non-dominant hand: Place your thumb and index finger together, forming a “T” shape. Keep your other fingers relaxed.
- Move your “T” hand in the direction you want to indicate: Point your “T” hand towards the object or location you are referring to.
- Use a facial expression to emphasize the direction: Look towards the direction you are indicating and use a slightly exaggerated facial expression, such as raising your eyebrows or widening your eyes, to draw attention to the gesture.
- Repeat the gesture if necessary: If the person you are communicating with does not understand the direction, repeat the gesture while emphasizing the facial expression.
- Use other signs to clarify the direction: If the direction is complex or involves multiple steps, you can use additional ASL signs to provide more detail. For example, you can use the sign for “right” or “left” to specify a specific direction. You can also use the sign for “ahead” to indicate a forward direction.
| ASL Sign | Meaning |
|---|---|
 |
Direction |
|
Right |
|
Left |
|
Ahead |
Representing an Action
When signing “to” in ASL, the motion represents the act of doing or performing something. The handshape is a neutral “S” handshape, and the movement is a slight downward and outward motion, as if to indicate the direction of the action. For example, to sign “to walk,” you would make the “S” handshape and move your hand downward and slightly outward, as if to show someone the direction in which you are walking.
| Action | ASL Sign |
|---|---|
| To walk | [Image of ASL sign for “to walk”] |
| To eat | [Image of ASL sign for “to eat”] |
| To drink | [Image of ASL sign for “to drink”] |
The exact location of the sign can vary depending on the context of the conversation. For example, if you are signing “to go to the store,” you might start the sign at your chest and move it outward, as if to indicate the direction in which you are going. Conversely, if you are signing “to put something away,” you might start the sign near your shoulder and move it downward, as if to indicate the direction in which you are putting something away.
Depicting a State of Being
1. Show the State of Being
To depict a state of being, use the appropriate handshape to represent the concept. For example, “tired” is indicated by placing the fingers of the dominant hand on the forehead, as if to wipe away sweat.
2. Move the Hand
Move the hand in a way that conveys the state of being. For instance, “happy” involves moving the hand in a small circle, while “sad” involves moving it downward.
3. Modify the Speed
The speed of the hand movement can also convey the intensity of the state of being. For example, “very excited” involves moving the hand faster than “slightly excited.”
4. Use Facial Expressions
Facial expressions can enhance the meaning of the hand movements. For example, when signing “happy,” smile or make eye contact to convey the emotion.
5. Use Body Movements
Full-body movements can also support the state of being. For example, when signing “tired,” slump your shoulders or lean against something to convey exhaustion.
6. Add Signs
Incorporate specific signs to clarify the state of being. For instance, add the “feel” sign to “tired” to convey “I feel tired.”
7. Describing Specific Sensations
Use descriptive signs to convey particular sensations. The following table provides examples:
| Sensation | ASL Sign |
|---|---|
| Hot | Hold fingers together, then spread them apart |
| Cold | Rub hands together in a shaking motion |
| Hungry | Rotate fist in a small circle in front of mouth |
Using “To” for Comparison
In ASL, the sign for “to” can also be used to make comparisons. To do this, simply sign the two things you want to compare, followed by the sign for “to.” For example, to say “apple to orange,” you would sign APPLE, ORANGE, TO.
Here are some additional examples of how to use “to” for comparison:
| ASL Sign | English Translation |
|---|---|
| APPLE, ORANGE, TO | Apple to orange |
| BIG, SMALL, TO | Big to small |
| COLD, HOT, TO | Cold to hot |
The sign for “to” can also be used to compare more than two things. To do this, simply sign the first thing, followed by the sign for “to,” and then sign the next thing. For example, to say “apple to orange to banana,” you would sign APPLE, TO, ORANGE, TO, BANANA.
The sign for “to” is a versatile sign that can be used in a variety of ways to make comparisons. By understanding how to use this sign, you can expand your vocabulary and communicate more effectively in ASL.
Combining “To” with Other Signs
The sign for “to” can be combined with other signs to create new signs. For example, the sign for “to go” is made by combining the sign for “to” with the sign for “go.” The sign for “to eat” is made by combining the sign for “to” with the sign for “eat.”
Here is a table showing some of the most common combinations of the sign for “to” with other signs:
| Sign for “To” | Sign for Other Word | Combination Sign |
|---|---|---|
| T | Go | To Go |
| T | Eat | To Eat |
| T | Drink | To Drink |
| T | Sleep | To Sleep |
| T | Work | To Work |
These are just a few examples of the many ways that the sign for “to” can be combined with other signs. By learning these combinations, you can expand your ASL vocabulary and communicate more effectively.
Conversational Usage of “To”
In everyday conversation, “to” is used in various ways:
1. Directionality
To indicate the direction or destination of an action or movement:
Example:
She walked to the store.
2. Purpose or Goal
To express the reason or purpose of an action:
Example:
She went to the store to buy groceries.
3. Recipient
To indicate the person or thing receiving something:
Example:
She gave the book to her friend.
4. Time or Date
To specify a specific time or date:
Example:
The movie starts at 7:00 to 9:00 PM.
5. Relationship or Connection
To indicate a relationship or connection between two things:
Example:
She is similar to her sister.
6. Comparison
To compare two things:
Example:
This book is better than that one.
7. Addition
To indicate an addition to something:
Example:
I added some flour to the recipe.
8. Degree or Extent
To express the degree or extent of something:
Example:
She is very happy to see you.
9. Future Tense
To form the future tense of a verb (with “going to”):
Example:
She is going to the store.
10. Other Phrases and Expressions
To is also used in other common phrases and expressions, such as:
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| To and fro | Back and forth |
| To be or not to be | A philosophical question about existence |
| To the point | Direct and specific |
How to Say “To” in ASL
In American Sign Language (ASL), the sign for “to” is made by touching the tip of your index finger to the tip of your thumb and then moving your hand forward slightly. The palm of your hand should be facing down.
Here are the steps for signing “to” in ASL:
- Start with your hand in a fist with your thumb extended.
- Touch the tip of your index finger to the tip of your thumb.
- Move your hand forward slightly, keeping your thumb and index finger touching.
- Keep your palm facing down.
People Also Ask
How do you sign “to” in ASL for a person?
To sign “to” for a person in ASL, you would sign the person’s name sign followed by the sign for “to”. For example, to sign “to John,” you would sign the name sign for John (by touching your right index finger to your right palm and moving it towards your body) followed by the sign for “to”.
How do you sign “to” in ASL for a place?
To sign “to” for a place in ASL, you would sign the sign for the place followed by the sign for “to”. For example, to sign “to the store,” you would sign the sign for the store (by touching the tips of your index fingers together and then moving your hands apart) followed by the sign for “to”.
