Understanding how to express common actions and concepts in American Sign Language (ASL) is a crucial step in learning this visual language. If you’re looking to sign about movement from place to place, especially for leisure or exploration, knowing the ASL sign for “travel” is essential. This guide will break down the sign for “travel” in ASL, offering insights into its execution, historical variations, and related vocabulary to enrich your signing skills.
The ASL sign for “travel” effectively conveys the idea of going on a journey. It’s performed with one hand and mimics the motion of traveling. Let’s explore the components of this sign:
Signing “Travel” in ASL
To sign “travel,” you’ll use your dominant hand in a “clawed 2” handshape. This handshape involves bending your index and middle fingers while keeping your ring and pinky fingers curled into your palm, with your thumb tucked in or resting lightly on your curled fingers. The palm orientation should be about halfway between facing down and facing outward, positioned in front of your body in neutral space.
The movement is key to this sign. Your hand will move in a semi-circular motion, starting slightly to your right, moving upwards and then curving to the left. This arc-like movement symbolizes the act of going from one location to another.
Here are some important points to remember when signing “travel”:
- One-Handed Sign: “Travel” in ASL is a one-handed sign. Beginners sometimes mistakenly use two hands, influenced by signs that require both hands. Focus on using only your dominant hand to execute this sign correctly.
- Inflection: Like many verbs in ASL, “travel” can be modified to indicate different temporal aspects such as continuous or repeated travel. While detailed verb inflections are an advanced topic, understanding that ASL verbs are dynamic is important for future learning.
Historical Perspective: Old ASL Signs for Travel
Interestingly, the sign for “travel” has evolved over time. Early descriptions of ASL signs provide a glimpse into how language changes. In 1910, a description for “travel” involved pointing the index finger of a “G” hand (which is now known as a “1” or index finger handshape) outwards with a winding or zig-zag motion. Another variation from the same era involved moving a “G” hand in a semicircle with a twirling motion.
By 1923, another description suggested signing “railroad” or moving the index finger in a roundabout way above the head to represent “travel.” These older signs offer a fascinating look at the historical roots of ASL and how signs can become streamlined and more symbolic over time. The modern “clawed 2” hand version is more concise and visually represents movement, which might explain its prevalence today.
Expanding Your Vocabulary: Words Related to Travel
Understanding the sign for “travel” is just the beginning. There’s a rich vocabulary in ASL related to the concept of journeys and exploration. Consider how “travel” connects to other words and concepts.
Imagine a spectrum of travel-related terms. On one end, you have a short TRIP, like a quick field trip to a playground. Think about the opposite end of the spectrum, encompassing extensive and long journeys. This could include a TREK through challenging landscapes, a JOURNEY of self-discovery, or GLOBETROTTING across continents. Someone might SOJOURN in a place for a while, perhaps for meditation and reflection.
Different modes of travel also come into play, such as BACKPACKING through mountains, going for a HIKE in nature, or VOYAGING across oceans. For a more structured experience, one might go on a TOUR of a city or region. A JETSETTER is someone who travels frequently and luxuriously, always on an ADVENTURE.
While simpler terms like OUTING or EXPEDITION also relate to travel, the core concept of “travel” in ASL provides a foundation for understanding and expressing a wide range of experiences related to moving from one place to another.
Written ASL Representation
For those interested in written representations of ASL, it’s worth noting that Written ASL is an evolving system and not yet standardized. However, visual representations exist, attempting to capture ASL signs in written form.
Written ASL digit for “TRAVEL”. [2018]
ASL written for TRAVEL (variation). Contributed by the ASLwrite community, 2018.
These examples of Written ASL for “travel” demonstrate attempts to visually capture the sign. The ongoing development of Written ASL reflects the dynamic nature of sign language and efforts to represent it in various forms.
By understanding the sign for “travel,” its nuances, and related vocabulary, you enhance your ability to communicate effectively in ASL about journeys, explorations, and the act of moving through the world. Keep practicing and expanding your ASL vocabulary to further enrich your communication skills!
