Initialized Signs

What are Initialized Signs? A sign that uses the first letter of the ENGLISH word for the hand shape of the sign. Example: CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY VACATION

Why does ASL use Initialized Signs? To help clarify a specific word that otherwise might just be fingerspelled. Often used when educating young Deaf children Example: SHAPES – square, triangle, rectangle, pentagon etc…

Important Fact: Initialized Signs still have all the parameters: Movement Location Palm Orientation NMS EXCEPT : - Handshape

Other Facts Quite a few initialized signs have found their way into general usage in the Deaf community A concept which is used frequently and the initialized version for that concept uses less effort than the non-initialized version then it is likely that the initialized sign will eventually gain acceptance as an ASL sign

So use them as little as possible BEWARE!! Deaf Community frowns upon over use of initialized signs. So use them as little as possible

How do I know when to use an INITIALZED Sign? A concept which has no alternate non-initialized sign is more likely to be accepted as an ASL sign.  For example "AUNT."  There is no non-initialized sign that means "aunt" in ASL.  The sign AUNT is well accepted in ASL, as is UNCLE