Guide: How to Say Hello in Sign Language (English)

Welcome to our comprehensive guide on how to say hello in sign language in English! This guide will provide you with formal and informal ways to greet others using sign language. While sign language varies across regions, we will primarily focus on American Sign Language (ASL) and include regional variations where necessary. Let’s begin by exploring the formal and informal ways to say hello in sign language!

Formal Greetings

Formal greetings are typically used in professional settings, official meetings, or when meeting someone for the first time.

1. Basic Formal Greeting:

For a simple and polite formal greeting, follow these steps:

1. Make sure your hand is relaxed and open.
2. Extend your hand towards the person you want to greet.
3. Move your hand up slightly in front of your body and wave it gently.
4. Maintain eye contact and smile.

Remember, it’s important to be gentle and respectful when using sign language.

2. Formal Greeting with Name:

To make your formal greeting more personal, you can incorporate the person’s name. Follow these steps:

1. Sign “hello” using the steps mentioned above.
2. After signing “hello,” fingerspell the person’s name using the ASL manual alphabet.
3. Maintain eye contact and smile while fingerspelling.

Using someone’s name in a formal greeting shows respect and consideration.

Informal Greetings

Informal greetings are best suited for social situations, among friends, or in casual encounters.

1. Basic Informal Greeting:

To say hello casually in sign language, follow these steps:

1. Place your hand in front of your body with fingers slightly apart.
2. Move your hand up and down a couple of times in a relaxed manner.
3. Maintain eye contact and smile.

Remember, the key to informal greetings is being relaxed and friendly.

2. Informal Greeting with a Hug:

To make your informal greeting even warmer, you can add a hug to your sign language greeting. Follow these steps:

1. Sign “hello” casually as mentioned above.
2. Extend your arms towards the person and give them a gentle hug.
3. Maintain eye contact and smile.

Adding a hug to your sign language greeting shows affection and familiarity.

Regional Variations

While many sign languages are influenced by ASL, specific regional variations may exist. Here are a few examples:

1. British Sign Language (BSL):

In BSL, the formal greeting is quite similar to ASL. However, to say hello casually, you can wave your open hand side-to-side near your chin instead of up and down.

2. Australian Sign Language (Auslan):

In Auslan, the informal greeting is often expressed by waving your hand horizontally in front of your body.

Tip: If you plan to visit different regions, it’s always helpful to learn a few regional variations to communicate more effectively!

Conclusion

Now, armed with this guide, you have the tools to greet others using sign language in English. Remember to adjust your greeting based on the formality of the situation and feel free to add your personal touch to make it warm and friendly. Practicing sign language greetings will not only enhance your communication skills but also show your respect for the Deaf community.

Remember: Always approach sign language with a kind and patient attitude. The effort you put into learning will be greatly appreciated by the Deaf community!