American Sign Language (ASL) is a rich and dynamic visual language used by the deaf and hard-of-hearing community in the United States. Just like spoken languages, ASL has various ways to express different ideas and concepts, including the word “smelly.” In this guide, we’ll explore how to convey “smelly” in ASL, including formal and informal variations. While regional variations exist, we’ll focus on the most widely understood signs. So, let’s dive in!
Table of Contents
Formal Ways to Say “Smelly” in ASL
When using ASL in formal contexts such as presentations, meetings, or when communicating with people you’re less familiar with, it’s best to use polite and neutral signs for “smelly.” Here are a few options:
- Sign: Wrinkle your nose: To convey the notion of something unpleasant or foul-smelling in a formal setting, simply wrinkle your nose lightly. This subtle gesture indicates that something may have an unpleasant odor.
- Sign: Point to your nose and shake your head sideways: Another formal way to indicate that something is smelly is by pointing to your nose with your index finger and shaking your head sideways. This sign suggests that you’re picking up an unpleasant odor.
Remember, in formal settings, it’s important to use signs that are more general and universally understood. These subtle and polite signs are effective in conveying the concept of “smelly” without being overly casual or offensive.
Informal Ways to Say “Smelly” in ASL
Informal situations, such as conversations with friends or family members, allow for more playful and expressive signs. Here are a couple of informal ways to say “smelly” in ASL:
- Sign: Hold your nose and squint your eyes: This informal sign involves holding your nose tightly with your fingers while simultaneously squinting your eyes. It’s a more exaggerated way to express that something has a strong and unpleasant odor.
- Sign: Wafting motion near your nose: Another informal way to depict “smelly” is by making a wafting motion near your nose with the palm of your hand. This sign signifies that you’re trying to disperse or get rid of an unpleasant aroma.
When among friends or in a casual setting, using these more playful and exaggerated signs adds an element of humor and camaraderie to the conversation.
Examples of Usage
To help you better understand how to incorporate “smelly” into your ASL conversations, let’s explore a few examples:
Example 1:
In a formal context, such as a meeting, if you want to discreetly indicate that the food being served has an unpleasant odor, you could wrinkle your nose subtly to alert your colleagues without causing a scene.
Example 2:
During a relaxed family gathering, if there’s a funny story about a smelly event, you could use the informal sign where you hold your nose and squint your eyes to add some humor to the narrative.
Remember, context and your relationship with the people you’re communicating with play a significant role in deciding whether to use formal or informal signs for “smelly.”
Conclusion
ASL offers a range of signs to convey the idea of “smelly” depending on the situation and level of formality. In formal contexts, it’s best to use more subtle signs, such as wrinkling your nose or pointing to your nose while shaking your head sideways. In informal situations, feel free to be more playful and expressive, using signs like holding your nose and squinting your eyes or making a wafting motion near your nose.
Remember to consider the context and your relationship with the people you’re communicating with to determine the appropriate sign to use. Embrace the visual nature of ASL and have fun incorporating these signs into your conversations!
