Josephine Bronwyn
Welcome to this guide on how to express the word “wow” in American Sign Language (ASL)! In ASL, conveying emotions and reactions is an important aspect of communication, and “wow” is a commonly used expression to convey surprise, admiration, or excitement.
Formal Ways to Say “Wow” in ASL
There are several formal ways to sign “wow” in ASL, allowing you to express your astonishment or admiration in a more formal or polite manner. Here are a few formal ways:
- Flat O-Handshape: Bring your hand up to your forehead with your palm facing outwards and fingers pressed together. Then, open your hand and extend your fingers wide. This sign indicates a subtle and polite form of surprise.
- Open-A Handshape: Place your thumb on your chin and your fingertips resting on the opposite hand’s palm. Open your fingers apart, extending your index finger towards your cheek. This sign is often used for expressing gentle amazement or interest.
- Modified “O” Handshape: Create a circle shape with your thumb and index finger, reminiscent of the letter “O.” Hold the handshape in front of your face with your palm facing down. This sign indicates a polite way to express surprise without being overly dramatic.
Informal Ways to Say “Wow” in ASL
When expressing a more informal or casual reaction in ASL, you can use signs that are bolder and more expressive to convey your enthusiasm or astonishment. Here are a few examples of informal “wow” signs:
- Dramatic Facial Expression: Pair your surprised facial expression with widened eyes, raised eyebrows, and an open mouth to capture an informal “wow” reaction.
- Double “O” Handshape: Hold both hands in front of you with palms facing up. Shape both hands into circles, resembling the letter “O,” keeping your fingers apart. This sign carries a more enthusiastic and energetic tone.
- Forward Sweep Gesture: Extend one arm in front of your body and make a sweeping motion towards the opposite shoulder with your hand, fingers slightly spread. This motion is often used to illustrate a more informal and excited reaction.
Additional Tips for Expressing “Wow” in ASL
When signing “wow” in ASL, it’s important to remember the following tips:
- Facial Expressions: Use your facial expressions to complement the sign. Your face plays a significant role in conveying emotions and reactions in ASL.
- Body Movement: Incorporate body movements and gestures to enhance your expression of “wow.” For instance, you may lean forward slightly or widen your stance to demonstrate your heightened interest or surprise.
- Pace: Vary the pace of your signing to reflect the intensity of your reaction. Faster, more rapid movements can show greater excitement, while slower movements can indicate a more subdued astonishment.
- Repetition: If you want to emphasize your reaction of “wow,” you can repeat the sign a few times, increasing the speed or intensity with each repetition.
Example: Imagine you’re watching a magic show, and the magician performs a mind-boggling trick. You might sign “wow” with the double “O” handshape, combined with an amazed facial expression and swiftly repeated motions to convey your astonishment.
Remember, ASL is a visual language, so the way you sign “wow” should be visually expressive to accurately convey your emotions. While ASL primarily uses standardized signs, there might be slight regional variations in certain signs. If you are learning from a local instructor or interacting with individuals from a specific region, they might teach or use variations of signs that are unique to that area.
Now that you have learned some formal and informal ways to express “wow” in ASL, feel free to incorporate these signs into your conversations and interactions. Enhancing your signing skills and expressing emotions effectively will greatly enrich your ASL communication!
