ASL Number Rules Test

Days

For 1-9, incorporate into the sign for day. For 10 or more, sign the number and then the sign for DAY. For future of past days, 1-3 days are incorporated into the sign.

Cardinal Numbers

when counting 1-5, palm orientation is towards the signer. For 6 or more, sign as usual

Emphasis

when emphasizing an amount 1-5, the palm orientation is towards the signer and the number is thrown up sharply

Weeks

For 1-9, incorporate into the sign for week. For 10 or more, sign the number and then the sign for WEEK.

Years

For 1-5, use the cardinal rule. ● For 6 or more, sign with palm orientation out. ● For future or past years, the numbers 1-5 are incorporated into the sign. ○ For future years, the hand starts in a fist and throws the numbers out. ○ For past-years, the hand starts in a fist and throws the number back. Past years can also wiggle.

Months

For 1-9, incorporate into the sign for month. For 10 or more, sign the number and then the base sign for MONTH. For 1-5 months, the cardinal rule applies with the palm facing the signer; for 6-9, the palm faces slightly down and out. For future or past months, sign the month, as above, then the sign for future or past.

Minutes

For 1-9, incorporate the number into the sign for minutes. For 10 or more, sign the number then the base sign for MINUTES.

Hours

For 1-9, incorporate the number into the sign for hour. For 10 or more, sign the number and then the base sign for HOUR.

Time

For 1-9, touch the watch position and move upwards. If the time is exactly on the hour, the number will shake back and forth slightly. If the time is a combination of hour and minutes, then no shake, but use a slight pause between hour and minutes.

Ranking

For listing events or order of a list, such as siblings in a family, use non-dominant hand with palm facing signer to hold the number (ie- 2,3,4,5) depending on the list. For listing sibling and family members, stay within the same generation. Do not mix generations such as parents and siblings, on the same list. When listing the siblings, give the same information about each.

Age

The cardinal rule does not apply - all numbers face forward. ● Numbers 1-9 can be signed off the chin to indicate age. ● Numbers 10 or more must be signed after the base sign AGE.

Phone Numbers

The same rule applies as with addresses. Be consistent in grouping numbers such as 5-5-5/2-2-5-1. All numbers have palm orientation outward.

Ordinal Numbers

for 1-9, use a single twist when indicating order or placement. For 10 or more, sign as usual

Addresses

When expressing street numbers, the cardinal rule for numbers does not apply - all numbers face forward. Use either a compound number (18-23 Maple St.) or individual numbers (1-8-2-3 Maple St.), but never a combination of both. Do not sign as one whole number (1,823 Maple St.). Zip codes are typically signed by Deaf people as 9-21-2, but should be voiced as 9-2-1-2-0.

Dates

When signing days, follow ordinal number rule, twisting numbers 1-9. Sign the year as two separate numbers (19-35). For years with zeros, sign the zeros (20-05).