This page features the Japanese Sign Language that is used to sign some
of the main countries that ALTs come from. If your own country isn't listed,
try finger spelling the name of it using Page Two: The 50 Sounds of the
Japanese Language.
(The movies in this page are all in WMV(Windows Media Video) format. If you can't view the movies, please try to set WMV plug-in on your browser. Or, you can click each link below to download H.264 format movies.)
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1. Australia
| Touch the tips of the thumbs to the middle and ring fingers of each hand.
These hand shapes represent kangaroos. With the fingertips pointing down,
place the hands chest level in front of your body. From there, they both
"hop" once toward the interlocutor. |
mov_jsl_6_1a.mp4 |
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2. Canada
| Make a "C" shape with the right hand (the fingers being the top
part and the thumb being the bottom) and hold it over the upper left part
of the chest. |
mov_jsl_6_1b.mp4 |
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| Make a fist with the right hand then touch the upper left side of your
chest twice with the thumb side of the fist held palm down. |
mov_jsl_6_1b2.mp4 |
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3. The United Kingdom
| The middle and index fingers of the right hand are extended while the tips of the thumb, ring, and pinky fingers touch each other. The backs of the extended fingers are then touched to the bottom of the left side of the jaw (tips pointing to the left). From there, the backs of the extended fingers are drawn across the bottom of the jaw to the right side. This sign is also used to represent the English Language. |
mov_jsl_6_1c.mp4 |
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4. India
| Make a fist with the right hand, extend the thumb, and touch its tip to the middle of the forehead representing a tilak or bindi. Then flick the thumb up toward the hairline to complete the sign. |
mov_jsl_6_1d.mp4 |
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5. Ireland
| The thumb edge of the open right hand is placed on the brow. It is then flipped up twice like the bill of a cap. |
mov_jsl_6_1e.mp4 |
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6. Jamaica
| Hold the open right hand on the right side of the chest, palm out with the fingers pointing toward the interlocutor. Place the fingertips of the open left hand with the palm facing down in the palm of the right hand. Move the right hand forward and around the left hand, ending in front of the left hand. |
mov_jsl_6_1f.mp4 |
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7. Japan
Both hands are fisted with the palms down and the tips of the extended
index fingers and thumbs touching while held in front of the center of
the chest. They then separate, the right moving a short distance to the
right ending in front of the ribs, while the left arcs out and up to the
upper left ending a little to the outside and above the left shoulder.
This movement represents the main island of Japan.
Edited June 05,2009 |
mov_jsl_6_1g.mp4 |
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8. Kenya
| Make a fist with the right hand and curl the index finger around the tip of the thumb, then motion back over the right shoulder twice. |
mov_jsl_6_1h.mp4 |
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9. New Zealand
| Make a fist with the right hand and extend the thumb and index finger as if getting ready to pinch something, then place the fingers in front of the nose with the palm pointing left and make a motion down toward the chest as if drawing a kiwi bird's nose extending from your own ending with the fingers pinching together. |
mov_jsl_6_1i.mp4 |
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| Hold the open left hand fingers up and palm out in front of the left shoulder.
Make a fist with the right hand and extend the index and middle fingers.
Touch the left palm with the tips of the index and middle fingers and then
move them downward toward the heel of the palm, stopping in the center.
Next, make contact with the center of the left palm with the tips of all
four fingers on the right hand except the thumb while pointing the left
palm to the left. |
mov_jsl_6_1i2.mp4 |
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10. North Ireland
| Make a fist with the left hand and hold it palm down in front of the chest while tapping it twice with the slightly curled index and middle fingers of the right hand (representing a farmer's rake or hoe used in potato farming). |
mov_jsl_6_1j.mp4 |
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11. Pakistan
| Make a fist with the left hand and place it in front of the left side of
the chest, palm facing to the right and the index finger extended and pointing
up. Next, make a fist with the right hand and make a ring by touching the
tips of the index fingers and thumb together. Then tap the tips of the
touching index finger and thumb twice against the extended left index finger. |
mov_jsl_6_1k.mp4 |
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12. Puerto Rico
| Make a fist with the left hand and hold it palm down in front of the chest.
Next, hold the right hand palm down in a fist over the left with the middle
finger touching the top of the left hand and the index finger pointing
straight out. Then touch the tip of the right index finger to the top of
the left fist and cross the middle finger over it to complete the sign.
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mov_jsl_6_1l.mp4 |
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13. Scotland
| Hold the right fist by the right shoulder and flap the arm twice as if putting pressure on a bagpipe bladder. |
mov_jsl_6_1m.mp4 |
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14. Singapore
| Hold the open left hand palm down in front of the chest and circle the right fist over it in a clockwise motion and ending the sign by dropping bottom of the right fist on to the top of the left hand. |
mov_jsl_6_1n.mp4 |
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15. South Africa
Hold the right fist palm out in front of the right shoulder and lower it
a short distance. Next, hold the hand in front of the face so that the
fingers and thumb are extended and the palm is held away from the face.
Next, touch the fingertips of the same hand to the tip of the thumb as
you move the hand in an arch down toward the stomach ending with the palm
toward you.
Edited June 05,2009 |
mov_jsl_6_1o.mp4 |
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16. Wales
| Make the finger spelling for "Wa" (with the index, middle and
ring fingers curled slightly) in front of the right shoulder with the right
hand and drop it down to mid-chest level. |
mov_jsl_6_1p.mp4 |
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17. The United States of America
| The open right hand is placed blade edge down in front of the left side of the chest with the fingertips pointing toward the left. It is then moved to the right in a waving motion representing the American flag. |
mov_jsl_6_1q.mp4 |
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18. "I am from America"
| The right hand is fisted with the index finger extended and used to point
at the center of the chest (signing "I or me"). Next, the open
right hand is placed blade edge down in front of the left side of the chest
with the fingertips pointing toward the left. It is then moved to the right
in a waving motion (signing "The United States of America").
After that, the open right hand with the fingertips pointing toward the
interlocutor, is held to the right side of the chest and moves to stop
in front of the center of the chest (signing "from" or "から").
Then, the fisted right hand, palm toward you, is held with the index finger
extended and pointing up at arms length is then drawn toward you (signing
"come"). Lastly, both hands go limp at the wrists, allowing the
fingertips to point to the floor (denoting past tense or "でした(deshita)"). |
mov_jsl_6_1r.mp4 |
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This expression can also be modified to more closely resemble how one would say it in English:
The right hand is fisted with the index finger extended and used to point at the center of the chest (signing "I or me"). Next, the fisted right hand with the palm toward you, is held with the index finger extended and pointing up at arms length is drawn toward you (signing "come"). After that, the open right hand with the fingertips pointing toward the interlocutor, is held to the right side of the chest and moves to stop in front of the center of the chest (signing "from" or "から"). Next, the open right hand is placed blade edge down in front of the left side of the chest with the fingertips pointing toward the left. It is then moved to the right in a waving motion (signing "The United States of America"). Lastly, both hands go limp at the wrists, allowing the fingertips to point to the floor (denoting past tense or "でした(deshita)"). |
mov_jsl_6_1s.mp4 |
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