What is the sign for the word'said 'in American sign language?

Answer 1

Past Tense modifiers are dependent upon context in ASL. In ASL, all verbs (except "to be" verbs, in their purest form... in other words they typically take a present tense form, not a progessive form) take a present progressive tense. To make it future or past tense depends on a variety of things such as context, adding a suffix to the sign (maybe, unless other signs already point that out.)

For the sign "said" you will use the sign for "say." This is also the sign for "speech, discussion" and in an exaggerated form "rambling."

To make the sign for "say" you will use your dominant hand. (Exaggerated forms, may use both hands, but this is atypical.) You place your dominant hand in a "one" handshape (though some people place it in a "D" handshape.) It is turned inward (so for a right handed signer, it points left; for a left handed signer it points right) It is placed at the base of the lips. It then rolls outward two or three times. Let me diagram the motion of the arc: (imagine your finger following those lines away from your lower lip; but don't over-exaggerate this, except for emphasis. Add to that arc, a rolling motion in the mid portion and at the end {like this ~roll ~roll} and wallah, you've just said "say" in ASL.) Of course there are regional variences here; but even still, though many people do this differently, it is easily recognisable (this is because it is an expressive sign.) The easy things to remember: 1. the mouth of a hearing person does too much talking, so most signs referring to speech are on or around the mouth and lips 2. the forfinger is sometimes used to point... for the word "say" imagine that your words flow out your mouth like they do for the catepiller in the animated Disney version of Alice In Wonderland. Imagine that the letters fall out of place. You attempt to point at them, but can't. But your finger rolls them back together.

To make this "said" (as in the simple past tense) you would sign "say" and then the past tense modifier (which in this case, is a version of the sign for "Late" or "Past." To do this, you place your dominant hand to your side (so if you are right handed, your right hand should be by your right hip, and if you are left-handed your left hand should be by your left hip), with your palm facing backward, and your fingers pointing downward. Act as if you are swatting a fly there, but it takes you two or three, or perchance even four times to swat it away (flies don't take hints very well, after all.) In reality this sign examples the aspect that you are walking behind where you should be. This is also one of the sign variations for "behind" as in "behind" schedule. But it is also a past tense modifier.

Another variation for the word "say" is to place the forefinger of your dominant hand (of the "one" or "d" handshape, palm facing in, at the side of your lower lip and move it foreward in a small arc (palm facing up) This is the quick way to say "say" This would refer to a person saying a few words or sentences. The other (above sign) would refer to longer periods of conversation. You would not use this sign to mean "rambling" or "discussion." It can mean have the conotation as "conversation" however, if it is refering to two or a few people talking briefly. But it would not mean "conversation" in the strictest sense.

To make this "said" (as in the simple past tense) you would sign "say" and then a past tense modifier (but the past tense modifier for this sign is a different one than the above sign... you use the sign for "past" as in the "four" or "five" handshape swatting over the shoulder. Your palm would face your backside. and your figners bend backward as you swat over your shoulder. This is dome with your dominant hand over the same shoulder as your dominant hand.

Note: It is not always necessary to add past tense modifiers to verbs in ASL. E.g. "Yesterday I go store I talk Me with lady beautiful work there. She say all blouse sale half buy." It doesn't translate well into spoken English, but you know from the context of the situation, that everything occurs the day before today... i.e. Yesterday. Translated into spoken English: "Yesterday, I went to the store. I talked to the beautiful lady that worked there. She said all blouses were on sale, half off."