Let's learn about sign names! In this special edition of Signs of the Week we'll learn:

Sign name
Honor
Culture
Identity
Unique
Sign names are very important in Deaf culture.

Plus, a bonus video that shows how the NTID student community gave RIT president Bill Sanders his new sign name.

Curious about sign names?
A sign name in Deaf culture is a unique sign used to refer to a specific person instead of fingerspelling their full name every time. It’s a practical shortcut, but more importantly it’s a cultural marker of belonging within the Deaf community.

Sign names are given, not chosen. A Deaf person or members of a Deaf community assign one after getting to know someone. The sign often reflects something distinctive about the person, such as a personality trait, a physical feature, a habit, or a role they play. Because of that, it carries social meaning. It shows recognition and connection, not just identification.
#asl #signlanguage #deafeducation #deafculture