Signing Savvy, Your Sign Language Resource

In this series of articles, I discuss how to sign dates in American Sign Language. In this article, in particular, I discuss how to sign the year.

You sign the year differently depending on the make-up of the numbers in the year. First, break the year into two parts, with the first two digits and the last two digits.

Signing the First Two Digits of the Year

If the first two digits of the year are a number that does NOT end in a 0, such as 18, 19, or 21, you simply sign that complete two-digit number.

If the first two digits of the year are a number that DOES end in a 0, such as 20 or 10, you can sign EITHER:

• The number of the first digit and then sign zero, such as 2 and then 0, for 20.
• OR alternatively, sign the complete two-digit number, such as for 20 for 20.

Signing the Last Two Digits of the Year

You sign the years differently depending if the last two digits of the year are less than 10 or not. If the year ends with 00-09, you sign zero and then the last digit, such a 0 then 1, for 01.

If the last two digits of the year are 10 or greater, you just sign the complete number of the last two digits, such as 15, for 15.

Hand Movement

As you sign the numbers in the years, you should shift your hand slightly away from your body as you sign each set of numbers.

Preface with the YEAR Sign

In most cases, you will want to sign YEAR before signing the numbers of a year to give context to what you are signing.


Examples of Signing Years

EXAMPLE: 1862

Notes on Signing 1862:

• Started with YEAR sign to give context that the number to follow is a date.
• Since the first two digits of 18, do not end with a 0, signing includes the complete number 18.
• Since the last two digits, 62, are ten or greater, signing includes the complete number 62.

EXAMPLE: 1901

Notes on Signing 1901:

• Started with YEAR sign to give context that the number to follow is a date.
• Since the first two digits of 19 do not end with a 0, signing includes the complete number 19.
• Since the last two digits, 01, are less than ten, signing includes 0 then 1.

EXAMPLE: 1922

Notes on Signing 1922:

• Started with YEAR sign to give context that the number to follow is a date.
• Since the first two digits of 19 do not end with a 0, signing includes the complete number 19.
• Since the last two digits, 22, are ten or greater, signing includes the complete number 22.

EXAMPLE: 2000

Notes on Signing 2000:

• Did NOT start with YEAR sign but could have. In this case, perhaps the context was known, such as the signer was asked, "What year were you born?"
• Since the first two digits of 20 do end with a 0, signing includes the 2 and then 0.
• Since the last two digits, 00, are less than ten, signing includes 0 then 0.

EXAMPLE: 2001

Notes on Signing 2001:

• Did not start with YEAR sign but could have. In this case, perhaps the context was known, such as the signer was asked, "What year were you born?"
• Since the first two digits of 20 do end with a 0, signing includes the 2 and then 0.
• Since the last two digits, 01, are less than ten, signing includes 0 then 1.

EXAMPLE: 2010 (two options)

Option 1		Option 2

Notes on Signing Option 1 for 2010:

• Did not start with YEAR sign but could have. In this case, perhaps the context was known, such as the signer was asked, "What year were you born?"
• Since the first two digits of 20 do end with a 0, signing includes the 2 and then 0.
• Since the last two digits, 10, are ten or greater, signing includes the complete number 10.

Notes on Signing Option 2 for 2010:

• Did not start with YEAR sign but could have. In this case, perhaps the context was known, such as the signer was asked, "What year were you born?"
• For the first two digits, 20, signing includes the complete number 20. Remember this is an alternative option for numbers that end with a 0, though the technique used in option 1 is more common.
• Since the last two digits, 10, are ten or greater, signing includes the complete number 10.

Practice with Examples

Now let's practice signing the year using both receptive and expressive signing skills.

Practice your Receptive Signing Skills

Practice your receptive signing skills by identifying the year being signed in each video. The answers are at the bottom of the article.

Practice your Expressive Signing Skills

Practice your expressive signing skills by signing some years.

• The current year.
• Two years ago.
• Five years from now.
• The year you were born.
• The year you turned 10.
• If you have a car, your car's model year.
• If you graduated from high school or a college, the year(s) you graduated.
• If you are married or in a relationship, the year you got together and/or got married.
• If you have children, the year(s) your children were born.