Does it matter what hand you use?

By John Miller
Thursday, September 10, 2009

When signing, it does not matter if you sign as left-hand or right-hand dominant. The biggest thing to remember is to pick which hand you want to use as the dominant hand and stick with it. You should not switch back and forth between dominant hands. Most signers will be able to understand your signs no matter which hand you use as the dominant hand.

I am actually left-handed but choose to use my right hand as the more dominant hand simply because most people are right handed and it eases understanding for them when first learning to sign.

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Comments

Backwards or not

Savvy User MaryThursday, September 10, 2009

I'm new to ASL and sign with my left. I often wonder for certain signs if I'm signing them backwards (i.e. the letter Z)

Does not Matter

Savvy User JaniceFriday, September 11, 2009

As long as you form the letter in the air going in the correct direction, left or right hand does not matter.

right or left?

Savvy User BarbSaturday, September 12, 2009

I am right handed but some things I can sign better with my right and some with my left.

right or left?

Savvy User JaniceTuesday, September 15, 2009

I also use both hands when signing. It just comes more naturally to me to do it that way. This is against John's recommendation, to pick a dominant hand and stick with it. Why shouldn't you be able to switch back and forth? Is it harder for people to understand what you are saying when you sign that way?

Ambidextrous

Savvy User ColeenWednesday, September 16, 2009

I'm ambidextrous, so I catch myself switching dominant hands. I've been signing for 14 years and so far no one has complained. It's probably no more a handicap than unskilled baby signs, lazy teen signs, or arthritic signs. The mind doesn't see handicaps as a big deal. If you know someone has a consistent unique sign style, you get used to it.

right or left...response

John @ Signing SavvySunday, September 20, 2009

Janice, I wanted to make clear that you WILL use both hands when signing but ONE hand is usually the one you will use most dominantly. If you are in a conversation and you switch back and forth between right hand or left hand dominance, your conversation will still be understood but might not just look as smooth. You also need to be sure to always begin and end a fingerspelled word with the same hand. I know that sounds like a given but I have actually seen people who have started with on hand and ended with the other. That is totally unacceptable. thanks, John