To sign “do” in American Sign Language (ASL), you typically bring both hands in front of you with palms facing up, shape them into loose “C” handshapes, and pinch your index fingers and thumbs together repeatedly. This specific sign is often referred to as the “DO-DO” sign and is primarily used to ask questions like “What are you doing?” or “What did you do?” Understanding how to use the word “do” in sign language requires looking at the context of your sentence, as ASL uses different signs depending on whether you mean an action, a question, or a grammatical helper.
Because American Sign Language is a visual and spatial language, it does not translate English words on a literal, word-for-word basis. Instead, ASL focuses on the concepts and ideas behind the words you use. This means that the English word “do” can be expressed in several different ways depending on what you are trying to communicate. By learning these variations, you can start communicating more naturally and accurately with Deaf individuals.
In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the different ways to sign “do” in ASL, the grammatical rules surrounding its use, and step-by-step instructions for mastering the physical movements. We will also share practical practice tips to help you build your confidence. Whether you are a complete beginner or looking to refine your signing skills, this article will provide you with the foundational knowledge you need.
“Do” in Sign Language Overview
American Sign Language is a rich, complex language with its own unique grammatical structure that is completely independent of English. When hearing people first begin learning ASL, they often try to translate English sentences word-for-word into signs. However, this approach, known as manually coded English or transliteration, does not align with natural ASL grammar. The word “do” is a perfect example of why direct translation does not work in sign language.
In English, “do” is a highly versatile word that serves many different functions. It can act as a main verb meaning to perform an action, such as in the sentence “I will do my homework.” It can also act as an auxiliary, or helping, verb to form questions or negative statements, such as “Do you like pizza?” or “I do not want to go.” In ASL, these different functions are expressed using entirely different signs or grammatical structures.
When you want to ask someone what they are doing, you will use the classic “DO-DO” sign, which is a specific, repetitive motion of the fingers. If you are talking about performing an activity or completing a task, you will use the sign for “act,” “make,” or “busy.” If you are using “do” as a helping verb to ask a yes-or-no question, you will usually omit the word “do” entirely and rely on your facial expressions to indicate that you are asking a question.
Understanding these distinctions is crucial for anyone who wants to become fluent or conversational in ASL. By focusing on the concept behind the word rather than the English word itself, you will be able to express yourself more clearly. This conceptual approach is the key to mastering not only the sign for “do” but the entirety of American Sign Language.
Key Information
To use the sign for “do” correctly, you must first determine the intent of your sentence. If your goal is to ask a question, such as “What are you doing tomorrow?” you will use the interrogative form of the sign. This sign is performed with your palms facing upward, your fingers bent slightly, and your thumbs tapping against your index fingers in a rapid, double motion. Your eyebrows should also be furrowed to indicate that you are asking a “wh-” question (who, what, where, when, why, or do).
If you are using “do” to describe an action, such as “doing chores” or “doing business,” the sign changes to reflect the concept of activity. In this case, you would use the sign for “action” or “activity,” which involves placing both hands in front of you with palms facing down and moving them back and forth in a sweeping, horizontal motion. This sign communicates the idea of being active or performing a task, rather than asking a question.
It is also important to note that ASL does not use “do” as a helping verb. For example, in the English sentence “Do you want coffee?” the word “do” does not add any semantic meaning; it simply helps structure the question. In ASL, you would simply sign “YOU WANT COFFEE?” while raising your eyebrows and tilting your head slightly forward. The facial expression itself acts as the question mark, making the word “do” completely unnecessary.
Similarly, for negative statements like “I do not know,” ASL utilizes negation rather than a helping verb. You would sign “I KNOW” while shaking your head, or use the specific sign for “DON’T-KNOW,” which incorporates a twisting movement away from the forehead. Learning these grammatical rules prevents you from overusing the sign for “do” in places where it does not belong, helping you sound much more natural to native signers.
How It Works
Now let us look at the physical mechanics of how to perform these signs. To perform the interrogative “DO-DO” sign, start by bringing both of your hands up to about chest height. Turn your palms so that they are facing upward toward the ceiling. Shape your hands into loose “C” handshapes, with your fingers relaxed and slightly curved.
Next, bring your index finger and your thumb together on each hand, pinching them together repeatedly. This movement should be quick and light, resembling a pinching motion or the beak of a small bird opening and closing. As you make this movement, make sure to furrow your eyebrows, as this facial expression is a mandatory grammatical marker for this type of question in ASL.
If you want to sign “do” in the context of an action or activity, the mechanics are different. Start with both hands in front of you, but this time, turn your palms so that they face downward toward the floor. Shape your hands into “C” handshapes, similar to the previous sign, but keep your fingers slightly more spread apart.
Move both of your hands left and right in a parallel, rhythmic motion. Your hands should move together, shifting side to side to represent the concept of ongoing activity or work. This sign is often translated as “action,” “activity,” or “behavior,” and it is the correct choice when you want to say you are doing a specific task or job.
When you are practicing these signs, it can be helpful to put them into the context of a simple conversation. For example, if you are meeting someone for the first time, you might start by introducing yourself. Once you have learned how to sign my name is in sign language, you can follow up by asking the other person what they do for a living or what they like to do in their free time. Combining these signs helps you build practical conversational flows.
Tips and Advice
Learning sign language is a visual and physical journey that requires patience and consistent practice. One of the best tips for mastering the sign for “do” is to practice in front of a mirror. This allows you to monitor your handshapes, hand placement, and most importantly, your facial expressions. Because facial expressions carry grammatical weight in ASL, seeing yourself practice helps ensure you are conveying the right message.
Another helpful tip is to record video of yourself signing and compare it to videos of native signers. This can help you spot minor errors in your hand orientation or movement speed that you might not notice while you are actively signing. There are many high-quality, free online dictionaries and video resources created by Deaf educators that you can use as a reference point for your practice.
Try to avoid the common beginner mistake of signing every single word of an English sentence. If you find yourself signing “do” in every sentence that contains the word in English, take a step back and analyze the meaning of the sentence. Ask yourself if “do” is acting as an action verb or a helping verb, and adjust your signs accordingly. Over time, this conceptual translation process will become second nature to you.
Finally, the most effective way to improve your skills is to interact with the Deaf community. Attending local ASL meetups, silent coffees, or community events provides invaluable real-world practice. Deaf individuals are generally very encouraging of learners and can offer constructive feedback on your signs, helping you learn the regional variations and natural conversational rhythms that you cannot get from a textbook alone.
FAQ
How do you sign “What are you doing?” in ASL?
To sign “What are you doing?” in ASL, you use the “DO-DO” sign. You bring both hands in front of you with palms facing up, pinch your index fingers and thumbs together repeatedly, and furrow your eyebrows. Because the facial expression and the sign itself convey the question, you do not need to sign the word “what” separately.
Is the sign for “do” the same in all sign languages?
No, sign languages are not universal. American Sign Language (ASL) is distinct from British Sign Language (BSL), French Sign Language (LSF), and others. The sign for “do” in ASL is specific to North America and will be completely different in other countries’ sign languages.
Why do my eyebrows need to be furrowed when signing “do”?
In ASL, facial expressions are called non-manual markers and serve as grammar. When asking a question that requires more than a yes or no answer (a “wh-” question), you must furrow your eyebrows. This signals to the person you are communicating with that you are asking an open-ended question.
Can I use the sign for “do” to mean “make”?
While “do” and “make” are sometimes interchangeable in English, they have different signs in ASL. The sign for “make” involves placing your fists on top of each other and twisting them. You should use the sign that best fits the specific concept you are trying to express.
How do I sign “do not” in ASL?
To sign a negation like “do not,” you generally do not use the sign for “do.” Instead, you sign the action verb while shaking your head “no,” or you use the sign for “NOT” (placing your thumb under your chin and flicking it forward) followed by the verb.
