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How can you read and write American Sign Language?

Lesson 19: Facial Expressions 1

Facial Expression Symbols

Different eyebrow, eye, and mouth symbols can be combined to make facial expressions.

:%|: default face
( ) { } [ ] ' *: Other symbols for changing the expression

Eyebrows

(:%|: brows up
{:%|: brows up (sad)
}:%|: brows down

Eyelids

]:[%|: squint
{:}%|: wide-eyed
:[%|: tense lower lids
]:%|: lids down (relaxed)

Mouth

:%): smile
:%(: frown
:%*: small o
:%(): open mouth
:%][: tight lips
:%{][}: pursed lips
:%[]: show teeth
:%]'[: TH

How to Type: Facial Expression Symbols

Facial Expression symbols are built using : % | ' * ( ) { } [ and ]

`^~1^!2^@3^#4^$5^%6^{^}7^&8^*9⁽0⁾-^_=⁺
q^Qw^We^Er^Rt^Ty^Yu^Ui^Io^Op^P[^{]^}\^|
a^As^Sd^Df^Fg^Gh^Hj^Jk^Kl^L;^:'^"
z^Zx^Xc^Cv^Vb^Bn^Nm^M,^<.^>/^?

Examples

  
    :%)   :%)
    :%][  :%][
    :%{][} :%{][}
    :%[]  :%[]
    :%]'[ :%]'[
  

Using Facial Expression Symbols

Facial expression can be used to modify the meaning of a sign.

  
    :%) {.}*O?c      (good) self-esteem
    ]:[%* BB<}{  small
    ({:}%() T(`|`)T^l}{  surprise
    :[%[] (..)**X   (very) recent
    ]:%]'[ 33_^_$   awkward
    (]:%{][} s."".s//)   (enjoying) driving
  

Facial expression can be used to indicate the grammatical structure of a sentence.

  
    (:%| 1/ {|}+D (.)&1_ 1/
    Do you like red?
    }:%| t><> 1><>
    Where is the bathroom?
    (:%| {`}&w//@ dc

      (__) {.}*P 5.'>." {|}*1
    
    I have been to Washington, D.C.
  

Practice

Try typing some of the signs you know:

  
    (good) self-esteem
    small
    surprise
    (very) recent
    awkward
    (enjoying) driving
  

Try typing these faces:

  
    (:%|
    (:[%|
    }:%|
    }:%(
    :%*
    :%()
  

Lesson 20: Palm Orientation 2 →