103

Haptic
Signals
– a reference book

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The Danish Association

of the Deafblind
103 Haptic Signals
– a reference book
ISBN 978-87-989299-4-9
© The Danish Association
of the Deafblind, June 2010
English version, August 2012
Editor: Gerd Nielsen
The illustrations in this book show Anette
Rosenqvist making haptic signals on the
back of Dorte Eriksen who is deafblind.
Anette Rosenqvist and Dorte Eriksen are
some of the Danish pioneers in the devel-
opment of haptic communication.
Photos and graphic production:
Niels Holst – Graphic Studio.

This book is produced by The Danish

Association of the Deafblind in collabo-
ration with Centre for Sign Language
– The Interpreter Training Program and
The Information Centre for Aquired
Deafblindness.
This book is produced with funding
from the Danish Ministry of Education.
Preface
103 Haptic Signals
– a reference book
is a collection of the most common
haptic signals used by deafblind
persons and persons with visual
and hearing impairments in Den-
mark.
The signals have been developed
and chosen by deafblind persons
and persons with visual and hear-
ing impairments in collaboration
with their contact persons and a
reference group consisting of rep-
resentatives from different parts of
the deafblind community in Den-
mark.
The book can be used for training
and further development of haptic
communication. It is our hope that
the use of haptic signals will be-
come a natural element within
visual interpretation to all deaf-
blind persons. This form of visual
interpretation can enhance the
possibilities of active participation
on equal terms for deafblind per-
sons and persons with visual and
hearing impairments in various
social situations.

3
Haptic communication is still devel-
oping. Previous published signals
are collected and standardized in
this book so it can be a platform
for further development of signals.

What are haptic signals?

The word haptic is Greek and
means touch. Haptic signals are a
number of signals, which are
‘drawn’ onto the body – typically
on the upper part of the back or
the upper part of the arm. They
provide the possibility of a detailed
visual interpretation during com-
munication.
Using haptic signals deafblind per-
sons and persons with visual and
hearing impairments are able to re-
ceive information about e.g. their
surroundings or the mood and fa-
cial gestures of other people while
continuing their conversation un-
interrupted.
If a person smiles, if people laugh
after a joke, if your dinner partner
raises his glass to make a toast, if
the meeting commences or if a
comment is said with irony. All
these situations could lead to mis-
understandings.

4
By using haptic signals deafblind
persons and persons with visual
and hearing impairments are able
to receive the same information on
e.g. their back that others receive
through their sight, and this gives
them the opportunity to partici-
pate on equal terms in social inter-
action.

Behind the book

The reference group that has fol-
lowed the publication closely con-
sists of representatives from:
• Centre for the Deaf, the Deaf-
blind Consultants’ Department
• Centre for Sign Language – the
Interpreter Training Program
• The Danish Association of Sign
Language Interpreters
• The Danish Association of Con-
tact Persons for the Deafblind
• The Information Centre for
Acquired Deafblindness
• The Danish Association
of the Deafblind
The book is produced by The Dan-
ish Association of the Deafblind in
collaboration with Centre for Sign
Language – the Interpreter Training

5
Program and The Information Cen-
tre for Acquired Deafblindness.
The book is produced with fund-
ing from the Danish Ministry of
Education.

6
How to use
this book
The 103 haptic signals are illustrat-
ed and described in alphabetic or-
der with one signal on each page.
That makes it easy to look up a sig-
nal.
On page 13 you will find a list of
categories, which gives an over-
view of which signals to use in the
following situations:
• Description of persons,
moods and atmospheres
• Description of surroundings
and rooms
• Directions
• Colours
• Food and drinks
• Others
It might be a good idea for new
users of haptic signals to start by
choosing one category and learn
the signals from that single catego-
ry. When the signals are learnt and
they have become a natural part of
the communication, you can take it
to the next level and start using
signals from the other categories.

7
All signals in this book are de-
scribed so they can be used with-
out previous knowledge of Sign
Language.
However, some haptic signals are
made with inspiration from famil-
iar signs in Danish Sign Language.
In this book, those signals are
marked with the symbol

SL

8
How to use haptic
communication
Adjust the signals
to your needs
Many deafblind persons or persons
with visual and hearing impair-
ments chose the signals most rele-
vant for their use and adjust them
to their individual needs. For ex-
ample if you often do talks, it
might be relevant for you to focus
on the signals that describe the
surroundings and other people’s
reactions. That way it will be easier
for you to adjust your talk from
the reactions of the audience.
An individual adjustment of the
signals could be experimenting
with the size of the signals. Per-
haps understanding the signals is
easier if they are carried out with
larger or smaller movements, with
variation in pressure, on the back
of the hand or on the thigh? The
recipient and the one giving the
signals can agree on this in ad-
vance.
In this reference book most signals
are given on the back or the upper

9
arm, but all the signals can be
done on other parts of the body.
The meaning of a signal can be
emphasised by enlarging the move-
ments, repeating the movement or
adjusting the pressure that is used
carrying out the sign.

E.g. the signal for LAUGHING is re-

peated as long as the laughter con-
tinues, and if a person is very an-
gry, the signal ANGRY can be made
with stronger pressure on the back.

Description of
surroundings and rooms
Haptic communication is very suita-
ble for description of the surround-
ings e.g. a room and how it is fur-
nished.

10
Start by drawing the outline of the
room on the back using two fin-
gers. Tables, doors, persons – and
other items in the room – can then
be drawn in their actual shape in
accordance to the first outline on
the back. This will provide a refer-
ential frame that can be used for
describing actions going on in the
room hereafter.

Tip:
First, make a dot on the back to in-
dicate where the person is situated
in the room. Afterwards, place ob-
jects and other persons according
to the recipient’s position in the
room .

Description of persons,
moods and atmospheres
Many haptic signals are linked to
people’s reactions e.g. in a conver-
sation. Is the other person smiling,
does she seem angry or disappoint-
ed? Is the conversation interrupt-
ed? All this information is impor-
tant to receive in order to respond
immediately to the present mood
of the conversation and to be an
equal participant in the conversa-
tion.

11
Often deafblind persons and per-
sons with visual and hearing im-
pairments are not told until after a
conversation how the other person
reacted during their conversation.
Information on mood can be diffi-
cult to convey openly.
On the other hand, it can be cru-
cial for a good conversation if you
are told with discrete haptic signals
that the person you are talking to
is e.g. crying, looking disappointed
or happy.

Tip:
When the conversation begins,
you can draw an outline of the
other person’s face on the back.
After that, eyes, mouth and other
features can be placed within the
face outline and be used during
the following conversation e.g. to
indicate a smiling mouth, blinking
eyes etc.

Enjoy haptic
communication

12
 Index
Alphabetically
17 AHEAD 43 DRUNK
straight ahead 44 EATING
18 ANGRY 45 EMBARRAS-
19 ANNOYED SING
20 APPLAUDING 46 END
21 BLACK – the end

22 BLINKING 47 FINISHED
48 FLIRTING
23 BLUE
24 BLUSHING 49 FOOD

25 BORED 50 FRUIT
51 GREEN
26 BREAK
27 BROWN 52 GREY

28 CAKE 53 HAND

29 CHOCOLATE 54 HAPPY
55 HELLO
30 CHEERS
saying hello
32 COFFEE
56 HICCUPS
33 COUGHING
57 HUG
34 CRYING
58 IMPATIENT
35 CURIOUS
59 INTERESTED
36 DANGER
60 INTERRUPTING
37 DIRECTION
61 IRONIC
38 DISAPPOINTED
62 KNOCKING
39 DOOR
63 LAUGHING
40 DOUBTFUL
64 LAVATORY
41 DRINKING – toilet
42 DROPPING 65 LEAVING
– something – walking
66 LEFT 92 RED
67 LESS 93 RIGHT
68 LEVEL 94 ROOM
69 LOOKING 95 SAD
70 LOOP SYSTEM 96 SERIOUS
71 MOBILE 97 SHAKING
– mobile phone
98 SMILING
72 MOMENT 99 SOUR
– wait a moment
100 SPEAK – you
73 MORE
101 SPEAKING
74 MOVE
– someone else
– move over
102 SPEAK SOFTLY
75 NAME
104 SPEAK UP
76 NERVOUS
106 SPEECH
77 NO
108 STOP
78 NODDING
109 SURPRISED
79 NOISE
110 TALKING
80 NUMBERS
1, 2, 3 etc. 111 TEA
81 ORANGE 112 THINKING
82 PERHAPS 113 TIRED
83 PHONE 114 TYPING
(tele)phone 115 WAITING
84 POSITION 116 WALKING
85 PRICE 117 WATER
86 PURPLE 118 WHAT ?
87 QUESTION 119 WHITE
88 QUIET 120 WRITING
89 RAINING 121 YAWNING
90 READING 122 YELLOW
91 READY 123 YES
 Index
by cathegories
Description of persons,
moods and atmospheres
BLINKING INTERESTED
BLUSHING IRONIC
BORED LAUGHING
COUGHING NAME
CRYING NERVOUS
CURIOUS NODDING
DISAPPOINTED SAD
DOUBTFUL SERIOUS
DRUNK SHAKING
EMBARRAS- SMILING
SING SOUR
FLIRTING SURPRISED
HAPPY TALKING
HELLO THINKING
HICCUPS TIRED
HUG WAITING
IMPATIENT YAWNING

13
Description of
surroundings and rooms
APPLAUD PHONE
(Tele)phone
BREAK
POSITION
DANGER
DOOR QUESTION

DROPPING QUIET
something RAINING
END READING
– the end
READY
FINISHED
ROOM
HAND
SPEAK – you
INTERRUPTING
SPEAKING
KNOCKING someone else
LAVATORY SPEAK SOFTLY!
toilet
SPEAK UP!
LEAVING
SPEECH!
LOOKING
STOP
LOOP SYSTEM
TALKING
MOBILE phone
TYPING
MOMENT
wait a moment WAITING
NAME WALKING
NOISE WRITING

14
Directions
AHEAD MOVE
Straight ahead move over
DIRECTION POSITION
LEFT RIGHT
LEVEL STOP
LOOKING WALKING

Colours
BLACK ORANGE
BLUE PURPLE
BROWN RED
GREEN WHITE
GREY YELLOW

Food and beverage

CAKE END – the end
CHOCOLATE FINISHED
CHEERS FOOD
COFFEE FRUIT
DRINKING TEA
EATING WATER

15
Others
FINISHED NUMBERS – 1,
2, 3 etc.
LEAVING?
are we leaving PERHAPS
LESS PRICE
MORE WHAT?
NO YES

16
AHEAD SL
– Straight ahead
Place a flat, outstretched hand
against the back, little finger hand
side towards the back and finger-
tips pointing upwards.
Move the hand upwards
in a vertical line.

See also:
➜ RIGHT page 93
➜ LEFT page 66
17
ANGRY
Place the index fingertip
against the back.
Draw a ‘mountain peak’ on
the back, indicating the peaking
emotions.

18
ANNOYED SL
Bend the fingers and place all
the fingertips against the back.
Move the hand from side to side
in a ‘shaking’ movement.

19
APPLAUDING
Two-hand signal
Place both flat, outstretched hands
against the back, palms towards
the back. In turn, clap the hands
against the back.
Repeat the movement as long
as people are applauding.
When the applause dies out,
clap more gently and let the hands
slide downwards.

20
BLACK SL
Place a flat outstretched hand
palm against the upper arm.
Point the fingertips upwards.
Turn the hand downwards
‘15 minutes’ anti-clockwise.

21
BLINKING SL
– Blinking one’s eyes
Stretch the fingers and turn the
thumb downward creating space
between index finger and thumb.
Place the edge of the hand with
the thumb and index finger side
against the back. Shortly tilt the
hand forward down and then
back again by bending the wrist.
Repeat the movement.

See also:
➜ TIRED page 113
22
BLUE SL
Use a flat, outstretched hand.
Place the palm against the upper
arm, the fingertips pointing for-
ward.
Move the hand upwards following
the arm and in a curve to the
right.

23
BLUSHING SL
Stretch the fingers and place the
hand flat against the back, finger-
tips pointing upwards.
Move the hand upwards while
spreading the fingers like a blush
spreading across a person’s face.

24
BORED
Place a flat, outstretched hand
against the back, fingertips
pointing upwards.
Slowly, one at a time, drum
the fingers against the back.
Repeat the movement.

25
BREAK
Stretch the index and middle
fingers, closing the rest of the
fingers.
Make a ‘cut’ into the upper arm
using the index and middle fingers.
Hold the ‘cut’ for a moment.

26
BROWN SL
Close one hand making a fist,
and place the little finger hand
side against the upper arm.
Move the hand round creating
a circle.

27
CAKE SL
Bend fingers and hand.
Place all fingertips on the shoulder
and remove them again.

28
CHOCOLATE SL
Stretch the index and middle fin-
gers, closing the rest of the fingers.
Place the index and middle fingers
against the upper arm, fingertips
pointing upwards. Make a short
movement downwards along the
arm and outwards.
Repeat the movement.

29
CHEERS SL
Compound signal
DRINKING + double-clap
1) DRINKING
Shape the hand as if holding
a glass.
Loosely grab around the upper
arm, the little finger hand side
downwards.
Move the hand up the arm.
Keep the hand in this position
as long as people are toasting.

30
+
2) Double-clap
Make a double-clap against the up-
per arm when people drink from
their glasses.

31
COFFEE SL
Make a fist and place the little
finger hand side towards the
shoulder.
Move the hand around in a circle
shaped movement.

32
COUGHING SL
Shape a hand as if holding a glass.
Loosely grab around the upper
arm, the little finger hand side
downwards.
Move the hand up and down as
long as the coughing continues.

33
CRYING SL
Place the index fingertip against
the back.
Quickly draw a vertical line down
the back using the index fingertip.
Move the hand to the right and
quickly draw a vertical line parallel
to the first.

See also:
➜ SAD page 95
34
CURIOUS TS
Place the index fingertip against
the back.
Make a short movement down-
wards and away from the back
using the fingertip.
Repeat the movement.

See also:
➜ INTERESTED page 59
35
DANGER
Place the index fingertip against
the back or any other place of
the body.
Draw a big cross.

Tip:
Carry out the signal on the
part of the body closest to you,
if a dangerous situation arises.

See also:
➜ MOVE page 74
36
DIRECTION
Place a flat, outstretched hand,
the little finger hand side against
the back.
Move the hand in the relevant
direction.
Signal = LOOKING ➜ page 69

37
DISAPPOINTED
Stretch the fingers and place a flat
hand against the back, fingertips
pointing upwards.
Move the hand down in a slow
movement.

38
DOOR SL
– Position of the door
Two-hand signal
Put one hand on top of the other.
Stretch fingers on both hands and
place the little finger hand sides
against the back.
Tilt the upper hand up and down
like a door opening and closing.

Tip:
If you have already described the
room outline, then place the door
where it is situated in the room.

39
DOUBTFUL
Stretch the index and middle
fingers, closing the rest of the
fingers.
Place the index and middle fingers
against the back and shift from
finger to finger, only one finger
at a time touching the back.
Signal = PERHAPS ➜ page 82

40
DRINKING SL
– Do you want
something to drink?
Shape a hand as if holding a glass.
Loosely grab around the upper arm
with the little finger hand side
downwards.
Move the hand up the arm.

See also:
➜ EATING page 44
41
DROPPING SL
– dropping something
Make a fist and place thumb
and index finger hand side
against the back.
Move the hand down the back
while opening it to indicate
that something is being dropped.

42
DRUNK
– a person is drunk
Place the index fingertip
against the back.
Draw a winding line upwards using
the fingertip.

43
EATING
Place the index fingertip
against the upper arm.
Draw a circle on the upper arm
using the fingertip.
Signal = FOOD ➜ page 49

44
EMBARRASSING SL
Place a flat hand, fingers spread
against the back, fingertips point-
ing upwards.
Slowly bend the fingertips against
the back until the hand is made
into a fist.

45
END SL
– the end
Stretch the fingers and place the
edge of the hand against the
upper part of the back or shoulder.
Make a sweeping movement from
side to side using the edge of the
hand against the back.
Signal = FINISHED ➜ page 47

46
FINISHED SL
Stretch the fingers and place the
edge of the hand against the
upper part of the back or shoulder.
Make a sweeping movement from
side to side using the edge of the
hand against the back.
Signal = THE END ➜ page 46

47
FLIRTING
Two-hand signal
Place both index fingertips against
the back next to one another.
Draw the two halves of a heart
simultaneously.

48
FOOD
- Food is served now.
Place the index fingertip against
the upper arm.
Draw a circle on the upper arm
using the fingertip.
Signal = EATING ➜ page 44

49
FRUIT SL
Bend the finger tips and place
them against the upper arm.
Rotate the hand clockwise and
back. Make sure the fingertips
touch the upper arm during
both rotations.

50
GREEN SL
Stretch the fingers and place
a flat palm against the upper arm,
fingers pointing upwards.
Move the hand downwards
and outwards from the arm
in a sweeping movement.

51
GREY SL
Use a flat, outstretched hand.
Clap the palm against the upper
arm while pointing the fingertips
forward.
Repeat with a light sweeping
movement upwards.

52
HAND
– Someone is raising his / her hand
Two-hand signal
Hand 1 pokes twice against the
upper arm using the index finger-
tip while hand 2 indicates the
person’s position in the room
making a double poke against
the back.

Tip:
If you have already described
the outline of the room, then place
the person where he or she
is located in the room.

53
HAPPY
Place the tip of the thumb and
the index finger – some distance
apart – against the back.
Draw a double curve using
the two fingers.

See also:
➜ SMILING page 98
54
HELLO
– a person says hello
and wants to shake hands.
Place a flat, outstretched hand
just behind the elbow, the back
of the hand upwards.
Clap two times behind the elbow
using the back of the hand.

See also:
➜ NAME page 75
55
HICCUPS SL
Shape the hand as if holding
a glass.
Loosely grab around the upper
arm, the little finger hand side
downwards.
Move the hand quickly up and
down with a jerk.

56
HUG
– somebody wants to give a hug
Gently grab the upper arm with
your hand and give the arm a little
squeeze.

Tip:
With a gentle pressure towards
one of the arms, you can signal
whether the person aims to hug
towards the right or left cheek.

57
IMPATIENT
Place a flat, outstretched hand
on the back, fingertips pointing
upwards.
Drum quickly and impatiently
with shifting fingers against
the back.
Repeat the movement.

58
INTERESTED
Place the index fingertip against
the back and write the letter ’i’
(including the dot).

See also:
➜ CURIOUS page 35
59
INTERRUPTING
– have to interrupt
Place a flat hand, palm down
on one shoulder.
Hold the position for a little while.

60
IRONIC
Place the index fingertip against
the back and rotate the hand
clockwise making a ’dot’ on
the back.
Repeat the movement.

Tip:
Make the signal for IRONY imme-
diately when the mood of irony
strikes the conversation. This makes
it easier for the recipient to under-
stand that an ironic point is being
made.

61
KNOCKING SL
– Knocking at the door
Close one hand making a fist,
and knock on the back using
your knuckles.

See also:
➜ DOOR page 39
62
LAUGHING SL
Bend the fingertips, spread the
fingers and place the fingertips
against the back.
‘Scratch’ the hand up and down
the back.
Repeat the movement as long
as the laughter continues.

See also:
➜ HAPPY page 54
63
LAVATORY
– I am going to the lavatory / toilet
Place the index fingertip against
the upper arm.
Draw a little cross on the upper
arm using the fingertip.

64
LEAVING
– shall we leave?
Stretch the index and middle fin-
gers, closing the rest of the fingers.
Let the index and middle fingers
‘walk’ across the back.
Signal = WALKING ➜ page 116

65
LEFT
Place a flat, outstretched hand,
little finger hand side against
the back and fingertips pointing
upwards.
Move the hand at an angle
upwards to the left.

66
LESS SL
Place a flat, outstretched hand,
palm down and the little finger
hand side against the upper arm.
Move the hand down the upper
arm.

See also:
➜ LEVEL page 68
67
LEVEL TS
Place a flat, outstretched hand,
palm down and the little finger
hand side against the middle of
the upper arm.
Move the hand up the arm
indicating a higher level (MORE)
or down the arm indicating
a lower level (LESS).

See also:
➜ MORE page 73
➜ LESS page 67
68
LOOKING
Place a flat, outstretched hand,
the little finger hand side against
the back.
Move the hand in the relevant
direction.
Signal = DIRECTION ➜ page 37

69
LOOP SYSTEM
– Switch to loop system
Place the index fingertip
against the upper arm.
Write the letter T on
the upper arm using the fingertip.
Draw a circle around the T.

T stands for ‘Teleslynge’

– the Danish word for loop system.

70
MOBILE
– a mobile (tele)phone is ringing
Stretch the thumb and little finger,
closing the rest of the fingers.
Place the thumb and little finger-
tips against the upper arm and tilt
them one at a time against the
arm.
Signal = (tele) PHONE ➜ page 83

71
MOMENT
– wait a moment
Stretch the index finger,
closing the rest of the fingers.
Place the index finger side against
the upper arm and move it back
and forth against the arm.
Signal = WAITING
– wait a moment ➜ page 115

72
MORE SL
Place a flat, outstretched hand,
palm down and the little finger
hand side against the upper arm.
Move the hand up the upper arm.

See also:
➜ LEVEL page 68
73
MOVE
– Move over
Use a flat, outstretched hand.
Place the back of the hand against
the upper arm.
Press the hand gently towards
the arm.

Tip:
Press the arm in the direction
you want the deafblind person
to move.

74
NAME
– of persons in the room
Place the index fingertip against
the back.
Write the person’s name or initials
with capital letters on the back.
As far as possible, write each letter
in one movement without lifting
the finger.

75
NERVOUS SL
Shape the hand as if holding
a glass, using only the thumb
and index fingers.
Place the two fingertips on the back
and move them simultaneously
down the back in a zigzag
movement.

76
NO SL
Use a flat, outstretched hand,
palm against the back and finger-
tips pointing upwards.
Move the hand from side to side
a couple of times.
Signal = SHAKING his head
➜ page 97

77
NODDING
Clap gently on the back, shoulder
or upper arm using a flat, out-
stretched hand.
Signal = YES ➜ page 123

78
NOISE SL
Two-hand signal
Use both flat, outstretched hands,
turn the thumbs downwards
making space between the
index fingers and thumbs.
Place both little finger hand sides
against the back, fingertips point-
ing towards each other.
Open and close both hands using
outstretched fingers.
Repeat the movement on different
parts of the back.

79
NUMBERS
– 1, 2, 3 etc.
Place the index fingertip against
the back. Write the figure using
the index finger.
If possible, write the figure
in one continuous movement,
without lifting the finger.
Signal = PRICE ➜ page 85

80
ORANGE SL
Use a flat, outstretched hand and
turn the thumb downwards mak-
ing space between the index finger
and thumb.
Place the thumb and index finger
hand side against the upper arm.
Open and close the hand using
outstretched fingers.
Repeat the movement.

81
PERHAPS
Stretch the index and middle fin-
gers, closing the rest of the fingers.
Place the index and middle fingers
against the back and let fingers
shift in touching the back.
Signal = Doubtful ➜ page 40

82
PHONE
– a (tele)phone is ringing
Stretch the thumb and little finger,
closing the rest of the fingers.
Place the thumb and little finger-
tips against the upper arm and
tilt them one at a time against
the arm.
Signal = MOBILE ➜ page 71

83
POSITION
Place the index fingertip against
the back.
Show with a poke (or by drawing a
simple figure) on the back where
the person or object is placed in
the room.

Tip:
If you have already described the
room outline, then place the per-
son or object where he / it can be
found relative to the outline.

84
PRICE
Place the index fingertip
against the back.
Write the figure using
the fingertip.
If possible, write the figure in one
continuous movement, without lift-
ing the finger.
Signal = NUMBERS ➜ page 80

85
PURPLE SL
Stretch the index and middle
fingers, closing the rest of
the fingers.
Place the index and middle fingers
against the upper arm and make
a small horizontal, curved move-
ment.

86
QUESTION
Place the index fingertip
against the back.
Draw a question mark
using the fingertip.

87
QUIET
Place the index fingertip
against the back.
Draw a horizontal line
using the fingertip.

88
RAINING SL
– It is raining
Two-hand signal
Spread fingers on both hands
slightly and place them flat against
the back, fingertips pointing up-
wards.
Move the hands downwards while
drumming the fingers against the
back like rain falling.

89
READING SL
Use a flat, outstretched hand,
backside against the back and
fingertips pointing upwards.
Move the hand back and forth hor-
izontally.
Turn the hand over and make a
sweeping movement, as if turning
a page in a book.

90
READY SL
Two-hand signal
Place both hands,
palms against the back.
Move the hands simultaneously
upwards and outwards while
separating them towards each side.

91
RED SL
Stretch the index finger, closing the
rest of the fingers.
Place the index finger hand side
against the upper arm and move
the finger forward, drawing a hori-
zontal line on the upper arm with
the index finger hand side.

92
RIGHT
Place a flat, outstretched hand,
little finger hand side against the
back, fingertips pointing upwards.
Move the hand upwards
to the right.

93
ROOM
Two-hand signal
Draw the outline of the room
on the recipient’s back using
two fingers.
Then table, doors, persons etc.
can be drawn representing their
actual shape/position relative to
the outline on the back.

Tip:
First, make a dot inside the outline
indicating the recipient position
in the room. Secondly, mark up
objects and other persons relative
to the recipient’s position.

94
SAD SL
Place the index fingertip against
the back.
Slowly draw a vertical line down
the back using the fingertip.
Move the hand to the right and
slowly draw a vertical line parallel
to the first.

See also:
➜ CRYING page 34
95
SERIOUS SL
Place a flat, outstretched hand
against the back, fingertips point-
ing upwards and the little finger
hand side against the back.
Move the hand down the back
in a vertical line.

96
SHAKING
– one’s head
Use a flat, outstretched hand,
palm against the back and finger-
tips pointing upwards.
Move the hand from side to side
a couple of times.
Signal = NO ➜ page 77

97
SMILING
Place the index fingertip against
the back.
Draw a curved (smiling) line
using the fingertip.

See also:
➜ HAPPY page 54
98
SOUR
Place the index fingertip
against the back.
Draw a curved (sulky) line
using the fingertip.

99
SPEAK
– your turn to speak
– you can take the floor
Poke twice against the upper arm
using the index fingertip.

100
SPEAKING
– someone else is speaking
– someone has taken the floor
Poke twice against the back using
the index fingertip.
Place the poke on the back indicat-
ing the position of the speaking
person in the room.

See also:
➜ NAME page 75
101
SPEAK SOFTLY
Compound signal
TALKING + LESS
1) TALKING, two-hand signal
Use both flat, outstretched hands,
turn the thumbs downwards
making space between the index
fingers and thumbs.
Place both little finger hand
sides against the back, fingertips
pointing towards each other.
Open and close both hands
with outstretched fingers.
Repeat the movement.

102
+
2) LESS
Place a flat, outstretched hand,
palm down and the little finger
hand side against the upper arm.
Move the hand down
the upper arm.

103
SPEAK UP
Compound signal
... TALKING + MORE
1) TALKING, two-hand signal
Use both flat, outstretched hands,
turn the thumbs downwards
making space between the index
fingers and thumbs.
Place both little finger hand
sides against the back, fingertips
pointing towards each other.
Open and close both hands
with outstretched fingers.
Repeat the movement.

104
+
2) MORE
Place a flat, outstretched hand,
palm down and the little finger
hand side against the upper arm.
Move the hand up the upper arm.

105
SPEECH
– someone is giving a speech
Compound signal
INTERRUPTING + TALKING

1) INTERRUPTING
Place a flat hand, palm down
on one shoulder.
Hold the position for a little while.

106
+
2) TALKING, two-hand signal
Use both flat, outstretched hands,
turn the thumbs downwards
making space between the index
fingers and thumbs.
Place both little finger hand
sides against the back, fingertips
pointing towards each other.
Open and close both hands
with outstretched fingers.
Repeat the movement.

107
STOP
Place a flat, outstretched hand,
palm against the back.
Point the fingertips upwards.
Hold this hand position
for a moment.

108
SURPRISED SL
Place a flat, outstretched hand,
palm against the back, the little
finger hand side pointing down-
wards.
Move the hand upwards and away
from the back in a rapid, sweeping
movement.

109
TALKING SL
Two-hand signal
Use both flat, outstretched hands,
turn the thumbs downwards
making space between the index
fingers and thumbs.
Place both little finger hand sides
against the back, fingertips
pointing towards each other.
Open and close both hands
using outstretched fingers.
Repeat the movement.

110
TEA
Place the index fingertip
against the upper arm.
Write a T on the upper arm
using the fingertip.

111
THINKING
Stretch the index and middle
fingers, closing the rest of
the fingers.
Place the index and middle finger-
tips against the back and let them
‘walk’ for a while back and forth
along the back.

112
TIRED
Use a flat, outstretched hand,
turn the thumb downwards
making space between the index
finger and thumb.
Place the thumb and index finger
hand side against the back and
shortly tilt the hand forward
down and then back again to show
eyelids closing shut and opening by
bending the wrist.

See also:
➜ YAWNING page 121
113
TYPING SL
– typing on a PC
Two-hand signal
Place both hands flat against the
back, spreading the fingers a bit
and fingertips pointing upwards.
Let the fingers ‘type’ against the
back as if typing on a keyboard.

114
WAITING
Stretch the index finger, closing the
rest of the fingers.
Place the index finger side against
the upper arm and move it back
and forth against the arm.
Signal = MOMENT
– wait a moment ➜ page 72

115
WALKING SL
Stretch the index finger and the
middle finger, closing the rest of
the fingers.
The index and middle fingers
‘walk’ across the back.
Signal = LEAVING ➜ page 65

Tip:
Profitably, the fingers can ‘walk’
across the back in the same direc-
tion as the person is moving ac-
cording to the recipient’s position.

116
WATER SL
Place a flat, outstretched hand
against the upper arm, fingers
pointing forward and the palm
or the back of the hand against
the upper arm.
Move the hand down while the
fingers play against the upper arm
by turns.

117
WHAT ? SL
Place a hand palm up, bend the
fingertips slightly, pointing them
upwards.
Place the hand beneath the elbow
and let all the fingers play against
the forearm.

118
WHITE SL
Bend the fingers slightly and
place the hand so that the thumb
is pointing upwards.
Place the fingertips against
the upper arm.
Make a light and short movement
downwards with the fingertips
against the upper arm.
Repeat the movement.

119
WRITING SL
Join the thumb and index fingers
as if holding a pen, closing the rest
of the fingers.
Make a waving movement along
the back using the thumb and
index fingers.

120
YAWNING SL
Join the fingertips and place them
against the back.
Open and close the fingers against
the back, separating and joining
the fingertips.

See also:
➜ TIRED page 113
121
YELLOW SL
Bend thumb and index finger,
closing the rest of the fingers.
Place the thumb and index finger
hand side against the upper arm.
Tilt the hand forward and back
again by bending the wrist.

122
YES
Clap gently on back, shoulder or
forearm using a flat, outstretched
hand.
Signal = NODDING ➜ page 78

123
Notes
Notes