Age - Commanding Hands

In BSL, signing about age involves more than just the handshape of the number; where you sign is important. Age is signed from your nose.

You start by using the handshape for the number of years old you are (or the first digit in a double or triple digit age). Place the number sign directly in front of your nose and then move your hand downwards away from your face finishing in front of your chest. For double or triple digit ages, you would then transition into the remaining parts of the number sign – don’t repeat the movement from your nose for the second or third digits.

How to sign age

Let’s look at examples of signing single digit ages. Produce the number directly in front of your nose, then move your hand downwards to the neutral signing space in front of your chest. (See 1.4 Numbers for a recap on numbers).

For double-digit ages, produce the first number in front of your nose then sign the second number as you would normally. An example of signing 25 YEARS OLD is below.

To sign I am X years old, first point at yourself then sign your age using the method above, i.e. ME X YEARS OLD.

BSL isn’t a word-for-sign translation of English so you wouldn’t sign the individual signs for years and old; the motion away from your nose shows you are referring to age.

Exercise: Sign ME then your age using the method above.

General vocabulary

The sign for AGE is an open hand with your fingers wiggling held in front of your nose. The question form of AGE (or HOW OLD?) requires non-manual features to change the sign into a question.

The sign for OLD can also mean ELDERLY or OLDER. The sign for YOUNG can also mean YOUNGER. The sign for YOUNG is the letter Y and some signers will sign Y twice for YOUNG.

The sign for birthday does vary regionally however the most widely understood version is the signs for BIRTH and DAY combined to form BIRTHDAY.

Example sentences

How old are you? is signed YOU HOW OLD?

Happy birthday is signed HAPPY BIRTHDAY.

When is your birthday? is signed YOUR BIRTHDAY WHEN?

Good to know

If you are communicating age in months, for example you might be signing about a baby’s age, then sign AGE X MONTHS.
My baby is 6 months old is signed as follows: MY BABY AGE 6 MONTHS.

Exercise: Sign a greeting, introduce yourself, ask someone for their name and age, then sign a farewell. If you have a partner or small group, try to mimic a conversation responding at the appropriate points.

Key points to remember
1. Age is signed from the nose.
2. The motion away from your nose gives information about how many years old someone is.
3. The sign for age and how old? have the same hand shapes and movements, but the facial expressions change the meaning into a question.