How to Sign "Abuse" in ASL: Common Form, Variations and How to Check It

The short answer

In American Sign Language (ASL), the form most commonly taught for "abuse" uses a closed fist striking the open palm of the other hand, which suggests hitting. No confirmed source was supplied for this article, so treat that description as a starting point. Check it against a reputable ASL video dictionary or with a fluent Deaf signer before you rely on it.

If you are not sure of a sign, you can fingerspell the word. Fingerspelling means spelling the English word letter by letter with the manual alphabet: A-B-U-S-E. Most ASL users understand it, although it is slower than a sign.

Points that change the meaning

• Which sign language: ASL is used in the US and parts of Canada. British Sign Language and other national sign languages are separate languages with their own signs, so an ASL sign may not be understood elsewhere.
• Which kind of abuse: English uses one word for physical, emotional, sexual and substance abuse. Signers often express the specific idea instead, for example by signing what happened, such as hitting, hurting or unwanted touching, or by using a separate sign for drug or alcohol misuse.
• Regional and personal variation: signs can differ by region, community and age group. A sign shown in one dictionary may have accepted alternatives.
• Facial expression: in ASL, facial expression carries grammar and intensity. The same handshape and movement can read as mild or serious depending on the face that goes with it.

How to learn the sign and confirm you are doing it right

Every sign has five parts: handshape (the shape of the hand), location (where it is made relative to the body), movement, palm orientation (the direction the palm faces), and non-manual markers (facial expression and body posture). If you get one part wrong, the sign may be misread or may become a different sign.

• 1. Confirm the language. Make sure the source you use teaches the sign language your audience uses, such as ASL for most US contexts.
• 2. Watch a video of the sign. A still image or written description cannot fully show the movement. Look for a dictionary that shows signs performed by fluent or Deaf signers, and compare more than one source if you can.
• 3. Note the context. Check that the sign matches the meaning you need, for example physical harm or substance misuse.
• 4. Practice each part. Copy the handshape, location, movement, palm orientation and facial expression separately, then put them together.
• 5. Check yourself. Use a mirror, or record a short video and compare it side by side with the reference. Remember that a mirror reverses left and right.
• 6. Get feedback. Ask a Deaf signer, an ASL teacher or a certified interpreter to watch you sign it.

How you know it worked: your recording matches the reference video in all five parts, and a fluent signer understands the sign with the meaning you intended without you having to explain it. Matching a video shows that you copied the form correctly. Only a fluent signer can confirm that it is natural and clear in real conversation.

If you need to communicate about abuse right now

If you or someone else is in immediate danger in the US, contact 911. In many areas you can text 911, but this is not available everywhere, so check whether it works where you live before you need it. Deaf and hard-of-hearing people can also reach hearing contacts through a video relay service, in which an ASL interpreter on video relays the conversation.

Some domestic violence and abuse support services offer access in ASL. This article does not include verified contact details, so find current information directly from the service or through a local Deaf community organization.

If you are talking with someone who is reporting abuse, use a qualified interpreter rather than relying on a newly learned sign or on a family member. A professional interpreter is more accurate, and a relative or friend may be involved in the situation.