How to Sign Mention

The short answer

In American Sign Language (ASL), "mention" is usually signed by its meaning rather than as a word-for-word match. When "mention" means briefly saying something, signers commonly use a sign from the SAY or TELL family. If you are unsure, you can fingerspell M-E-N-T-I-O-N. The right choice depends on what the sentence means. The rest of this guide covers which sign fits which meaning.

Which sign language, and which meaning?

Sign languages are not universal. ASL is used in the US and parts of Canada. British Sign Language and other national sign languages use different vocabulary. This guide assumes ASL.

ASL follows meaning more than English wording, and the English word "mention" covers several ideas. Work out what you mean before choosing a sign:

English context | What it means | Usual approach in ASL

"She mentioned the meeting." | Briefly said or told | A SAY- or TELL-type sign

"As I mentioned earlier..." | Referring back to something already said | A time sign for "before" or "earlier" combined with a SAY-type sign

"Don't mention it." | A reply to thanks | Sign the intended meaning, such as a "you're welcome" or "no problem" response, instead of translating word by word

"@mention" in a chat app | Tagging someone in a message | Not really a sign question. Fingerspell it or explain the idea if it comes up

How the SAY and TELL signs are commonly formed

• SAY: the index finger of your dominant hand starts near your chin or mouth and makes a small movement there, often a short forward motion or a small circle.
• TELL: the index finger starts at or near your chin and moves outward. It can be directed toward the person being told, which shows who received the information.

Written descriptions vary from source to source and leave out details that only show on video. Use these descriptions to orient yourself, then watch a demonstration.

Fingerspelling as a fallback

Fingerspelling means spelling an English word letter by letter with the manual alphabet. It is a valid way to communicate a word you have not learned yet. It is slower than a sign, and in everyday conversation fluent signers usually prefer a sign that carries the meaning.

How to check a sign before you use it

A sign is made of several parts. These are the handshape, the location on or near the body, the movement, the palm orientation, and non-manual markers such as facial expression and head movement. Changing any one of them can change the meaning, so check each part.

• 1. Look up "mention", "say" and "tell" in a reputable ASL video dictionary, and watch each one at normal speed and slowed down.
• 2. Compare at least two sources, noting any differences in handshape, location, movement, orientation and facial expression.
• 3. Ask a Deaf signer or a qualified ASL instructor which form people in their community use for your meaning.
• 4. Practice the sign in a full sentence, not on its own.
• 5. Check that it worked: a fluent signer understands your sentence without asking you to clarify or repeat it.

Limits of this guide

No source material was available for this guide. It could not confirm whether ASL has a single standard sign used specifically for "mention", or what that sign looks like. It also does not cover regional variants and includes no video demonstration. Treat the descriptions above as a starting point, and rely on video dictionaries and fluent signers for the final form.