Taking in Sign Language: How to Sign "Take" in ASL

If you want to sign "taking" in American Sign Language (ASL), the usual starting point is the ASL sign for TAKE. ASL generally does not add a separate sign for the English "-ing" ending, so "take" and "taking" are typically signed the same way, with context showing the timing. The bigger issue is meaning. English uses "take" in many senses, and ASL often uses a different sign or phrasing for each one.

The short answer

For the basic sense of grabbing or taking hold of something, ASL TAKE is commonly described as a grasping motion. Your dominant hand starts open in front of you, then pulls back toward your body while closing, as if picking something up. A written description can't fully capture a sign, so treat this as an orientation. It is not a substitute for watching the sign performed.

Why the meaning of "take" changes the sign

ASL translates meaning, not English words one by one. The grasping TAKE sign fits physically taking or grabbing something. Many English phrases with "take" express other ideas, and signers usually choose a sign that matches the idea itself. Before you sign, decide which of these you mean:

• Physically taking or grabbing an object
• Taking something up, such as a hobby, class or responsibility
• Taking medicine
• Taking a photo
• Taking turns
• Taking care of someone or something
• Taking time, as in "it takes an hour"

No sign-by-sign evidence was supplied for these phrases, so this guide doesn't describe each one. Look up the specific phrase in an ASL video dictionary, or ask a fluent signer. Don't assume the grasping TAKE sign covers all of them.

What happens to "-ing" in ASL

In ASL, ongoing or repeated action is usually shown through context, time signs, or changes to a verb's movement, such as repetition. A separate suffix sign is not used. So "I am taking it" is normally signed with TAKE, and the surrounding signs show the timing. Some manually coded English systems, such as Signing Exact English, do mark "-ing" separately. If a class, school or employer asks for a particular system, follow that system's conventions.

Details that affect whether a sign reads correctly

A sign is usually analyzed in five parts. If any one of them changes, the sign can look wrong or mean something else.

• Handshape: the shape your hand makes at the start and the end
• Location: where the sign happens relative to your body
• Movement: the direction and type of motion
• Palm orientation: which way your palm faces
• Non-manual markers: facial expression, head movement and body posture, which carry grammar and tone

Signs can also vary by region and community. If a Deaf signer near you uses a different version, theirs is the better guide for local communication.

Checking your signing on camera

Recording yourself is a practical way to check the sign. You can also prepare for signing on a video call this way. Keep in mind that your camera being detected, and permission being granted in the browser or operating system, only shows the camera is available. It doesn't show that your hands are captured clearly enough to read.

• Frame yourself from the top of your head to about your waist, with room on both sides so your hands stay in view through the whole movement.
• Light your face and hands from the front. Strong light behind you can darken your hands.
• Use a plain physical background that contrasts with your skin and clothing. Virtual background effects can blur or cut off fast-moving hands.
• Record a short clip of the sign and play it back. Check that the start and end handshapes are visible and the movement isn't smeared.
• Compare your playback with a video of a fluent signer performing the same sign.

Limits of this guide

No verified source material, such as dictionary entries, videos or instructor input, was supplied for this article. The description of TAKE here is general and should be checked against a reputable ASL video resource or a qualified instructor. This is especially important if you will use the sign in a class, at work or in an interpreting setting.