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Name Signs: A Key Element of Deaf Culture

— 17 January 2025

Un homme fait un nom signé en langue des signes. - A man is doing name signs in sign language.

Name signs, which Deaf, DeafBlind, and hard of hearing people use to refer to one another, are an integral part of Deaf culture and Deaf identity. They are also used for some hearing people, either because they are part of the family, they work in the Deaf community or simply because they are known public figures that Deaf people refer to in different fields such as religion, the arts or history, among others.

How Are Name Signs Created?

First, only a Deaf, DeafBlind or hard of hearing person can assign someone a name sign. As a hearing person, you cannot create them, either for yourself or your coworkers. It is not used in the presence of the person to directly address them. Instead, it is used to refer to someone who is not present. It may be made up in different ways, but they generally have this in common: they refer to a characteristic of the person named:

  • A physical aspect (including hair, clothing and accessories)
    e.g.: [trumpet nose], [curly-haired], [braid]
  • A habit, mannerism or a psychological characteristic
    e.g: [fiddles with their hair], [smiley], etc.
  • Any other distinctive feature (profession or parents’ profession, social origin, an anecdote specific to the person, etc.)

They are created on the basis of a characteristic are considered by Deaf people to be more “authentic”. There are metonym names (a part representing the whole), but other processes are used that reflect contact with the hearing world:

  • Literal translation names (names representing the literal translation of a family name)
    e.g.: BAKER to designate someone whose last name is “Baker”)
  • Alphabetical names (use of fingerspelling and initialization)
    e.g.: I for Isabelle
  • Combination names (combination of initialization and a characteristic)
    e.g.: L + big lashes
  • Tradition-based names (name that evokes a characteristic of a well-known figure who shares the same first name or last name)
    e.g.: [scar] to designate a person whose last name is Bélanger (in reference to Brother Bélanger, who taught at the Montreal Institute for the Deaf and Mute)

Sign Language Evolves, So Do Name Signs

A person can have a few name signs because their circumstances change over the years in terms of family, school, work, habits, etc. In the past, at boarding schools and schools for the Deaf, they were sometimes numbers, representing the number that was assigned to the student when they arrived (jersey number, locker number, etc.). A name sign does not represent a first or last name: it is complete as it stands. Also, it is not an indicator of gender identity.

Do You Have Yours?

Deaf, DeafBlind, and hard of hearing individuals you interact with will likely ask about yours. If you don’t have one yet, don’t worry, it will come in time. Engaging with the community, showing respect, and spending time with them are not only great ways to deepen your understanding of Deaf culture and improve your ASL skills but also to allow them to get to know you better, so they can eventually assign you your own name sign!

Fun Fact: Name Sign Grammar Rules Aren’t All the Same in Every Sign Language

Did you know that each sign language has its own unique grammar rules? For example, in LSQ, fingerspelling is generally avoided, and there’s an unwritten rule favoring the creation of a sign whenever a word or phrase doesn’t already have one. In contrast, ASL often relies on fingerspelling in such cases. While these languages share many similar grammar rules, these variations highlight their distinct identities, and it’s the same for name signs.

In ASL, arbitrary name sign represents initial of written first, middle, or last name and tends to be produced in some specific location, such as the top of one hand. In LSQ, this type of rule simply does not exist and are for the most part related to a person’s character, name, or habit, only to mention few examples.

Interesting, isn’t it?

 

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