Who in Sign Language – Video and Image Included

BSL

From asking someone’s name to asking who’s at the door, the word ‘who’ plays a vital role. Now, say your friend is part of the deaf community, and in your conversation, they are talking about someone, but unfortunately, you do not know how to say “who” in sign language.

This small guide is designed to help you teach how to sign ‘who’ in British Sign Language (BSL), just like our previous guides.

Recognise why is British Sign Language important, in this blog!

Who in Sign Language

In the video attached below, the man shows how to sign ‘who’ in BSL. Although BSL involves the use of both hands, however, this word does not require that. Therefore, you can use either one of your hands but preferably your dominant hand.

Just watching the video won’t be enough; try to follow the hand gestures from the above video. To make things easier for you, read the instructions below. Start by sitting in a normal posture.

A man shows how to sign “who” in British Sign Language

1. Bring out your index finger facing upwards.

2. Slightly pout your lips as if you are about to whistle to mouth the word who.

BSL tutor with index finger of right hand on his face

Bring your index finger closer to your mouth.

Move it away slightly, then back again towards the mouth.

See how easy it was? Now you practice it a few more times, then go back to watch the video again.

Conclusion

Hopefully, with our guide on how to ask “who” in sign language, you will be able to communicate with your friend or any deaf person comfortably. A piece of advice, always say the word along with signing and definitely be aware of your facial expressions.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you distinguish between ‘Who’ (singular) and ‘Who’ (plural)?

To sign ‘Who’ (singular), you circle your index finger in front of your face with furrowed eyebrows. To make it plural, you can move that circling index finger in a wider arc to include multiple people, or follow the sign with ‘They’ or “Many” while using a sweeping eye gaze.

Can you sign ‘Who’ using only your eyes?

While you can not replace the sign entirely for clear communication, you can use eye gaze and facial grammar to imply the question. By furrowing your eyebrows (the ‘Wh-‘ question face) and looking pointedly at a person or a group, you are effectively asking ‘Who?’ through non-manual features.

How do you sign ‘Whose’ (possession) in BSL?

In BSL, ‘Whose’ is usually signed by combining ‘Who’ with a possessive gesture. You sign ‘Who’ (circling index finger) and then point your palm toward the object or person to show possession, essentially signing ‘Who – belongs to?’.