Signing For Dummies (35 page)

English:
The bank gave me an ATM card.

Sign:
A-T-M CARD — BANK — GIVE ME

English:
Those shoes cost $3.25.

Sign:
SHOES — DOLLARS THREE — CENTS 25 — COST

You can sign credit cards two different ways. The old way: Sign
credit card machine
as shown in Table 6-8. The new way: Outline a card shape and then show the motion of swiping it through a machine.

Signin’ the Sign

Robert and Krista are going clothes shopping. They like to save money, so they’re doing some comparison shopping.

Robert:
I’m buying new clothes.

Sign:
NEW CLOTHES — BUY ME

Krista:
I didn’t bring much money.

Sign:
A LOT MONEY — HAVE ME — NOT

Robert:
Buy a couple of blouses on sale.

Sign:
TWO BLOUSES — SALE — BUY

Krista:
If I buy blouses, I’ll need pants.

Sign:
IF BLOUSES BUY — PANTS NEED ME

Robert:
Use your credit card.

Sign:
CREDIT (outline card) — YOURS USE

Shopping Superlatives and Comparisons

In English, we sometimes form words that compare by adding endings, such as “est” or “er.” In Sign, comparatives and superlatives aren’t used. You just use the root (base) word. For example,
greatest
is signed simply as
great,
and
happier
is signed
happy.
However, you can compare objects another way, using Sign. After you decide which base word you want to use, sign it and then add one of the following words from Table 6-10 — whichever one is the most appropriate.

Comparing costs is a pretty common thing to do. Here’s how to sign the better bargain. If you’re at the store, you can always point to what you’re referring to; this way you can avoid fingerspelling. To sign that you found the cheapest or most expensive item, simply sign
cheap
or
expensive
and then sign the word
top.
This is a good way to compare several prices. You can also sign cheap or expensive and then sign
better.