Everyday actions
Look, listen, give, have, read, open, close — and your first classifiers.
Focus
Verbs that point
LOOK aims the V hand at what you look at; GIVE moves from the giver to the receiver. Directional verbs carry their subject and object in the path — Level 3 makes this systematic, but it starts here.
A hand that stands in for legs
In JUMP and DANCE a V hand is a person's legs on the palm of the other hand. That's a classifier — a handshape representing a class of thing — and the first glimpse of the system Level 4 is built on.
Signs in this lesson
Open any sign for its full history, sources and minimal pairs.
Point a 'V' hand at your eyes, then turn it to aim at what you're looking at.
Touch a 'V' hand below your eyes and move it a short way forward.
Point your index finger to your ear.
Cup a 'C' or claw hand behind your ear, with an attentive face.
Hold your index finger in front of your mouth and circle it outward a couple of times.
Touch the tip of your index finger to the side of your forehead.
Tap the fingertips of a slightly bent flat hand against the side of your forehead.
Hold a flat 'O' hand near your body and move it outward toward the receiver, opening slightly.
Bring the fingertips of both bent flat hands in to touch your chest.
Point a 'V' hand at your other flat palm and sweep it down the palm, like eyes scanning a page.
Hold two flat hands together, palms out, and swing them apart like double doors.
Hold two flat hands apart, palms out, and bring them together with a small thump.
Stand a bent 'V' hand on your other palm and hop it up and down.
Swing a 'V' hand back and forth above your other flat palm.
Hold both open hands to one side, palms up, and wiggle the fingers.
Watch out for
Pairs in this lesson that learners mix up — the drill will test exactly these.
- LOOK / SEE — SEE is the same V leaving the eyes but with a shorter, unaimed movement.
- HEAR / LISTEN — Both are at the ear. HEAR points; LISTEN cups a C or claw hand.
- THINK / KNOW — Both touch the forehead: THINK with one finger, KNOW with the fingertips of a bent flat hand.
- OPEN / CLOSE — The same two hands, moving the opposite way.
- DANCE / JUMP — Same legs over the same palm: DANCE sways side to side, JUMP hops up.