[Sw-l] ASL NSM primes

[John Carlson]

Certainly! Here are the Natural Semantic Metalanguage (NSM) primes
expressed in American Sign Language (ASL) with brief descriptions of the
corresponding motions described in English:

1. I - Point to yourself.
2. someone, something - Point to another person or an object.
3. people, human beings - Gesture with an open hand towards a group of
people.
4. body - Place both hands on different parts of your body to indicate
various body parts.
5. kin - Cross your arms over your chest to indicate a sense of family or
relatedness.
6. male, man - Use a flat handshape to indicate a male figure by placing it
near the forehead.
7. female, woman - Use a flat handshape to indicate a female figure by
placing it near the chin.
8. child - Hold both arms bent in front of you to represent holding a child.
9. parent - Cross your arms over your chest, alternating between handshapes
to represent both parents.
10. other (nonspecific) - Gesture towards an unspecified direction.
11. this, here - Point to something near you or in your immediate vicinity.
12. the same - Gesture with both hands mirroring each other to indicate
similarity.
13. other (specific) - Gesture towards a specific direction or person.
14. one, two, three - Show the corresponding number of fingers using a
handshape.
15. all - Extend both arms outwards with palms facing up to indicate
inclusivity.
16. many - Spread out your fingers on both hands while opening and closing
them repeatedly.
17. some, few - Hold up a small number of fingers on one hand.
18. much, big - Extend both arms outwards with palms facing down while
separating them to indicate something large.
19. good - Give a thumbs-up gesture.
20. bad - Shake your head and make a disappointed facial expression.
21. big - Extend both arms outwards with palms facing up while separating
them to indicate something large.
22. small - Bring your hands closer together to indicate something small.
23. part - Hold both hands apart and then bring them together as if
assembling parts.
24. not - Shake your head and use a negating facial expression.
25. if - Perform a conditional movement with your hands, indicating an
"if-then" relationship.
26. because - Use a cause-and-effect motion, such as pointing to the cause
and then indicating the result.
27. when, time - Use a circular motion with one hand to indicate the
passage of time.
28. where - Extend one arm and look around as if searching for a specific
location.
29. how - Use a questioning facial expression while gesturing with open
palms upwards.
30. what? - Raise your eyebrows and hold your hands open and palms up in a
questioning manner.
31. who? - Point with your index finger to represent questioning a person's
identity.
32. why? - Hold your hands open and palms up in a questioning manner while
tilting your head to the side.
33. which? - Hold up both hands with open palms facing forward, slightly
tilting them to indicate selecting from options.
34. no - Shake your head firmly while making a negating facial expression.
35. very - Extend one arm and move it quickly outward, indicating a strong
or intense feeling.
36. almost - Use a motion that indicates nearing a particular point or
completion.
37. maybe - Shrug your shoulders and raise your eyebrows in a questioning
manner.
38. can, be able - Hold one hand up, palm facing outwards, and then close
it into a fist to indicate ability.
39. want - Hold both hands in front of you with palms facing up, as if
reaching for something desired.
40. think - Point to your temple or tap it

 lightly with a finger to represent the act of thinking.
41. know - Tap your chin or forehead lightly to represent knowing or
understanding something.
42. not want - Shake your head while making a negating facial expression
and crossing your arms.
43. not know - Shake your head while making a negating facial expression
and tapping your temple or chin.
44. feel - Place your hand on your chest or heart area to represent the
concept of feeling.
45. see - Point to your eye(s) with an open hand to indicate seeing.
46. hear - Cup one hand behind your ear or bring your index finger to your
temple to indicate hearing.
47. not see - Shake your head while making a negating facial expression and
covering your eyes.
48. say, talk - Make a talking motion with your hand near your mouth or
lips.
49. not hear - Shake your head while making a negating facial expression
and covering your ears.
50. make, do - Use both hands to perform a motion relevant to the action
being described.
51. give - Extend one hand forward with palm facing up and make a motion as
if presenting something.
52. not give - Shake your head while making a negating facial expression
and perform a motion as if retracting something.
53. come - Gesture with an open hand, palm facing inward, motioning towards
yourself to invite someone to come.
54. go - Extend your arm forward with an open hand, palm facing outward, to
indicate going away from your current location.
55. sit, stand - Mimic the actions of sitting down or standing up with your
body.
56. lie, be located - Point to a specific place or location.
57. there is - Point with an open hand to indicate the presence or
existence of something.
58. have, own - Place one hand on top of the other, palms facing down, as
if holding or possessing something.
59. exist - Make a circular motion with one hand, indicating the concept of
existence.
60. be, there is/are - Hold your hand up with palm facing outwards,
indicating being or existence.
61. live - Use both hands to perform a motion that indicates ongoing life
or activity.
62. die - Extend one hand forward with palm facing down and then lower it
to represent the concept of death.
63. kill - Make a motion with one hand as if striking or cutting,
indicating the act of killing.
64. eat - Mime the action of bringing food to your mouth with a hand motion.
65. drink - Mime the action of bringing a cup or glass to your mouth with a
hand motion.

Please note that these descriptions provide a general idea of the motions
associated with each NSM prime in ASL. It's important to learn ASL from a
qualified instructor or through dedicated resources to gain a more
comprehensive understanding of the language and its nuances.

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