[Sw-l] WhatsThatSign ASL Dictionary Video Tutorial
Adam Frost
icemandeaf at gmail.com
Mon Jul 21 17:27:50 UTC 2025
The dictionary uses an alphabet feature from SignPuddle to list all the symbols used to create the handshapes and other symbols you see. If a new symbol is added, it will appear on this list within the next 24 hours.
I just counted, and there are currently 52 handshape symbols in this ASL dictionary that appear on the list. (3 of the images in Group 3 are not the correct ones for their corresponding handshapes—I still need my artist to draw them. For now, I’ve placed the closest appropriate drawings so that every handshape has an image, which is why you might see some duplicates.)

Adam
> On Jul 21, 2025, at 10:05 AM, Valerie Sutton <sutton at signwriting.org> wrote:
>
> SignWriting List
> July 21, 2025
>
> Hi Adam -
> That will be a wonderful feature to add - expanding the ways to search for facial expressions and specifically eyebrows and mouth movements, which are so important to ASL grammar.
>
> I tried searching that way and realized there is much more work to come - and yes, we are SO fortunate for the work that Steve has already placed in SignPuddle 2, making the WhatsThatSign database, and other databases that are using SignPuddle 2, able to search in sophisticated ways. We all are grateful to both of you for the work you are doing.
>
> While I have your attention, Adam, how many handshapes are in ASL? And how many of those handshapes are searchable in the WhatsThatSign database?
>
> Keep up the great work!
>
> Val ;-)
>
> ----------------------
>
>> On Jul 21, 2025, at 9:46 AM, Adam Frost <icemandeaf at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> I love the two added videos that show how to look for a specific symbol in the written sign. This is an escape from looking for a specific spelling order, which can be helpful to find certain signs.
>>
>> Yes, there are a lot of searching possibilities. It is largely made possible because of Steve’s work with SignPuddle, which is what is being used. I will be forever grateful for the work he did.
>>
>> I have a couple of ideas to expand the facial features search from our earlier discussion. Most likely it will just be an extra step that allows you to pick the specific feature you are looking for — or all if that is what you want. :-) It might take me a couple of days to add that onto the website, but I think that is a good thing to add.
>>
> <namesign.png>
>>
>>
>> Adam
>>> On Jul 21, 2025, at 8:31 AM, Valerie Sutton <sutton at signwriting.org> wrote:
>>>
>>> SignWriting List
>>> July 21, 2025
>>>
>>> Dear SW List members and Adam -
>>> I have added new videos and new links to the Playlist for the WhatsThatSign Database:
>>>
>>> WhatsThatSign ASL Dictionary
>>> https://www.whatsthatsign.com/
>>>
>>>
>>> PLAYLIST: WhatsThatSign Tutorial
>>> https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtucu7rJajwaX4KLI_j-fHNMOSGfXmc6Z&si=HKKs-jgI2D1rptVn
>>>
>>>
>>> SEARCH: ASL Signs: INDEX FINGER
>>> https://youtu.be/d7Sztqd4sBQ?si=lICvQ3GqoDpQT4Bz
>>>
>>>
>>> SEARCH: ASL Signs: LOCATION HEAD
>>> https://youtu.be/xsGRwn3MRV4?si=hrhf_uBA1bnJxMcL
>>>
>>>
>>> SEARCH: ASL Signs: TOUCH-TOUCH
>>> https://youtu.be/rA0NmApEcn8?si=L8m9EUkEJlB5G2ku
>>>
>>>
>>> SEARCH: ASL Signs: FINGER TRILLS
>>> https://youtu.be/86OWIYDBGOM
>>>
>>>
>>> Thank you, Adam, for your hardwork on developing this wonderful new database for ASL!
>>>
>>> There are unending possible searches, it seems, and the above videos are showing just samples. I hope these videos will encourage students to do their own detailed searches.
>>>
>>> The WhatsThatSign database will become more and more important over time, as more ASL students and signers realize what a valuable resource it is.
>>>
>>> Val ;-)
>>>
>>>
>>> -------------------------------
>>>
>>>
>>>> On Jul 18, 2025, at 6:50 PM, Valerie Sutton <sutton at SIGNWRITING.ORG> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> SignWriting List
>>>> July 18, 2025
>>>>
>>>> Dear SW List members and Adam -
>>>> I have now added a second video to the Tutorial. It added Location Head and Neck.
>>>>
>>>> WhatsThatSign ASL Dictionary
>>>> https://www.whatsthatsign.com/
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> PLAYLIST: WhatsThatSign ASL Dictionary Tutorial
>>>> https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtucu7rJajwbnPVrrEPiFzb-NUKWJCm31
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> VIDEO 01: Search for signs with
>>>> Index Finger, Palm Faces Chest, Finger Points Up
>>>> https://youtu.be/d7Sztqd4sBQ?si=lICvQ3GqoDpQT4Bz
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> VIDEO 02: Search for signs with
>>>> Index Finger, Palm Faces Chest, Finger Points Up,
>>>> Location: head & neck
>>>> https://youtu.be/xsGRwn3MRV4?si=hrhf_uBA1bnJxMcL
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Val ;-)
>>>>
>>>> Valerie Sutton
>>>> sutton at signwriting.org
>>>> SignWriting.org
>>>>
>>>> Join the SignWriting List:
>>>> https://listserv.linguistlist.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/sw-l
>>>>
>>>> Post a message to the SignWriting List:
>>>> Sw-l at listserv.linguistlist.org
>>>>
>>>> SignWriting List Archives
>>>> https://www.signwriting.org/forums/swlist
>>>>
>>>> ___________________
>>>>
>>>>> On Jul 17, 2025, at 2:45 PM, Valerie Sutton <sutton at SIGNWRITING.ORG> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> SignWriting List
>>>>> July 17, 2025
>>>>>
>>>>> Thank you, Adam, for this response. So, I think if I create the next Video adding one Location to the search, and then show it to you all here on the SignWriting List, we will see if we are all learning how to search. We can correct videos as we go, and add written instruction, and we will find we will have a WhatsThatSign User Manual with videos and instruction within a a month or so. Maybe later you can place a link to the User Manual under the Help section. Thank you again for your help, and I will create Video 02 shortly and post it this evening.
>>>>>
>>>>> Val ;-)
>>>>>
>>>>> ----------
>>>>>
>>>>>> On Jul 17, 2025, at 1:57 PM, Adam Frost <icemandeaf at GMAIL.COM> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Looks like a good start. I did that search and got 37 signs as a result. The next step to narrow down the search would be to select a location. There are 5 options currently: any location, neutral, head & neck, shoulder, and arms. (Any location would be done by tapping on “Location”.) Of course, selecting any location wouldn’t narrow your search down at this point, but it would allow you to narrow it down with further features, such as having or not having a “second hand” or non-dominant hand.
>>>>>>
>>> <namesign.png>
>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Adam
>>>>>>> On Jul 16, 2025, at 3:38 PM, Valerie Sutton <sutton at SIGNWRITING.ORG> wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> SignWriting List
>>>>>>> July 16, 2025
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Dear SignWriting List members, and Adam,
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I am creating videos showing how I search for signs in the new WhatsThatSign ASL Dictionary by Adam Frost.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> There is now a Playlist on our SignWriting YouTube Channel:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> PLAYLIST: WhatsThatSign ASL Dictionary Tutorial
>>>>>>> https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtucu7rJajwbnPVrrEPiFzb-NUKWJCm31
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> <PLAYLIST WhatsThatSignVideos.png>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> My first video has been posted.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> VIDEO 01: Search for signs with
>>>>>>> Index Finger, Palm Faces Chest, Finger Points Up
>>>>>>> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7Sztqd4sBQ&list=PLtucu7rJajwbnPVrrEPiFzb-NUKWJCm31&index=1
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Val ;-)
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Valerie Sutton
>>>>>>> sutton at signwriting.org
>>>>>>> SignWriting.org
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Join the SignWriting List:
>>>>>>> https://listserv.linguistlist.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/sw-l
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Post a message to the SignWriting List:
>>>>>>> Sw-l at listserv.linguistlist.org
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> SignWriting List Archives
>>>>>>> https://www.signwriting.org/forums/swlist
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> ___________________
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>> Sw-l mailing list
>>>>>>> Sw-l at listserv.linguistlist.org
>>>>>>> https://listserv.linguistlist.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/sw-l
>>>>>>
>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>> Sw-l mailing list
>>>>>> Sw-l at listserv.linguistlist.org
>>>>>> https://listserv.linguistlist.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/sw-l
>>>>>
>>>>> Val ;-)
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>> <Valerie_Signature_5.jpg>
>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Valerie Sutton
>>>>> sutton at signwiting.org
>>>>> SignWriting.org
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
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