Sign for -WARDS Suffix in ASL
Quick answer: The -WARDS suffix in ASL is fingerspelled W-A-R-D-S. It commonly appears in English words describing direction or movement toward something.
How to Recognize -WARDS
The sequence W-A-R-D-S is slightly longer than -WARD, but that extra letter helps distinguish the pattern during fingerspelling reception.
| Dominant Handshape | W, A, R, D, S |
|---|---|
| Non-Dominant Handshape | N/A |
| Location | Neutral signing space |
| Palm Orientation | Varies by letter |
| Movement | Fingerspelled sequence |
| Non-Manual Markers | None |
Why It Matters
Recognizing -WARDS helps learners interpret directional vocabulary quickly and accurately. Small differences between suffixes can completely change the meaning of a word, which is both linguistically fascinating and mildly rude of English.
Common Mistakes
- Missing the final S.
- Confusing -WARDS with -WARD.
- Stopping before the suffix is fully completed.
Example
ASL gloss: TOWARD + W-A-R-D-S
English meaning: towards
Responses