Auslan Time

Front 1

After

Back 1

Flick your thumb up from a fisted dominant hand.

Front 2

Dark

Back 2

Start with pointer and middle fingers hooked sideways in front of eyes. Twist hand at wrist so that fingers end pointing towards eyes.

Front 3

Afternoon (Victoria)

Back 3

Tap your hooked pointer finger on your chin once.

Front 4

Day

Back 4

With both hands flat, palms backwards, move hands upwards in an arc from opposite side to above shoulder.

Note: Can be done with one arm.

Front 5

Early / In good time

Back 5

Start with pointer finger hooked around extended thumb, thumb pointing upwards. Move hand downwards, and retract pointer finger into fist.

Front 6

Future / In future

Back 6

With fingers extended, slightly bent, and palm facing backwards, move hand forward from ear in an arc, brushing cheek with blade of little finger.Usage Notes: The further forward you move your hand the further into the future you are indicating.

Front 7

Henceforth / since, from now on, afterwards, thereafter, from that time on

Back 7

Raise your pointer finger up from fist, palm sideways, hand a distance in front of chest. Start with other hand flat, horizontal, thumb raised and palm directly in front of pointing hand. Move flat hand forward in a short sharp movement.

Front 8

Last / Final

Back 8

Extend little fingers from fist on both hands. Tap little fingers together then raise one straight upwards in a quick movement.

Or Hold one hand flat with fingers pointing forward in front of side. Start with your other hand flat, palm down, fingers pointing forward above fist hand. Move this hand round in an arc so that hand ends with palm facing other hand, and a short distance apart from first hand.

Front 9

Later

Back 9

Extend pointer finger and rest fist in palm of other , flat, hand, so that palms are facing and pointer finger point upwards. Slide pointer hand across palm from wrist to fingertips twice.

Front 10

Late

Back 10

With pointer finger on back of wrist draw upwards in an arc.

Front 11

Long time ago (no connotation)

Back 11

Slide extended pointer finger from wrist up arm to shoulder.

Usage Notes: When used at the beginning of a sentence it indicates an event etc in the distant past

Front 12

A long time ago (Ancient, olden days connotation)

Back 12

With both hands flat, starting above shoulder, circle hands around each other in an backwards direction.

Usage Notes: Also used to signify a long time

Front 13

Long wait

Back 13

Draw large circles around the back of wrist with pointer finger.Usage Notes: Used to show boredom or impatience in waiting for something, or that you have been waiting for a long time etc

Front 14

Morning

Back 14

With fingers bend, tap fingers to waist then to chest near armpit.

Front 15

Next

Back 15

With pointer finger extended from fist in a hook, start with finger pointing downwards. Rotate wrist so that pointer finger ends pointing up.

Front 16

Night

Back 16

With both hands flat, fingers pointing upwards above shoulders, palm towards you, move hands downwards in an arc towards opposite side.Usage Notes: Sometimes signed one-handed

Front 17

Now

Back 17

Starting with main hand bent with fingertips resting in flat palm of other hand; move bent hand up and across in and arc so that finger tips end pointing upwards.

Front 18

Old / old age

Back 18

Draw slightly curved pointer and middle fingers down nose, with fingers on either side of nose.

Front 19

Past / In the past

Back 19

With fingers lightly bent, palm facing backwards, move hand backwards in an arc from chin back over your shoulder, brushing cheek with the blade of your little finger.

Front 20

Prior

Back 20

Raise your pointer finger up from fist, palm sideways, hand a distance in front of chest. Start with other hand flat, horizontal, thumb raised and palm facing chest directly behind your pointing hand. Move flat hand backwards towards chest.

Front 21

Quick / rapid, sudden

Back 21

With both pointer fingers extended and horizontal, start with main hand behind and slightly higher than other hand. Quickly bounce main hand pointer finger off other pointer finger and up into air.

Front 22

Slow

Back 22

Slowly slide flat hand up your other arm, starting at wrist.

Front 23

Soon / nearly / almost

Back 23

With thumb pointing up from fist and pointer finger curved over thumb, tilt hand at wrist forward twice.

Front 24

Time / clock

Back 24

Start with thumb and pointer finger extended from fist in an L shape. Have pointer finger pointing up and thumb touching palm of other, flat, upright hand. Move pointer finger downwards in an arc.

Hint: The hands of a clock go round.

Front 25

Today

Back 25

Point up with hand at shoulder height, palm out, and move in double "V" motion.

Front 26

Tonight

Back 26

Starting with pointer finger pointing up, palm facing forward, and hand to side of head, bring hand down in an arc, so that hand and arm end horizontal.

Usage Notes: This sign is derived from a blend of 'today' and 'night'

Front 27

Weekend

Back 27

Sign ‘W’ then touch knuckles of fists (thumbs extended up), together.

Front 28

Week / this week, during this week

Back 28

Hold non-dominant hand in fist, palm down and pointer finger extended forward on an angle. Extend thumb and pointer finger on dominant hand from palm down fist, and start with this hand resting on wrist of other. Slide top hand forward along pointer finger of the other hand.

Usage Notes: For 2 weekly extend 2 fingers on top hand, 3 for 3 weekly and so on

Front 29

What time? / I do not have time, how much time

Back 29

Hold one hand flat, palm down, horizontal in front of stomach, wrist may be arched slightly up. Tap the pointer fingertip of other hand on the back of wrist two or three times.

Front 30

Yesterday / the day before

Back 30

Start with pointer finger extended upwards, palm forward, and pointer resting against cheek. Move hand forward.

Front 31

Last week / one week ago

Back 31

Touch extended pointer finger to cheek (palm facing backwards). Then bring hand down so that blade of hand rests on thumb of other hand, which also has pointer extended.

Front 32

Last month / previous month

Back 32

Start with pointer finger on cheek, pointing upwards, palm backwards. Slide finger forward along cheek, and down in front of chest, extending middle and index finger as you come down. Tap palm of other hand with three fingers.

Front 33

Last year / previous year

Back 33

Start with pointer finger on cheek, pointing upwards, palm backwards. Slide finger forward along cheek, and down in front of chest onto the base of thumb and pointer fingers on the back of your other hand, which has pointer and thumb extended and palm facing forward.

Front 34

Tomorrow / the next day, the following day

Back 34

With pointer finger extended and pointing slightly upwards move finger forward in an arc.

Front 35

Week / Next week

Back 35

Hold hand in fist, palm down and pointer finger extended forward in a hook. Extend thumb and pointer finger on dominant hand from palm down fist. Pointing forward, move this hand from chest, down and across knuckles of other hand so that wrist ends past other hand. Lower hand is usually fist.

Front 36

Next month

Back 36

This is a blend sign: NEXT (With pointer finger extended from fist in a hook, start with finger pointing downwards. Rotate wrist so that pointer finger ends pointing up.) and Month (Tap extended pointer, middle and ring fingers to palm)

Front 37

Next year

Back 37

NEXT and Y. With pointer fingers of both hands extended, horizontal, and pointing at opposite sides Start with top hand palm forward, bottom palm towards you. Rotates hands so that top hand ends at bottom with palm towards you and vice versa.

Front 38

Before / previous

Back 38

With flat hand, palm facing forward, near cheek. Move backwards and forward again.

Front 39

During / while (when)

Back 39

With fingers spread, pointing up, tap them on cheek one after the other.

Front 40

Yet

Back 40

Spread fingers with middle finger down. Bob hands up and down at the elbow.