Thursday, June 22, 2017

Hand Gestures for Phonemes

Hand Gestures for Phonemes
Devised by faculty and students at Auburn University
http://www.auburn.edu/~murraba/gestures.html
Phoneme Hand gestures (all objects mentioned are imagined, not actual)
/A/ Fonzie's thumbs up
/a/ Rub beside eyes with fists
/b/Pat chest for heartbeat; beat drum
/k/ Squeeze nutcracker; swing golf club; pull down index finger to click camera
/d/ Knock on door; dribble basketball
/E/ Raise open hands for shriek
/e/ Push elbows back as a rocking chair; open creaky door; cup hand behind ear
/f/Claw like angry cat; brush clothing with clothes brush; swirl open hand for electric fan
/g/ Clap hand vertically for croaking frog, raise glass for gulping milk
/h/ Pump arms for panting runner; breathe on cupped hand; nod head like tired dog
/I/ Raise hand in a salute as in "Aye, aye, Captain"; Point thumb toward yourself
/i/ Hold out separated sticky fingers
/j/ Scrub with scrubbrush; file with wood rasp; twirl jump rope
/l/Raise light saber; lick a lollypop
/m/ Rub tummy; zip up lips
/n/ Drive motorboat
/O/ Nod for "Oh, I see"
/o/ Press thumb for tongue depresser; wipe forehead with back of hand; cover mouth for yawn
/p/Pop fingers open for popcorn; touch fingers on open hand for water drip;  skip stone ; pop soap bubbles
/kw/ Type with two fingers
/r/Start a chain saw; clench teeth for growling dog
/s/Puncture a flat tire; spray hairspray; swirl frying pan for sizzling bacon; undulate hand from side to side for snake; strike down with two fingers for fangs of snake
/t/ Make a pendulum finger for ticking clock; tap watch; listen to watch
/U/ Point like Uncle Sam:  "We want you."
/u/Pretend to punch your stomach; pull chain on foghorn
/v/Pretend to shave with electric shaver; extend arms for airplane; push vacuum cleaner
/w/ Twirl a lariat; cast a fly rod; move from side to side like washing maching
/ks/ or /gz/Open a soda can; squeeze a grease gun
/y/Slap the side of your leg to spur a horse, "Yah."
/z/ Zip up a coat
/OO/Raise hands with fingers pointed down like ghost
/oo/ Curl arms to lift weights; pull fists down for chin-up
/oi/Open squeaky gate
/ou/Squeeze upper arm after inoculation
/aw/ Flap wings like crow
/ar/ Shift grinding gears
/sh/ Finger to lips for "Be quiet"; wave hose to water the lawn
/hw/Blow out candle held in hand
/ch/ Revolve fists alternately for wheels of steam train; steer antique car
/th/  or /th/Peel tape
/ng/Strike a gong with two hands; pluck string bass
/zh/ Saw a board

No comments:

Post a Comment