How to Talk about Games in American Sign Language
Not all games have American Sign Language (ASL) signs. For example, you fingerspell cards, video, chess, and checkers. All board and card games are fingerspelled. Mimic throwing dice for gambling and dealing cards for any card games. After you do this, fingerspell specifically what game you mean. Some indoor games do have signs, though, and you can find many of them in this table.
If your Deaf friends have a local sign for a game, just use that sign instead.
Here are some sentences to get you ready for game night:
English: Who wants to play poker?
Sign: P-O-K-E-R — WANTS — WHO Q
English: Deal the cards.
Sign: DEAL CARDS
English: He likes playing chess.
Sign: C-H-E-S-S — HE LIKES
English: Do you gamble?
Sign: GAMBLE YOU Q
Language Phrases Glossary
accusative case
When noun or pronoun is the direct object of the verb of the sentence, you are required to switch to the accusative case ending.
Language Phrases Glossary
dative case
When noun or pronoun is the indirect object of the verb of the sentence, you are required to switch to the dative case ending.
Language Phrases Glossary
genitive case
When the noun or pronoun indicates possession, you are required switch to the genitive case ending.
Language Phrases Glossary
instrumental case
A Russian grammatical term that indicates that the noun or pronoun assist in the carrying out of an action, you are required to switch to the accusative case ending.
Language Phrases Glossary
interrogative
Words used to ask questions, such as who, what, when, where, and why.
Language Phrases Glossary
macron
A small, horizontal mark above the vowel that indicates a long vowel sound. Make the vowel sound like its name.
Language Phrases Glossary
nominative case
When noun or pronoun is the subject of the sentence, you are required to switch to the nominative case ending.
Language Phrases Glossary
prepositional case
A grammatical case that indicates that the noun or pronoun is the object of a preposition, you are required to switch to the accusative case ending. Used with the Russian prepositions: v (v; in), na (nah; on), o (oh; about), and ob (ohb; about).
