Signing For Dummies (53 page)

The either/or and neither/nor conjunctions are called
correlative
conjunctions,
and you use your hands and head to convey these signs.

When signing
either
. . .
or
and
neither
. . .
nor,
keep in mind that you use these conjunctions to answer questions, not to ask them. So, although you don’t use the facial expressions you use to ask questions, you can keep your head still or nod it “yes” for affirmation when you sign either, and you shake your head from side to side while signing neither.

English:
Do you want apples or oranges?

Sign:
APPLES ORANGES — WANT YOU — WHICH

English response:
Either apples or oranges would be fine.

Sign response:
EITHER FINE

English:
Do you want chicken or steak?

Sign:
CHICKEN STEAK — WANT YOU — WHICH

English response:
I want neither chicken nor steak.

Sign Response:
NEITHER

Fun & Games Answers

Chapter 11: Here’s to Your Health

In This Chapter

Getting medical attention

Understanding medical words

Identifying body parts in Sign

Handling emergencies in Sign

The medical field has many Signs, and practicing them is fun. However, health and medicine are serious issues. Knowing the following medical Signs doesn’t automatically make you a medical interpreter, but you can go a long way in helping someone with regards to illness, the body, and emergencies. In this chapter, we cover some of the main medical-related Signs.

Going to the Doctor

Doctor visits ensure good health. The following sections give you the Signs for the people you deal with and how to tell them your symptoms. These Signs are more helpful than an apple a day — try them and see.

Signaling medical personnel

The doctor is in! Table 11-1 shows the Signs for various medical people.

The following sentences are sure to come in handy.

English:
The doctor is in.

Sign:
DOCTOR HERE

English:
You need to see a chiropractor.

Sign:
CHIROPRACTOR — GO — NEED YOU

English:
Do you need a nurse?

Sign:
NURSE — NEED YOU Q

English:
The surgeon is a specialist.

Sign:
SURGEON SPECIALIST

Figuring out how you feel

Knowing the Signs for symptoms of illness can really help you figure out the best way to handle a medical problem. As with talking, signing is sometimes difficult when you don’t feel well, but it’s a necessary part of receiving help. The Signs in Table 11-2 can take the sting out of communicating your problem.

Conscious
is signed the same way as “know” and “familiar.”