Help deciphering some hand sign language

Heatwave

I recently watched a Japanese film that had a lot of sign language in it, and while most of it was verbally explained throughout the film, there was one specific sign that wasn't and I really want to know what was said.

So doesn't anyone knowledgeable of sign language know what this means?

Cog

I dont know any info about this specifically but I can tell you that sign language is not universal. If this movie was originally in Japanese, this may be in Japanese sign language.

bowen

If you have an idea of what the context of the scene was, this might help you:

https://www.spreadthesign.com

You can see words in multiple sign languages, japanese and american seem to be pretty prevalent in most of the words

Heatwave

Thanks for the help. I'll look into the spread the sign website to see if maybe it's related to love, thanking, forgiveness. Those are the only things I can think of that might be related.

I can't really remember what was being said during the scene, but the person doing the sign had just reunited with her friend who had just been in a coma.

This friend a bit earlier in the film saved her life but in the process got hurt and went into said coma.

I think the friend also apologized in this scene for treating her horribly as a child.

bowen

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-b4Ouz6CMOs

this might help too, she's got a lot of good videos

Heatwave

After looking through the 'spread the sign' website the closest I could find was the sign for 'promise'. I think I might be close to figuring it out.

I'll look at that video tomorrow. Thanks for the heads up.

tapeslinger

specific interpretation of sign language is also contextual, so there may be added meaning beyond just a word or phrase, the words in relation to one another as well as facial expressions or body language will influence meaning, so use those as cues as well.

ChasinTheTrane

In American Sign Language, interlocking your two index fingers means friend (or 'best friend' if it's exaggerated), so maybe that's what it would mean in Japanese Sign Language with the pinkies?

Heatwave

I just got a email response from someone at 'Spread the Sign', it turns out it was a way of saying 'promise'

It means “promise" , "sure thing” , ”on my soul” and so on.

Tofystedeth

Interesting. I wonder if it shares an etymology with pinky swearing.

Heatwave

Apparently after the scene the friend says he shouldn't have done something.

My memory of specific parts/dialogue of the movie a bit hazy now, so I can't remember the context.

I think he took her hands and made her sign the friends sign, but again, memory hazy.

I'll need to rewatch the film to get the context, but I don't think it'll be coming out on bluray/dvd in english until maybe later in the year.