Indigenous signs: Arab World

Indigenous signs for countries in the Arab World (الدول العربية)

national flags David Bar-Tzur

map of the Middle East

Flags: World flag database.
Map: Maps.com - "search" for country, then "Digital Map Graphics").

For a quick, interesting resource for facts about this and other countries,
try Mystic Planet - The New Age directory of Planet Earth.

Explanation of glossing system used
(to understand how I describe the signs in this dictionary)

Bahrain (مملكة البحرين): [As], taps ulnar (pinky) side of hand against the DS hip. For a film of this sign, click on Bahrain (مملكة البحرين).
Iran (إيران): [A dot] taps thumb 2x against palm of [B].¹ (< indigenous sign for "gasoline.") For a QuickTime movie of this sign, see ASL browser - Iran.
Iraq (العراق): [Bb] is held with thumbside against the forehead. For a film of this sign, click on Iraq (العراق).
Israel (ישראל): (1) [H] touches chin, then moves down and arcs away until it is PO down and FO away from signer.¹ (2) [5^] strokes chin just like ASL sign for "Jewish".² (< from Jewish custom of not shaving the beard.)
Jordan (المملكة الأردنية الهاشمية): [L], FO up, touches thumb to forehead. For a film of this sign, click on Jordan - المملكة الأردنية الهاشمية.
Kuwait (الكويت): (2h)[H], POs ><, FOs away, DH slices back across NDH FT. For a film of this sign, click on Kuwait - الكويت.
Lebanon (لبنان): (2h)[index, middle finger and thumb], POs away, FOs up, close repeatedly, like the ASL sign for NO while descending and separating. For a film of this sign, click on Lebanon - لبنان. (< cedar tree on flag.)
Oman (سلطنة عمان): [5], PO > signer, FO > NDS, puts thumb under chin. For a film of this sign, click on Oman - اسلطنة عمان.
Palestine (فلسطين): [5], PO > NDS, touches shoulder with thumb and closes to an [S]. For a film of this sign, click on Palestine - فلسطين.
Qatar (قطر): [X], PO > NDS, FO up, descends slightly while opening to a [1]. For a film of this sign, click on Qatar - قطر.
Saudi Arabia (المملكة العربية السعودية): [H], PO > signer, FO > NDS, touches DS of forehead. For a film of this sign, click on Saudi Arabia - المملكة العربية السعودية.
Syria (سوريا): [straight M], PO > signer, touches FTs to palm of [B], PO > DS, FO away from signer. For a film of this sign, click on Syria (سوريا). (< "straight M" is actually the Arabic letter "sin", the first letter in "Syria".)
Turkey (Türkiye): (1) [bC] circles forehead.¹ (2) [bC] moves up and down at forehead.¹ (< crescent moon on flag.)
United Arab Emirates (دولة الإمارات العربية المتحدة): [bC] brushes FT against cheek from ear to chin as if outlining the beard. For a film of this sign, click on United Arab Emirates (دولة الإمارات العربية المتحدة).
Yemen (اليمن): [Y], FO > NDS, rubs palm against belly while moving up and down. For a film of this sign, click on Yemen (اليمن).

List of sources cited

1. Signs around the world: Countries [Videotape]. Burtonsville, MD: Sign Media.
2. Savir, C. (ed.) (1992). Gateway to Israeli Sign Language. Tel Aviv: The Association of the Deaf in Israel.
3. Martin Hiraga, CI/CT, personal communication to Bryan Rowe, reported February 25, 2002.
4. From a handout I was given that included indigenous signs I have seen in other reference works, so it seems properly researched.

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