Indigenous signs: France

Indigenous signs for cities in France (France)

French flag David Bar-Tzur

map of France

Flag: 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)

Angers: (2h)[5], POs > signer, FOs up, interlace thumbs like a butterfly. For a video of this sign, see SourdsNet - Cam Vidéo - Angers.
Bordeaux: [Bb], PO > NDS, FO away, rises slightly twice. For a static gif of this sign, see Surdimobil - Dictionnaire des signes. Click on "B" and then "Bordeaux". It will look like nothing has happened, but scroll down to see the illustration.
Dijon: [1^] is drawn across the lips once and then swing finger out so that PO is still down, but FO is away. For a video of this sign, see SourdsNet - Cam Vidéo - Dijon.
La Rouchelle: (2h)[bO], POs ><, FOs up, circle in a horizontal plane symmetrically, like the ASL sign CELEBRATE. For a video of this sign, see Interpreting Tidbits - Signs From France at time 3:38.
Le Havre: [G], PO > NDS, FO up, touches chin and then chest. For a video of this sign, see Interpreting Tidbits - Signs From France at time 3:19.
Lille: Shake [ILY], PO away, FO up, from side to side. For a video of this sign, see SourdsNet - Cam Vidéo - Lille.
Lyon: [L], PO down, FO away, brushes thumb down DS of face once. For a video of this sign, see SourdsNet - Cam Vidéo - Lyon.
Marseille: (2h)[B], NDPO > DS, NDFO up, DH strokes FT against the palm of the NDH while the rest of the hand does not move. For a video of this sign, see Interpreting Tidbits - Signs From France at time 4:16.
Montpellier: [Bb] is held limply while the elbow is raised to the side and the FT are swung in a horizontal plane. For a video of this sign, see Interpreting Tidbits - Signs From France at time 4:29.
Nancy: (2h)[H], POs down, FOs away, DHFT taps on NDHFT from above 3 x. For a video of this sign, see SourdsNet - Cam Vidéo - Nancy.
Nantes: (1) [H dot], PO > NDS is held against DS of nose and closes fingers. For a video of this sign, see SourdsNet - Cam Vidéo - Nantes (2) [H dot], PO > NDS is held under chin and closes fingers. For a video of this sign, see Interpreting Tidbits - Signs From France at time 4:47.
Nice: [N^], PO > NDS, FO up, taps palm of [B], PO > DS, FO up, 3x. For a video of this sign, see SourdsNet - Cam Vidéo - Nice.
Normandie: [1], PO > NDS, FO up, moves away from chin, twists and touches chest. For a video of this sign, see Interpreting Tidbits - Signs From France at time 5:03.
Orléans: [4], PO > NDS, FO up, taps at chin 3x. For a video of this sign, see SourdsNet - Cam Vidéo - Orléans.
Paris: (1) The middle finger of [P] taps on the upturned palm of [B].¹ For a static gif of this sign, see Surdimobil - Dictionnaire des signes. Click on "P" and then "Paris". It will look like nothing has happened, but scroll down to see the illustration. (2) The middle finger of [P] taps on plam of [B], Po > DS, FO up. For a video of this sign, see Interpreting Tidbits - Signs From France at time 6:40. (3) [P], PO away, FO up, nods 2x. For a video of this sign, see Interpreting Tidbits - Signs From France at time 6:48.
Rouen: (2h)[B], POs down, FOs ><, DH moves > NDS, twists and closes to an [S], PO > signer as it brushes down the dorsal side of the NDH. For a video of this sign, see SourdsNet - Cam Vidéo - Rouen.
Saint Étienne: (2h)[Y], POs down, FOs >< circle down, away, up and towards several times. For a video of this sign, see SourdsNet - Cam Vidéo - Saint Étienne.
Saint Nazaire: (2h)[H dot], POs down, FTs touch, and wg as they separate. For a video of this sign, see SourdsNet - Cam Vidéo - Saint Nazaire.
Strasbourg: [O], PO > NDS, FO up, is held next to the DS cheek and opens twice to [5]. For a video of this sign, see SourdsNet - Cam Vidéo - Strasbourg.
Toulon: DH [4], rests at a 45 degree angle upwards on the dorsal side of [B], PO down, FO > DS, and moves downwards slightly twice while rubbing against index side of NDH. For a video of this sign, see SourdsNet - Cam Vidéo - Toulon. (2) [4], PO down, FO away, has thumb held under fingers and touching backhand of [B], PO down, FO > DS, both hands move forward slightly twice. For a video of this sign, see Interpreting Tidbits - Signs From France at time 5:16. (3) [S], PO down, FO > NDS, moves forward slightly 2x. For a video of this sign, see Interpreting Tidbits - Signs From France at time 5:26.
Toulouse: [C] touches FT to edges of [B], PO up, FO > DS, and slides on the edges from side to side. For a video of this sign, see SourdsNet - Cam Vidéo - Toulouse.
Vannes: (2h)[V], POs ><, FOs up, hold FTs against one another, and DH moves away in a wavey pattern. For a video of this sign, see SourdsNet - Cam Vidéo - Vannes.
Versailles: [V], touches palm of [5], PO > DS, FO up, and curls fingers repeatedly while scratching the palm. For a video of this sign, see SourdsNet - Cam Vidéo - Versailles.
Villeurbanne: [V], PO away, FO up, is shaken from side to side. For a video of this sign, see SourdsNet - Cam Vidéo - Villeurbanne.

List of sources cited

1. Sandrine Schwartz, French interpreter. (2003). Personal communication.

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