Indigenous signs: Scandinavia

Indigenous signs for countries in Scandinavia

Danish flag Norwegian flag David Bar-Tzur Swedish flag Finnish flag

Scandinavia: [A], PO > signer, FO diagonally down, touches palm of [B with thumb against index finger], and DH twists upwards, keeping in contact with the palm, while opening to a [3] or a [5] so that the fingers are exposed to the viewer.⁴ (< some include Finland and Iceland, some only include these in the term "Nordic countries".)

Map of Europe

Flags: World flag database.
Map: Virtual Tourist.

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

Denmark (Danmark): [3], PO > signer, travels across chest while moving > DS. ² For an animated gif of this sign, see ASL browser - Denmark.
Finland (Suomi): (1) [X dot] taps chin with FT.² For a QuickTime movie of this sign, see ASL browser - Finland. (2) [B], PO > NDS is held high and swerves in a backward "S" as seen by the signer and continues towards the right while twisting at the wrist. ¹ (< shape of coastline.) (3) [X dot] taps teeth with FT.³ (Probably an older version of the first sign listed here.)
Iceland (Island): [A dot], PO > signer, touches thumbtip to side of mouth and runs down chin, ending with PO down. For a QuickTime movie of this sign, see Laat het gebaren zien: Ijsland.
Norway (Norge): (1) [1], PO away from signer, moves in diagonal from NDS up to face, descends slightly, then continues diagonal upward.² (2) [N], PO away, moves in diagonal from NDS up to face, descends slightly, then continues diagonal upward.² (< side of mountain and shape of the letter "N".) For an animated gif of this sign, see ASL browser - Norway.
Sweden (Sverige): (1) [5^] touchs NDH [B], PO down, then ascends while closing to [O^] 2x.² For an animated gif of this sign, see ASL browser - Sweden. (2) [5^], PO down, touches forearm close to elbow, then ascends while closing to [O^] 2x.¹ (< mountain.)

List of sources cited