Essential ASL Time Signs

Why This Matters

Time is the backbone of every conversation—whether you're making plans, telling a story, or describing your daily routine, you need to express when things happen. In ASL, time isn't just vocabulary; it's built into the language's grammar through a concept called the timeline. You're being tested on your ability to use this timeline correctly, combine time signs with other concepts, and understand how ASL expresses tense differently than English.

The signs in this guide demonstrate key principles: spatial grammar, iconic representation, non-manual markers, and the ASL timeline. Don't just memorize how to form each sign—know where it falls on the timeline, how it combines with other signs, and what grammatical function it serves. That's what separates basic recognition from true ASL fluency.

---

The ASL Timeline: Your Foundation

The ASL timeline runs from behind your shoulder (past) through your body (present) to in front of you (future). Understanding this spatial concept is essential—most time signs incorporate movement along this line.

Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow

• Timeline placement is key—"yesterday" moves backward toward the past, "today" stays at the body, "tomorrow" moves forward into future space
• Chin as anchor point—both "yesterday" and "tomorrow" use the chin as a starting reference, connecting to the timeline through facial positioning
• Establish time first—in ASL grammar, time signs typically come at the beginning of a sentence to set the temporal context for everything that follows

Past, Present, Future Tenses

• Backward motion signals past—the dominant hand moves over the shoulder, iconically representing looking back at what's behind you
• Present stays centered—signs made directly in front of the body indicate current or ongoing situations
• Forward motion signals future—movement away from the body toward the space ahead represents events yet to come

---

Daily Time Divisions

These signs divide the day into segments, using iconic movements that mirror the sun's path across the sky. The non-dominant arm often represents the horizon line.

Morning, Afternoon, Evening, Night

• Morning rises upward—the handshape moves up from the non-dominant arm (horizon), representing the sun coming up
• Afternoon angles outward—the dominant hand moves from an upward position to an outward angle, showing the sun's afternoon trajectory
• Night moves downward with closed handshape—the dominant hand curves down over the non-dominant arm, iconically showing the sun setting below the horizon

Clock Time

• Dominant hand shows hours—point to the appropriate number on an imaginary clock face or sign the number directly
• Non-dominant hand serves as the clock face—palm faces outward while the dominant hand indicates the time position
• Context determines AM/PM—combine with "morning," "afternoon," or "night" signs when clarification is needed; don't assume the meaning is obvious

---

Days and Months: Calendar Signs

Calendar-related signs often use initialization—incorporating the first letter of the English word into the sign. This is a common ASL pattern worth recognizing.

Days of the Week

• Initialized handshapes—each day uses the fingerspelled letter (M for Monday, T for Tuesday, etc.) with a small circular or downward movement
• Sunday starts the week—in ASL/Deaf culture, the week begins with Sunday, which may differ from your assumptions
• Facial expressions add meaning—raise eyebrows for a question ("MONDAY?") or show emotion to indicate how you feel about that day

Months of the Year

• Single-movement signs—most months use their initial letter with one distinct movement, making them quick to produce
• Some months have unique forms—months like "March" and "May" have specific signs that go beyond simple initialization
• Combine with number signs for dates—sign the month first, then the day number (MARCH 15, not 15 MARCH)

---

Sequence and Relationship Signs

These signs express when events happen relative to each other—essential for storytelling and explaining cause-and-effect relationships.

Time Expressions (Now, Later, Before, After)

• "Now" uses present-space placement—flat hands move downward in front of the body, emphasizing the immediate present moment
• "Later" and "after" move forward—these signs shift toward future space on the timeline, with "after" often showing one event following another
• "Before" moves backward—the sign shifts toward past space, indicating something that happened earlier or should happen first

Seasons

• Iconic representations dominate—winter often incorporates shivering or cold-related movements, summer shows heat or sun
• Combine with time expressions freely—"LAST WINTER" or "NEXT SUMMER" pairs the season with timeline markers
• Cultural and regional variation exists—some signs for seasons vary by region; be prepared to recognize multiple versions

---

Frequency and Duration

These signs modify how often or how long something happens—crucial for describing habits, routines, and ongoing situations.

Frequency (Always, Sometimes, Never)

• "Always" uses circular repetition—the continuous motion iconically represents something that happens consistently without interruption
• "Sometimes" shows variability—the movement is less consistent, reflecting the irregular nature of occasional events
• "Never" moves definitively away—a strong outward motion indicates complete absence or refusal, often paired with a head shake

Duration (For How Long)

• Combine time signs with length indicators—hold a sign longer or add movement to show extended duration
• Facial expressions are grammatical—puffed cheeks or drawn-out mouth movements indicate "a long time," while quick, tense expressions suggest brevity
• Specify when needed—signs like "ALL-DAY," "ALL-NIGHT," or number + time unit (THREE HOURS) provide precise duration

---

Quick Reference Table

---

Self-Check Questions

1. Which two signs both use backward movement on the timeline, and how do their functions differ?

2. If you wanted to describe something that happens every morning at 9:00 AM, what signs would you need and in what order?

3. Compare and contrast how "always" and "all day" are used—when would you choose one over the other?

4. How do the signs for "morning" and "night" use iconic representation to convey their meanings?

5. You're signing a story about an event that happened last winter and will happen again next summer. Which time-marking strategies would you use to establish this timeline clearly?