Daily focus
Archive Replay
Sunday, February 16, 2025
Sign of the Day
building
Iconic sign representing walls rising; both flat hands move upwards in parallel
A1 Very Common Noun British Sign Language (BSL) Neutral
Today’s Snapshot
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Both hands flat, fingers together, thumbs alongside
Hands move upwards, mimicking walls being built
Describing structures, discussing construction, pointing out buildings
Break It Down
Watch, build, and feel the movement
Use the numbered steps first, then check the sign anatomy cards to clean up the small details that make the sign look fluent instead of approximate.
How to form the sign
- Form flat B-hands with fingers together, thumbs alongside
- Place hands mid-front body, palms facing each other at chest height
- Move both hands upwards in parallel, mimicking rising walls
- Repeat the upward movement once or twice
Coach prompt
Practice signing "BUILDING" with upward, parallel movements
Signature details
Handshape
Both hands flat, fingers together, thumbs alongside · Code Flat B-hand
Dominant hand
Either
Symmetry
Symmetric
Contact
Air
Palm orientation
Palms face each other initially, then slightly outwards as they rise
Eyebrows
Neutral
Eye gaze
Forward
Head movement
None
Mouth morpheme
None typical
Body shift
None
Use It Today
Move from recognition to real-life use
Everything below is designed to make the sign sticky: where it feels natural, what learners miss, and how to use it without sounding robotic.
That building is tall
Can represent any type of building, from a small house to a skyscraper
Best fit: Describing structures, discussing construction, pointing out buildings
Mirror focus
Practice signing "BUILDING" with upward, parallel movements
Catch the slip
Ensure hands remain parallel, fingers together, palms facing each other as they rise
Use it today
That building is tall
Common mistakes: Confusing with 'wall' or 'house' due to similar movements
When not to use it: When referring to the *act* of building (use the verb sign)
Regional note: Minor variations in height or speed of movement
Cultural note: Iconic sign, universally understood in BSL contexts
1.[en] That building is tall. / BSL:[Sign BUILDING, then sign TALL]
2.[en] We live in a new building. / BSL:[Sign WE LIVE NEW BUILDING]
3.[en] The building is old. / BSL:[Sign BUILDING OLD]
When would a learner use the BSL sign for building?
A learner would use this sign to refer to any physical structure like a house, school, or office block, or when discussing architecture and construction.
What do beginners often get wrong when signing building in BSL?
Beginners might not keep their hands parallel, or they might move them too far apart, losing the iconic representation of rising walls.
Does the BSL sign for building change by region or context?
While the core sign is widely consistent, minor variations in the height or speed of the upward movement might be seen regionally.
Is the BSL sign for building suitable for beginners or children?
Yes, it's an iconic and straightforward sign, making it very suitable for beginners and children learning basic vocabulary.
Which sign is most often confused with building in BSL?
It can sometimes be confused with 'wall' (one flat hand moving upwards or across) or 'house' (which adds a roof shape).
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Word web
Structure
edifice
construction
Demolition
ruin
Architect
construct
develop
urban
House
Wall
City
Architect
Construction
WALL: 'Wall' often uses one flat hand moving upwards, or two hands moving up then outwards for a wider wall. 'Building' specifically uses two hands rising in parallel, suggesting the overall structure. HOUSE: 'House' typically starts with the 'building' motion, then adds an inverted V-shape above the head to represent a roof. 'Building' is the generic structure without a roof. CONSTRUCT/BUILD (verb): The verb form emphasizes the action of construction, often with a more repetitive, active upward motion
Architecture
construction
urban
housing
BSL building sign
how to sign building
structure BSL
Construction
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