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Sunday, April 20, 2025
Sign of the Day
cornice
The BSL sign for 'cornice' visually depicts its architectural function, tracing the object's position and form
B2 Rare Noun British Sign Language (BSL) Technical
Today’s Snapshot
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Index finger extended, thumb extended, other fingers curled
Traces a horizontal line along the top of an imaginary wall or surface
Discussing architecture, design, or building features
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 G-hand (index finger extended, thumb extended, others curled)
- Position hand high, near head/shoulder height, palm facing inward/down
- Move hand horizontally from dominant side to non-dominant side
- The movement traces the top edge of an imaginary wall
Coach prompt
Imagine a wall; sign the top edge
Signature details
Handshape
Index finger extended, thumb extended, other fingers curled · Code 1
Dominant hand
Right
Symmetry
N/A
Contact
Air
Palm orientation
Palm inward or slightly down
Eyebrows
Neutral
Eye gaze
Forward
Head movement
None
Mouth morpheme
None
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.
The building has an ornate cornice
Sign emphasizes the horizontal, decorative top edge of a structure
Best fit: Discussing architecture, design, or building features
Mirror focus
Imagine a wall; sign the top edge
Catch the slip
Ensure the handshape is precise and the movement indicates the top edge, not just any line
Use it today
The building has an ornate cornice
Common mistakes: Confusing with 'shelf' or 'border' due to similar tracing
When not to use it: For general 'edge' or 'line' unless specifically referring to a cornice
Regional note: None widely documented for this specific sign
Cultural note: Architectural terms are often signed descriptively using classifiers
1.[en] The old house has a beautiful cornice. / BSL:[Sign CORNICE then describe beautiful old house.]
2.[en] We need to repair the damaged cornice. / BSL:[Sign WE NEED REPAIR CORNICE DAMAGED.]
3.[en] Look at the detailed design on the cornice. / BSL:[Sign LOOK CORNICE DESIGN DETAIL.]
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Word web
Molding
coving
frieze
None
Architecture
building
ceiling
decoration
Molding
Architecture
Ceiling
Wall
Decoration
SHELF: Often uses a flat B-hand, palm down, moving horizontally, typically at chest or waist height, indicating a flat surface for holding objects. Cornice uses G-hand, higher, for a decorative architectural element. WALL: Can involve two flat hands outlining a vertical surface. Cornice is specific to the top edge of a wall, not the entire vertical plane. BORDER/EDGE: More general, can be signed with various handshapes outlining an area or line. Cornice is specific to a decorative, high, horizontal molding
Architecture
building
design
interior
Cornice BSL
building molding sign
decorative edge sign
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