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Archive Replay
Wednesday, July 16, 2025
Sign of the Day
airbrick
Non-dominant flat B-hand represents wall. Dominant bent 5-hand wiggles fingers through/over, showing air passing through brick's ventilation holes
B1 Uncommon Noun British Sign Language (BSL) Technical
Today’s Snapshot
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Dominant: Bent 5, fingers bent at knuckles. Non-dominant: Flat B
Dominant fingers wiggle through non-dominant hand
Discussing building construction, ventilation, home repairs
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 non-dominant flat B-hand, palm up or slightly forward
- Form dominant bent 5-hand, fingers slightly separated
- Place dominant hand near/above non-dominant, fingers pointing towards it
- Wiggle dominant fingers repeatedly, moving them slightly through/over non-dominant
Coach prompt
Practice holding the non-dominant hand flat, then wiggling dominant fingers through
Signature details
Handshape
Dominant: Bent 5, fingers bent at knuckles. Non-dominant: Flat B · Code Dom: Bent5. Non-Dom: FlatB
Dominant hand
Either
Symmetry
Asymmetric
Contact
Near
Palm orientation
Dominant: Towards non-dominant. Non-dominant: Palm up/forward
Eyebrows
Neutral
Eye gaze
Forward
Head movement
None
Mouth morpheme
puffed cheeks
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 builder installed an airbrick
Represents the grid-like holes for airflow in a brick
Best fit: Discussing building construction, ventilation, home repairs
Mirror focus
Practice holding the non-dominant hand flat, then wiggling dominant fingers through
Catch the slip
Ensure fingers wiggle distinctly, representing multiple small holes, not just one large hole
Use it today
The builder installed an airbrick
Common mistakes: Confusing with 'hole' or 'grid'. Incorrect handshapes
When not to use it: Not for general 'air' or 'brick'
Regional note: Limited, relatively standard
Cultural note: Part of construction vocabulary in the UK
1.[en] We need an airbrick. / BSL:[Sign AIRBRICK]
2.[en] The airbrick is broken. / BSL:[AIRBRICK broken]
3.[en] Install the airbrick there. / BSL:[Install AIRBRICK there]
What is the BSL sign for airbrick?
It's a two-handed sign. The non-dominant hand is a flat B, representing a wall. The dominant hand is a bent 5, fingers wiggling through/over the non-dominant hand, showing ventilation holes.
How do you sign airbrick in BSL?
Hold your non-dominant hand flat like a wall. With your dominant hand, form a bent 5-hand. Wiggle the fingers of the dominant hand through or over your non-dominant hand, depicting air passing through holes.
Is airbrick one-handed or two-handed in BSL?
The BSL sign for airbrick is a two-handed sign. One hand forms a flat surface (wall), and the other represents the air passing through the brick's holes.
What handshape is used for airbrick in BSL?
The non-dominant hand uses a flat B-hand. The dominant hand uses a bent 5-hand, where the fingers are bent at the knuckles and slightly spread to represent holes.
How does airbrick differ from similar signs in BSL?
It differs from 'HOLE' (often just one finger) or 'GRID' (more structured, often static). 'AIRBRICK' specifically combines the concept of holes with ventilation on a surface, using a distinct wiggling motion and bent 5-hand.
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Word web
Vent brick
ventilation block
None
Ventilation
brick
wall
hole
building
Brick
Ventilation
Wall
Hole
Building
Construction
HOLE (general): Often one dominant G-hand finger points into a non-dominant O-hand. 'AIRBRICK' uses a bent 5-hand for multiple holes and wiggling motion. GRID/MESH: Often two flat B-hands crossing or forming a lattice. 'AIRBRICK' has a specific ventilation movement with fingers wiggling through, implying airflow. VENTILATION (general concept): Might involve an open C-hand moving away. 'AIRBRICK' is specific to the physical object and its appearance
Construction
building
ventilation
architecture
BSL airbrick
sign for ventilation brick
building sign language
Architecture
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