Daily focus
Archive Replay
Friday, September 19, 2025
Sign of the Day
air pollution
A two-handed sign showing harmful substances spreading in the air, using clawed 5-hands and negative NMM
B1 Common Noun British Sign Language (BSL) Neutral
Today’s Snapshot
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Both hands form open 5-hands with fingers slightly bent, resembling claws
Hands move upwards and outwards from chest/mouth area in spreading motion. Fingers wiggle
Discussing environmental issues, health impacts, weather, or climate
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 clawed 5-hands with both hands
- Start hands near chest, palms facing
- Move hands upwards and outwards in arc
- Wiggle fingers throughout movement
- Accompany with negative facial expression
Coach prompt
Practice signing "air pollution" with correct handshape, movement, and negative facial expression
Signature details
Handshape
Both hands form open 5-hands with fingers slightly bent, resembling claws · Code 5C
Dominant hand
Either
Symmetry
Symmetric
Contact
Air
Palm orientation
Initially facing each other, then slightly outwards
Eyebrows
Furrowed
Eye gaze
Forward
Head movement
None
Mouth morpheme
Pah, ch (indicating something bad/dirty)
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.
Air pollution is a global problem
Always accompanied by a negative facial expression to convey the harmful nature
Best fit: Discussing environmental issues, health impacts, weather, or climate
Mirror focus
Practice signing "air pollution" with correct handshape, movement, and negative facial expression
Catch the slip
Ensure both hands are clawed 5-hands, moving upwards and outwards with wiggling fingers and a clear negative NMM
Use it today
Air pollution is a global problem
Common mistakes: Confusing with "smoke" or "fog" if negative facial expression is not strong
When not to use it: When referring to clean air or a specific type of harmless gas
Regional note: Some variations might sign "AIR" then "DIRTY" or "BAD"
Cultural note: Growing awareness of environmental issues is reflected in BSL vocabulary
1.[en] The air pollution is terrible today. / BSL:[Sign for air pollution followed by "TERRIBLE"]
2.[en] We need to reduce air pollution. / BSL:[Sign for "WE MUST" then "REDUCE" then "AIR POLLUTION"]
3.[en] Air pollution causes health problems. / BSL:[Sign for "AIR POLLUTION" then "CAUSE" then "HEALTH PROBLEM"]
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Word web
smog
fumes
dirty air
atmospheric pollution
clean air
fresh air
environment
climate change
carbon emissions
factory
environment
climate
health
factory
emission
atmosphere
SMOKE: Often one hand (5-hand or C-hand) moving upwards from mouth, wiggling fingers. "Air pollution" uses both hands and a broader, more widespread movement, emphasizing the environmental impact. FOG: Both flat B-hands, palms facing, moving slowly apart horizontally. "Air pollution" involves clawed hands, upward/outward movement, and a negative NMM, indicating harm, not just obscuring vision. POLLUTION (general): Often a dominant clawed 5-hand sweeping across the non-dominant palm/forearm. "Air pollution" lifts this concept into the air, using both hands to show airborne spread and impact
Environment
health
science
climate
BSL air pollution
pollution sign
dirty air BSL
environment BSL
environment
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Video credit: The demonstration video on this page is credited to SpreadTheSign. The video remains the property of the original rightholder.
All written explanations, learning notes, examples, comparisons, and page design on this page are SignDeaf educational material.