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Friday, December 19, 2025
Sign of the Day
toothed plate
Sign combines a flat hand for 'plate' with dominant index finger tracing 'teeth' along its edge
C1 Technical Noun British Sign Language (BSL) Technical
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Non-dominant B-hand (flat), dominant G-hand (index finger extended)
Dominant G-hand traces a repeated serrated motion along the non-dominant B-hand's edge
Used in contexts of engineering, mechanics, or specific component identification
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 B-hand, palm up or forward
- Position dominant G-hand (index finger extended)
- Trace dominant G-hand along the edge of non-dominant B-hand
- Move with small, repeated up-and-down motion, mimicking teeth
Coach prompt
Practice distinguishing from 'smooth plate' and 'saw'
Signature details
Handshape
Non-dominant B-hand (flat), dominant G-hand (index finger extended)
Dominant hand
Right
Symmetry
Asymmetric
Contact
Near
Palm orientation
ND: Up/forward; D: Towards ND hand
Eyebrows
Neutral
Eye gaze
Forward
Head movement
None
Mouth morpheme
None
Body shift
No
Use It Today
Move from recognition to real-life use
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We need a new toothed plate for the machine
Specifically describes a plate with serrations, not a general plate
Best fit: Used in contexts of engineering, mechanics, or specific component identification
Mirror focus
Practice distinguishing from 'smooth plate' and 'saw'
Catch the slip
Ensure index finger clearly mimics serrated edge
Use it today
We need a new toothed plate for the machine
Common mistakes: Confusing with 'smooth plate' or 'saw'
When not to use it: Avoid in casual conversation for general 'plate'
Regional note: Unlikely for a technical sign
Cultural note: N/A
1.[en] The machine uses a toothed plate. / BSL:[MACHINE USE TOOTHED-PLATE]
2.[en] This is a special toothed plate. / BSL:[THIS SPECIAL TOOTHED-PLATE]
3.[en] We need to replace the toothed plate. / BSL:[REPLACE TOOTHED-PLATE]
What is the BSL sign for toothed plate?
It involves a non-dominant flat hand representing the plate, and a dominant index finger tracing a serrated edge along it.
How do you sign toothed plate in BSL?
Hold your non-dominant hand flat, palm up/forward. Use your dominant index finger to trace a small, repeated up-and-down motion along its edge.
Is toothed plate one-handed or two-handed in BSL?
It is a two-handed sign, using both hands to represent the plate and its serrated edge.
What handshape is used for toothed plate in BSL?
The non-dominant hand uses a B-hand (flat hand), and the dominant hand uses a G-hand (index finger extended).
How does toothed plate differ from similar signs in BSL?
It differs from 'smooth plate' by the serrated tracing movement. It's distinct from 'saw' which often mimes the cutting action, or 'gear' which might show interlocking motion.
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Word web
Serrated plate
gear component
Smooth plate
Saw
gear
cog
blade
Saw
Gear
Blade
Plate
Machine
Serrated
SMOOTH PLATE: Uses the same non-dominant B-hand for 'plate' but the dominant hand traces a smooth, linear path along the edge, without the up-and-down 'teeth' motion. SAW: Often uses a dominant S-hand or C-hand, miming a cutting motion, sometimes against the non-dominant B-hand. The focus is on the action of cutting, not describing the object's form. GEAR: Can involve two C-hands or modified 5-hands interlocking and rotating, emphasizing the meshing teeth and rotational function, rather than a single flat plate
Engineering
mechanics
tools
machinery
Toothed plate BSL
serrated plate sign
gear part sign
engineering
Tools
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