Bartimea 01 is an initialised sign with the handshape B. It differs from Bartimea 03 only terms of the parameter of movement (phonological variation). This variant has a side-to-side movement from the signer’s wrist.
Bartimea 03 is an initialised sign with the handshape B. It differs from Bartimea 01 only terms of the parameter of movement (phonological variation). This variant has a circular movement with the palm facing away from the signer.
Bethlehem 01 is a descriptive sign that is clearly distinct from other variants (lexical variation). It is the same as the sign for JESUS. The sign mimics showing where the nails went through Jesus’ palms when he was crucified. In the bible, Jesus was born in Bethlehem, which explains the use of the name sign JESUS for the place Bethlehem.
Bethlehem 03 is a descriptive sign with the handshape O followed by A, which is clearly distinct from Bethlehem 01 (lexical variation). The handshapes refer to the previous number plate for Bethlehem, which started with OA. The movement is to the side, which could possibly indicate the shape of the number plate on the vehicle.
Bloemfontein 01 is a descriptive sign with the handshape O followed by B. The handshapes refer to the previous number plate for Bloemfontein, which started with OB. It is a phonological variation from Bloemfontein 06.In the case of Bloemfontein there are two lexical variations: one with the hand resembling a flower (Bloemfontein 03) and the OB variation. Then, the OB variation itself has three phonological variations (Bloemfontein 01, Bloemfontein 06 and Bloemfontein 07). Additionally, there is a morphological variation that combines both lexical variations (Bloemfontein 13).
Bloemfontein 03 is a descriptive sign that is clearly distinct from other variants (lexical variation). It is the same as the sign for ROSE, which references Bloemfontein’s colloquial name of City of Roses, which indicates a possible loan sign from spoken language. This variant includes mouthing of ‘Bloemfontein’. The movement is the same as Free State 01. This could possibly indicate a derivation between the two signs, as Bloemfontein is the capital of the Free State province.In the case of Bloemfontein there are two lexical variations: one with the hand resembling a flower (Bloemfontein 03) and the OB variation. Then, the OB variation itself has three phonological variations (Bloemfontein 01, Bloemfontein 06 and Bloemfontein 07). Additionally, there is a morphological variation that combines both lexical variations (Bloemfontein 13).
Bloemfontein 06 is a descriptive sign with the handshape O followed by B. The handshapes refer to the previous number plate for Bloemfontein, which started with OB. It is a phonological variation from both Bloemfontein 01 and Bloemfontein 07.In the case of Bloemfontein there are two lexical variations: one with the hand resembling a flower (Bloemfontein 03) and the OB variation. Then, the OB variation itself has three phonological variations (Bloemfontein 01, Bloemfontein 06 and Bloemfontein 07). Additionally, there is a morphological variation that combines both lexical variations (Bloemfontein 13).
Bloemfontein 07 is a descriptive sign with the handshape O followed by B. The handshapes refer to the previous number plate for Bloemfontein, which started with OB. It is a phonological variation from Bloemfontein 06.In the case of Bloemfontein there are two lexical variations: one with the hand resembling a flower (Bloemfontein 03) and the OB variation. Then, the OB variation itself has three phonological variations (Bloemfontein 01, Bloemfontein 06 and Bloemfontein 07). Additionally, there is a morphological variation that combines both lexical variations (Bloemfontein 13).
Bloemfontein 13 is a descriptive sign that starts with the handshape O. This O is a shortened reference to the previous number plate for Bloemfontein, which started with OB. The handshape transitions into a handshape similar to the sign for ROSE, drawing on Bloemfontein’s colloquial name of City of Roses (similar to Bloemfontein 03), which indicates a possible loan sign from spoken language.In the case of Bloemfontein there are two lexical variations: one with the hand resembling a flower (Bloemfontein 03) and the OB variation. Then, the OB variation itself has three phonological variations (Bloemfontein 01, Bloemfontein 06 and Bloemfontein 07). Additionally, there is a morphological variation that combines both lexical variations (Bloemfontein 13).
Cape Town 01 is an initialised-descriptive sign that incorporates the T handshape for both hands in a movement that mimics the shape of Table Mountain, a landmark of Cape Town. Over time, this shortened version of the sign evolved to only flick the wrists up and down, with the hands in the T handshape. This variant is a lexical variation from both Cape Town 07 and Cape Town 12.
Cape Town 07 is an initialised sign with the handshape in lower-case C in SASL. This is also the alphabet letter C in British Sign Language. This variant is a lexical variation from both Cape Town 01 and Cape Town 12.
Cape Town 12 is an initialised-descriptive sign that incorporates the X handshape for both hands. The dominant hand moves with the palm facing upwards back and forth across the forearm of the non-dominant hand, which faces palm down. This variant originates from the Afrikaans Deaf community. They have a sign for ‘Kaap’, which is a colloquial reference to the areas surrounding Cape Town. This variant is a lexical variation from both Cape Town 07 and Cape Town 12.
De La Bat 01 is a descriptive sign that is the same as the sign for HEARING. A possible explanation is that this school used oralism, whereby speech and lipreading was taught and used as the medium of instruction.
De La Bat 03 is an initialised sign with both hands forming the handshape of D. This is from the old SASL alphabet, when SASL still used the two-handed alphabet. The mouthing of ‘De La Bat’ distinguishes this variant from other similar signs. It is a lexical variation from De La Bat 01.
Durban 01 is an initialised sign with the handshape in D. The location of the sign on the forehead distinguishes this variant from other similar signs. This is a lexical variation from Durban 05.
Durban 05 is an initialised sign with both hands forming the letter D in the two-handed alphabet of British Sign Language. The mouthing of ‘Durban’ distinguishes this variation from other similar signs. This is a lexical variation from Durban 05.
East London 02 is an initialised sign with the handshape E followed by L. The movement is to the side, which is the most common form of movement that accompanies initialised place name signs.
East London 12 is an initialised two-handed sign that commences with the dominant hand in the handshape E, followed by L placed into the palm of the non-dominant hand. The latter half of the sign is similar to the sign for LOCATION, and thereby indicates that this is a place-name sign. This addition makes it a morphological variation from East London 02.
Eastern Cape 01 is an initialised sign with the handshape E followed by C. This variant has no movement, making it a phonological variation from Eastern Cape 02.
Eastern Cape 02 is an initialised sign with the handshape E followed by C. This variant includes movement to the side, making it a phonological variation from Eastern Cape 01.
Free State 01 is a descriptive sign. The handshape is in the form of a ‘claw’ that mimics the sign for ORANGE. Most likely this is a reference to the previous name of the province, which was the Orange Free State. It is a lexical variation from both Free State 02 and Free State 05.
Free State 02 is an initialised sign, with the handshape F followed by D. This variation includes no movement. It is a lexical variation from both Free State 01 and Free State 05.
Free State 05 is an initialised two-handed sign with the handshape V, from the Afrikaans name from the province, ‘Vrystaat’. The dominant hand in the handshape V is placed in the flat open palm of the non-dominant hand, similar to the sign for LOCATION. This indicates that Free State 05 is a place-name sign. It is a lexical variation from both Free State 01 and Free State 02.
Gauteng 01 is an initialised-descriptive sign. The sign starts with both hands in the handshape S with the fists atop each other, but this is similar to the British Sign Language alphabet letter G. The dominant hand then moves into the S1 SASL handshape (finger extended) with an upward motion. This mimics the landmark tall Telkom Joburg Tower (also known as the Hillbrow Tower), which was until 2021 the tallest tower in Africa. This variant is a morphological variation from Gauteng 03.
