Gauteng 03 is a descriptive sign with the hand in 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. It is a simplified version of Gauteng 01 (morphological variation).
Gqeberha 01 is an initialised sign with the handshape P followed by E. The colloquial shortened version of Gqeberha’s previous name, Port Elizabeth, was PE. Gqeberha has two lexical variations. Gqeberha 01, Gqeberha 06 and Gqeberha 08 are all initialised signs that differ on phonological level from each other. Gqeberha 11 is a distinct descriptive variant.
Gqeberha 06 is an initialised sign. It starts with the handshape P in the Irish Sign Language alphabet, followed by the SASL alphabet letter for E. The colloquial shortened version of Gqeberha’s previous name, Port Elizabeth, was PE. Movement to the side is added.Gqeberha has two lexical variations. Gqeberha 01, Gqeberha 06 and Gqeberha 08 are all initialised signs that differ on phonological level from each other. Gqeberha 11 is a distinct descriptive variant.
Gqeberha 08 is an initalised sign with the handshape P in the two-handed British Sign Language alphabet. The previous name of Gqeberha was Port Elizabeth.Gqeberha has two lexical variations. Gqeberha 01, Gqeberha 06 and Gqeberha 08 are all initialised signs that differ on phonological level from each other. Gqeberha 11 is a distinct descriptive variant.
Gqeberha 11 is a descriptive sign. The open hand moves in a brushing motion behind the head, possibly indicating hair blowing in the wind. This could be a reference to the Gqeberha’s colloquial name, the Windy City, which indicates a possible loan sign from spoken language. The mouthing of ‘PE’, a colloquial shortened version of Gqeberha’s previous name, Port Elizabeth, identifies this variant as a place-name sign.Gqeberha has two lexical variations. Gqeberha 01, Gqeberha 06 and Gqeberha 08 are all initialised signs that differ on phonological level from each other. Gqeberha 11 is a distinct descriptive variant.
Johannesburg 03 is a descriptive sign with the handshape T followed by J. The handshapes likely refer to the previous number plate for Johannesburg, which started with TJ. This variant is a lexical variation from Johannesburg 01.
Kimberley 01 is an initialised-descriptive sign. Both hands are in handshape K. They move down and inwards to indicate the Big Hole, an old mine that is a landmark of Kimberley. This variant is a lexical variation from Kimberley 03 and Kimberley 08.
Kimberley 03 is a descriptive sign with the handshape in lower-case C, which is the same is the British Sign Language alphabet letter C (same as Cape Town 07). The handshape most likely refers to the previous number plate for Kimberley, which started with CC. This variant is a lexical variation from Kimberley 01 and Kimberley 08.
Kimberley 08 is an initialised-descriptive sign. The handshape Y is accompanied by a forward swiping motion on the signer’s neck. We were unable to determine the meaning of this sign. This variant is a lexical variation from Kimberley 01 and Kimberley 03.
KwaZulu-Natal 01 is an initialised sign with the handshape K and then N. This is followed by a zigzag inward motion towards the signer’s body that could be interpreted to mimic the handshape for Z.
Limpopo 01 is an initialised-descriptive sign. Both hands are in the handshape L and move in a side-to-side forwards motion that mimics the flow of a river. The palm orientation is down, which makes this variant a phonological variation from Limpopo 02.
Limpopo 02 is an initialised-descriptive sign. Both hands are in the handshape L and move in a side-to-side forwards motion that mimics the flow of a river. The palms face to the side, which makes this variant a phonological variation from Limpopo 02.
Mpumalanga 01 is a descriptive sign. The dominant hand mimics the sun rising. The meaning of ‘Mpumalanga’ is ‘the place where the sun rises’ in the Nguni language family. This indicates a loan sign from spoken language.
North West 01 is an initialised sign with the handshape N followed by W. This variant has no movement, and is a phonological variation from North West 02.
North West 02 is an initialised sign with the handshape N followed by W. This variant has added movement to the side, which makes it a phonological variation from North West 01.
Northern Cape 01 is an initialised sign with the handshape N followed by C. This variant has no movement and is a phonological variation from Northern Cape 02.
Northern Cape 02 is an initialised sign with the handshape N followed by C. This variant has added movement to the side, which makes it a phonological variation from Northern Cape 01.
Pietermaritzburg 01 is an initialised sign, with the handshape P followed by M, then B. This is a common abbreviation for Pietermaritzburg in spoken language as well. This variant has no movement. Pietermaritzburg 01 is a lexical variation from Pietermaritzburg 04.
Pietermaritzburg 04 is an initialised-descriptive sign. It has the handshape is X, with the hand placed on the chin and the palm facing towards the signer. We were unable to determine the meaning of this sign. The mouthing of ‘Pietermaritzburg’ identifies this variant as a place-name sign. Pietermaritzburg 04 is a lexical variation from Pietermaritzburg 01.
Pretoria 01 is a descriptive place-name sign that is the similar to the sign for GOVERNMENT, but placed near the centre of the signer’s forehead instead of to the side. This refers to the fact that Pretoria serves as South Africa’s administrative capital, and many government head offices are located there. The handshape is F, which makes it a phonological variation from Pretoria 02.In the case of Pretoria there are three lexical variations: one that resembles the sign for GOVERNMENT (Pretoria 01 and Pretoria 02), another which is the sign for SISTER (Pretoria 14), and two initialised variants that differ phonologically from each other (Pretoria 06 and Pretoria 09).
Pretoria 02 is a descriptive place-name sign that is the similar to the sign for GOVERNMENT, but placed near the centre of the signer’s forehead instead of to the side. This refers to the fact that Pretoria serves as South Africa’s administrative capital, and many government head offices are located there. The handshape is W, which makes it a phonological variation from Pretoria 01.In the case of Pretoria there are three lexical variations: one that resembles the sign for GOVERNMENT (Pretoria 01 and Pretoria 02), another which is the sign for SISTER (Pretoria 14), and two initialised variants that differ phonologically from each other (Pretoria 06 and Pretoria 09).
Pretoria 06 is a descriptive sign with the handshape T followed by P. The handshapes likely refer to the previous number plate for Pretoria, which started with TP.In the case of Pretoria there are three lexical variations: one that resembles the sign for GOVERNMENT (Pretoria 01 and Pretoria 02), another which is the sign for SISTER (Pretoria 14), and two initialised variants that differ phonologically from each other (Pretoria 06 and Pretoria 09).
Pretoria 09 is an initialised sign with the handshape P in the British Sign Language alphabet.In the case of Pretoria there are three lexical variations: one that resembles the sign for GOVERNMENT (Pretoria 01 and Pretoria 02), another which is the sign for SISTER (Pretoria 14), and two initialised variants that differ phonologically from each other (Pretoria 06 and Pretoria 09).
Pretoria 14 is a descriptive place-name sign that is the same as the sign for SISTER. The mouthing of ‘Pretoria’ indicates the sign as a place-name sign.In the case of Pretoria there are three lexical variations: one that resembles the sign for GOVERNMENT (Pretoria 01 and Pretoria 02), another which is the sign for SISTER (Pretoria 14), and two initialised variants that differ phonologically from each other (Pretoria 06 and Pretoria 09).
