Always, Forever, Eternal

Sign from Indian Sign Language by William Tomkins

Possible description of sign: we have no ear. Ear meaning hearing. So, we have no knowledge. We have no knowledge about its beginning or end. In other words, eternal, forever, always.

Sign: time passing, cutoff (stop), no.

When referring to an activity, don’t stop.

 

Stop no, don’t stop, keep going

You might translate always by giving a sign for forever, but that’s not quite correct. Always means more accurately at each and every moment of time. The most accurate sign then for always would be time cut off no in other words to flow of time never cut off.

Quote from Clark The Indian Sign Language, page 179

There is no well-defined and well-known gesture for this, and a very long time in the future is the nearest approach to it. Make signs for My or Mine, Child; repeat same several times, and then make sign for Beyond, meaning beyond my children's children, etc. I have seen metaphors used, such as "while grass grows,

"while the mountains stand," etc. Some simply point with extended right index to front and upwards, extending arm to full length.

Deaf-mutes describe a vertical circle in front of body with tip of right index, other fingers and thumb closed.