What Matters in a Name Sign?

The New York Times looks at the origins of name signs in Deaf culture in a new article--in particular the sign name given to Vice President Kamala Harris.

Five women made suggestions for Kamala Harris' name sign and then asked for feedback. The proposed name put forth by Arlene Ngalle-Paryani was the winner. The Times describes it as:

...a hand gesture that involves rotating your wrist externally as your thumb, index and middle finger unfurl open. The name sign draws inspiration, among other things, from the sign for “lotus flower” — the direct translation of the word “Kamala” in Sanskrit — and incorporates the number 3 to underscore Ms. Harris’s trifecta of firsts.

Learn more about the origins of name signs from the New York Times here.