Ace the TExES ASL Challenge 2026 – Sign Your Way to Success!

In Stokoe notation, a sign is described by three elements: handshape (designator), location, and movement. The Designator (DEZ) is the part that specifies the handshape—the configuration of the hand used to produce the sign. This is the aspect that defines the basic shape of the hand, such as whether the hand is open flat, a fist, or a specific finger configuration. The other two elements (location and movement) describe where the hand is placed and how it moves, but the DEZ is the designation for the handshape itself. Therefore, the DEZ specifies the handshape.