Indigenous signs for cities in Belgium (Belgique - België)

Belgian flag David Bar-TzurBelgian flag

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Explanation of glossing system used
(to understand how I describe the signs in this dictionary)

Aalst
Bring [H] to DS eyebrow like a salute, but the hand does not move forward. For a QuickTime movie of this sign, see Woordenboek Nederlands - Vlaamse Gebarentaal: Allst.

Antwerp (Antwerpen)
(1) [A], PO > NDS, twists slightly at wrist. {< a legend about a hero who killed a giant by throwing his hand [Antwerpen < Hand-Werpen (hand throwing)] which held a sword.}1 (2) [bX] is held upwriting and moves left to right slightly as if scribbling a short line on a blackboard. For a QuickTime movie of this sign, see Woordenboek Nederlands - Vlaamse Gebarentaal: Antwerpen. Or for a static gif of this sign, see Surdimobil - Dictionnaire des signes. Click on "Anvers". It will look like nothing has happened, but scroll down to see the illustration.

Anvers
See "Antwerp (Antwerpen)"

Berchem-Sainte-Agathe
[H], PO down, FO > NDS, hands circles under chin, normal [perpendicular] to the chest, and brushes under the chin at the top of its circuit. For a QuickTime movie of this sign, see LSFB asbl : la Langue des Signes de Belgique Francophone and click on "Berchem-Sainte-Agathe".

Bruges / Brugge
[Bb], PO away, FO up, is shaken slightly.1 For a QuickTime movie of this sign, see Woordenboek Nederlands - Vlaamse Gebarentaal: Brugge. Or for a static gif of this sign, see Surdimobil - Dictionnaire des signes. Click on "B", then "Bruges". It will look like nothing has happened, but scroll down to see the illustration.

Brussels (Bruxelles, Brussel)
(2h)[X], POs > signer, FOs ><, FTs touch 2x. (< the subway, also shows the North junction where the trains pass one another).1 For a QuickTime movie of this sign, see Woordenboek Nederlands - Vlaamse Gebarentaal: Brussel. Or for a static gif of this sign, see Surdimobil - Dictionnaire des signes. Click on "B", then "Bruxelles". It will look like nothing has happened, but scroll down to see the illustration.

Charleroi
(1) [S], PO > NDS circles mouth CCW [< the way glassblowers (Charleroi was a center for this activity) turn their product to prevent it from losing its shape).1 (2) (2h)[S] are held in front of face crossed at wrists and fists nod twice > their opposite sides. For a QuickTime movie of this sign, see Woordenboek Nederlands - Vlaamse Gebarentaal: Charleroi.

Courtrai (Kortrijk)
[X] taps chin twice.1 For a QuickTime movie of this sign, see Woordenboek Nederlands - Vlaamse Gebarentaal: Kortrijk. Or for a static gif of this sign, see Surdimobil - Dictionnaire des signes. Click on "C", then "Courtrai". It will look like nothing has happened, but scroll down to see the illustration.

Doornik
Bring [H] to DS eyebrow and twist PO away with a salute. For a QuickTime movie of this sign, see Woordenboek Nederlands - Vlaamse Gebarentaal: Doornik.

Gent, Ghent, Gand
(2h)[5], POs down, FOs away. DH strokes top of NDH twice. For a QuickTime movie of this sign, see Woordenboek Nederlands - Vlaamse Gebarentaal: Gent. Or for a static gif of this sign, see Surdimobil - Dictionnaire des signes. Click on "G", then "Gand". It will look like nothing has happened, but scroll down to see the illustration.

Hasselt
[1] strokes DS of throat while arm is held still. For a QuickTime movie of this sign, see Woordenboek Nederlands - Vlaamse Gebarentaal: Hasselt. (2) [1] taps throat twice. For a static gif of this sign, see Surdimobil - Dictionnaire des signes. Click on "H", then "Hasselt". It will look like nothing has happened, but scroll down to see the illustration.

Henegouwen
[H], PO > NDS, FO up, moves slightly up and down. For a QuickTime movie of this sign, see Woordenboek Nederlands - Vlaamse Gebarentaal: Henegouwen.

Liège (Luik)
[X] taps temple twice with its thumb side (< the phrase "Liberty of the people" is imprinted on the minds of all the people of Liège).1 For a QuickTime movie of this sign, see Woordenboek Nederlands - Vlaamse Gebarentaal: Luik (both images appear to be identical). Or for a static gif of this sign, see Surdimobil - Dictionnaire des signes. Click on "L", then "Li¸ge". It will look like nothing has happened, but scroll down to see the illustration.

Mechelen
(1) (2h)[1] touch temples, then circle around until the hands are POs > signer, FOs up, and the hands are touching. For a QuickTime movie of this sign, see Woordenboek Nederlands - Vlaamse Gebarentaal: Mechelen (first image). (2) [1] circles CW as seen by ear. For a QuickTime movie of this sign, see Woordenboek Nederlands - Vlaamse Gebarentaal: Mechelen (second image).

Mons
(2h)[S], DHPO down, FO away is held above NDHPO > DS, FO away. DH nods up as it rises slightly, then strikes NDH from above. For a QuickTime movie of this sign, see Woordenboek Nederlands - Vlaamse Gebarentaal: Bergen / Mons.

Namur (Namen)
(1) DH [V] traps NDH [H], PO down, FO diagonally forward, twice. For a QuickTime movie of this sign, see Woordenboek Nederlands - Vlaamse Gebarentaal: Namen (first and second image). (< from the four sons of Ayman who rode one horse in a legend) (2) (2h)[H], POs diagonally > other sides, crossing at middle of fingers, DH taps NDH from above. For a QuickTime movie of this sign, see Woordenboek Nederlands - Vlaamse Gebarentaal: Namen (third and fourth image). (< from the four sons of Ayman who rode one horse in a legend) (3) [V] moves so that the FTs surround the wrist of NDH [B], PO > DS with a double motion (< from the four sons of Ayman who rode one horse in a legend).1

Oostende
(1) [O], PO > NDS, FO up, circles broadly around mouth/face. For a QuickTime movie of this sign, see Woordenboek Nederlands - Vlaamse Gebarentaal: Oostende (first image). (2) [O], PO > NDS, FO up, touches NDS of forehead and then DS. For a QuickTime movie of this sign, see Woordenboek Nederlands - Vlaamse Gebarentaal: Oostende (second image).

Oost-Vlaanderen (province)
[O], PO away, FO up, moves > DS + [V], PO away, FO up, moves downwards at elbow until PO is down, FO is away. For a QuickTime movie of this sign, see Woordenboek Nederlands - Vlaamse Gebarentaal: Oost-Vlaanderen .

Tongeren
[L:], PO > signer, FO > NDS, moves away in an upward arc. (< "tong (tongue)"?) For a QuickTime movie of this sign, see Woordenboek Nederlands - Vlaamse Gebarentaal: Tongeren.

Tournai
[V], PO down, FO > NDS, touches temple and twists away. For a static gif of this sign, see Surdimobil - Dictionnaire des signes. Click on "T", then "Tournai". It will look like nothing has happened, but scroll down to see the illustration.

Vlaams-Brabant
(1) [V], PO away, FO up, moves downwards at elbow until PO is down, FO is away + [B], PO > NDS, FO up, moves > DS. For a QuickTime movie of this sign, see Woordenboek Nederlands - Vlaamse Gebarentaal: Vlaams-Brabant (first image). (2) [V], PO away, FO up, moves downwards at elbow until PO is down, FO is away + [1] strokes under DS eye while arm is held still. For a QuickTime movie of this sign, see Woordenboek Nederlands - Vlaamse Gebarentaal: Vlaams-Brabant (second image).

Waals-Brabant
(1) [3], PO away, FO up, moves downwards twice at elbow until PO is down, FO is away + [B], PO > NDS, FO up, moves > DS. For a QuickTime movie of this sign, see Woordenboek Nederlands - Vlaamse Gebarentaal: Waals-Brabant (first image). (2) [3], PO away, FO up, moves downwards twice at elbow until PO is down, FO is away + [1] strokes under DS eye while arm is held still. For a QuickTime movie of this sign, see Woordenboek Nederlands - Vlaamse Gebarentaal: Waals-Brabant (second image).

Waremme
[5:] taps FT against chest. For a static gif of this sign, see Surdimobil - Dictionnaire des signes. Click on "W", then "Waremme". It will look like nothing has happened, but scroll down to see the illustration.

West-Vlaanderen
[3], PO away, FO up, moves > DS + [V], PO away, FO up, moves downwards at elbow until PO is down, FO is away. For a QuickTime movie of this sign, see Woordenboek Nederlands - Vlaamse Gebarentaal: West-Vlaanderen.

Ypres (Ieper)
[Y], PO away, FO up, is nodded forward slightly twice. For a QuickTime movie of this sign, see Woordenboek Nederlands - Vlaamse Gebarentaal: Ieper.

Zaventem
(2h)[B], POs down, FOs diagonally away, hands are held close to body and move away slightly like the wings of a plane. For a QuickTime movie of this sign, LSFB asbl : la Langue des Signes de Belgique Francophone and click on "Zaventem".

List of sources cited

1. Dictionnaire du langage des signes, Vol. 3. (1985). Liège, Belgium: Massoz. (Thanks to Lisa Menard for translating the sign etymologies from the Belgian.)

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