A story on the “sign names” that the deaf community gives to each other. An important note is that your sign is not yours to choose — the people around you give you your sign, similar to the adage that “You can’t give yourself a nickname.” My dad’s sign: the letter ‘F’ down on the sternum, so placed because of his ubiquitous necktie — Dad always wore a tie when he taught.

When I was smaller and would go to the deaf school with Dad, I was taught that sign and was told that anyone in the building could lead me to him just by showing them that sign.

I don’t have a sign, and I obviously can’t choose my own, but I imagine it would have something to do with me being his son, maybe an ‘e’ down on the breastbone, maybe even down a bit lower, signifying my propensity for writing my first name in lowercase.