Which option lists the sign expression for psychologist?

Which option lists the sign expression for psychologist?

• A. brain + study
• B. science + agent
• C. Science (alt A hands) + agent
• D. Thought + Agent

Answer: (C)

In ASL, signs for occupations are built by combining a field sign with a suffix that marks a person who works in that field. For psychologist, the field is psychology, represented by the sign for science. Adding the agent ending turns that field into a person who practices it. Using the science sign with the agent suffix (and noting that the science sign can have an alternate handshape) gives the precise sign for psychologist. Other options don’t pin the profession to the field of psychology. Brain plus study leans toward a concept like brain research rather than the specific job title. Thought plus agent would read as a thinker or mental worker, not psychologist. Science plus agent without the field nuance would more naturally mean scientist in general, not the psychologist who studies the mind. So the correct form uses the science sign plus the agent ending, with the alternate handshape variant as an acceptable option.

In ASL, signs for occupations are built by combining a field sign with a suffix that marks a person who works in that field. For psychologist, the field is psychology, represented by the sign for science. Adding the agent ending turns that field into a person who practices it. Using the science sign with the agent suffix (and noting that the science sign can have an alternate handshape) gives the precise sign for psychologist.

Other options don’t pin the profession to the field of psychology. Brain plus study leans toward a concept like brain research rather than the specific job title. Thought plus agent would read as a thinker or mental worker, not psychologist. Science plus agent without the field nuance would more naturally mean scientist in general, not the psychologist who studies the mind. So the correct form uses the science sign plus the agent ending, with the alternate handshape variant as an acceptable option.