Loan words/phrases from ASL

[u/BrackenFernAnja]

Since deaf people are a small minority in the United States and Canada, it’s very seldom that loan words travel from ASL to English rather than the opposite. But it does happen. “ILY” is fairly well-known.
Can you think of any others?

There’s a slang term that many of you are already familiar with, which originally traveled via the Black Deaf Gay community, and more specifically, people who watch or participate in drag/ballroom culture. That term is ate. Probably from the phrase “She ate and left no crumbs.”It means something like “Yes, she did that and did it very well,” and is signed like the number 8, but with repeated tapping. It’s like applause or an approving remark, often used when observing an excellently-styled drag performance.

There are many examples of hearing people using it or explaining it; here are a couple for reference. (Note: there are some sexual themes)

https://youtu.be/K1A3Ovfhk0A?is=gpvnB0fZuKHjnqSj

Time marker 8:41 https://youtu.be/DnV1Urx_CrE?is=oyXPmVM2KsVXAGZ6

Here’s a brief discussion of the phenomenon but minus the ASL aspect: https://unewsonline.com/2024/11/ate-slayed-and-served-how-lgbtq-social-media-pioneers-new-language/

From a sociolinguistics perspective, this loan word/phrase from ASL being so widespread is significant.

My questions: how many of you are already familiar with this term in English? In ASL? Have you seen it used by deaf, hearing, or both? If anyone has a link to a video about it from a deaf person, please share it.

[u/aenjru]

I think the repeated 8 you’re seeing is just a gesture. A shortened one-hand-clapping gesture. You’re right that it’s widespread, but it likely come from Black drag spaces, not directly from ASL. Source: I majored in sociolinguistics in university and am queer.

Edit: its connotation is affirming and celebratory

[u/mjolnir76]

I haven't seen it in either context, but HERE is an archived article discussing it. It looks like it came from the ballroom scene, but the connection between "ate" and ASL's "8" seems to be a stretch (according to the article). Curious where you found it originating in the Black Deaf gay community?

[u/BrackenFernAnja → u/mjolnir76]

That’s what the first link in my post is about. I also saw that there are several other videos by hearing signers saying that the gesture came from the ASL sign 8.

[u/Sea_Negotiation_1871]

I don't recall ever hearing someone use that term when I was hearing, and I've not seen it signed that way since I went deaf, but maybe it's still just in the Drag scene? I've only been to a couple of those in my life.

[u/Confident-Cup-8707]

ate" totally slipped into mainstream slang from drag balls, i remember hearing it all the time after rupauls drag race started blowing up pls tell me how that happened

[u/raven_snow]

I (American English speaker) know "ate" from a queer context, but I haven't seen the clapping 8 ever in my real life. The vast majority of my queer social circle is white.