A common way to sign DOG is to snap your fingers to spell the
letters "DG." This is sort of an abbreviation of the word "D-O-G."
There are many different "right" ways to
do the sign for dog.
A popular sign for "dog" is
made by slapping your right flat hand against your leg, then snapping your fingers. Or you can snap your fingers, then slap your leg.
You can slap your leg twice and not snap your fingers at all.
Or you can just use "lexicalized fingerspelling." To do this,
you fingerspell the letters "D" and "G" very quickly and
"snap" the middle finger on the base of the thumb as you change from
the "D" to the "G." (That's how I do the sign).
1. Those who pat their leg once and then snap their fingers once.
2. Those who snap their fingers once and then pat their leg once.
4. Those who snap their fingers twice: D-G, D-G
5. Those who snap their fingers once: D-G
In general though it could be argued that it would be "non-standard" to both
slap your leg
twice and snap your fingers. Or to snap your fingers
twice and slap your leg. It would be "redundant" and a waste of
movement.
I mention this because a venerable old deaf coworker of mine has a pet peeve
regarding students (and instructors) who sign "DOG" in a redundant manner
(using both the snap and the pat).
As an adult communicating with other skilled adults I generally just sign
D-G (once). When communicating with a young child I switch to the double-leg
pat.
In a message dated 1/14/2007 7:00:38 P.M. Pacific Standard Time,
brittdun@gmail.com writes:
Good afternoon Bill,
My name is Brittany Dunlap. I am a
hearing person who is dating a hearing impaired man named Roy.
He went to school at the Ohio School for the Deaf. I have known
him since May of 06, as friends, and we have been a couple since
December. He is about 90% deaf and is progressively becoming
more deaf as time passes. I am trying to learn ASL and he has
promised to teach me (starting tomorrow) but I have been going
through your lessons for the past few days now and have a
question about the word "dog".
If you and a friend are sitting at a
table signing, and you want to communicate the word "dog?" The
leg slapping would be blocked by the table. Would you improvise
and slap your abdomen? Or would your friend be totally confused
by that? Or does that have a totally different meaning? Is there
any way around that situation, other than fingerspelling dog?
Thank you for such a wonderfully put
together website! I've learned a lot so far! I really appreciate
the pages on Deaf culture.
Many thanks,
Brittany D.
Grove City, OH 43123-9084
brittdun@
Brittany,
The sign DOG actually has five variations. Oh, sure, people will tell
you THEIR version is right. Just smile sweetly and nod. Heh. The four
versions are:
1. Slap your thigh twice.
2. Snap your fingers once and then slap your thigh once.
3. Slap your thigh once and then snap your fingers.
4. Snap your fingers twice.
5. Snap your fingers once.
But here's the cool thing I want to point out. The snap is actually
what we call "lexicalized" fingerspelling. Start with a modified "D"
handshape and snap your middle finger and end up in a "G" handshape.
(Lexicalization means "the process of becoming like a lexeme." The word
"lexeme" means basic root words. So, what we are saying is that the
fingerspelling no longer looks or functions like typical fingerspelling,
it has changed to become like a sign.
So then, in your situation I recommending simply using he "snap" version
of #DOG.
Cordially,
Bill
(Dr. V of Lifeprint.com)
