CHICKEN: The
American Sign Language (ASL) sign for "chicken"
In context, the sign for "chicken" uses the same sign
as "BIRD."
CHICKEN = BIRD:
Sample sentence: ROAD BIRD, depiction "bird cross the road" WHY? (Why did the chicken cross the road?)
Notes:
Even though CHICKEN tends to use the same sign as "BIRD"
-- the difference in meaning is
usually quite obvious from the
context. If someone asks you your favorite food and you respond by
signing "BIRD" -- your conversation partner will assume you mean
"chicken."
If you have to show a difference between "chicken" and "bird," (for example, if you are interpreting a
lecture regarding different types of birds -- one of which is a
chicken) you can do the "beak"
sign with your right hand and hold your left flat hand palm up in
front of you. Then bring the "beak" down to the left hand to
represent a chicken pecking for seeds on the ground.
- Dr. Bill
Version of Chicken:
Note: The above version can be thought of as representing the beak
of the chicken followed by the chicken pecking at food on the ground
with its beak.
Notes:
Lyn W. writes:
"For years I have used three different signs to convey the concept of
'chicken.'
I use one of two signs to mean 'a chicken' (the bird).
I sign: bird. Or, I sign: "bird" and then my left flat palm faces up and
is held stationary. Then, the fingertips of my right Flat V hand shape touch
the left palm - and then immediately and quickly are crooked, two, time (to
represent a chicken scratching in the dirt, I suppose).
I use a very different sign to mean 'chicken that we eat.'
To mean 'chicken that we eat' I hold my right G hand shape (I am right
handed) at my right cheek, fingers point to the left; using two quick wrist
actions I 'swing' the hand forward, two times, so my thumb and index finger
point at slight outward-angle to the left.
... Do you, personally, use the sign I described above for 'chicken that we
eat?' Or not? If not, do you use some other sign to convey that concept?
I have a feeling my sign is mid-west-regional (but I'm not sure about
that)...
Thanks for your input and time!
- Lyn
Lyn,
I think your sign for "chicken that we eat" is somewhat similar to the sign
I typically use for "turkey"-(that we eat). It is done by holding a "Q"
under, on, or near your chin. Wiggle
it a couple times as if it
were a "wattle."
Your other sign for "chicken" (the one that scratches on the ground)
is legit but not used by many.
Just last week I was doing some video work an my model did the
"BIRD-peck-on-the-ground" version of "chicken." (The one that signs "BIRD"
then touches the beak to the flat upturned palm once or twice).
- Bill
TURKEY-(bird)
Version of Chicken:
Note: The above version can be thought of as representing the beak
of the chicken followed by the chicken scratching at the ground with
its foot.
This version isn't used very widely but I could see it perhaps being
used as part of a children's story.
In a message dated 9/3/2009 1:54:02 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time, Rmellis5
writes:
Dr. Vicars,
I am confused about the chicken sign. In SC I have seen a different sign
used. Can you tell me if you have seen it and if it is correct? The thumb of
the right hand touches the chin and the first two fingers are sticking up
but slightly crooked and the last two fingers stay bent into the palm. There
is also a tapping of this sign on the chin. Please help.
Thanks, Melanie Ellis
Melanie,
Yes, I've seen that version.
I generally use that to mean "hen." I do my version of hen using a "three"
handshape (the index and middle are not bent) and tap it on the chin twice.
To do rooster, I do that sign on the head.
So, I can certainly see how in your region that the "hen" sign would come to
be used to mean "chicken."
-- Bill
ROOSTER:
HEN (or in some regions "chicken")
In a message dated 8/30/2014 3:12:35 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time, Lyn
W. writes:
Now I just had a thought about 'chickens' and various signs related
to the concept of a 'chicken.' You might add to your chicken-page,
the fact that the sign for 'chicken' can also mean 'cowardly, or
"You chicken!' Or perhaps that is regional and not widely used? And
how would you sign 'chicken-coop? Chicken, house? I have friends who
raise chickens, thus all the questions.
- Lyn
Dear Lyn,
Hello :)
Heh, if I'm going to sign that someone is "chicken" (as in afraid) I
stick my thumbs in my armpits and flap my elbows and really make a
spectacle of it. If you are going to borrow from English you
might as well have fun doing it.
Thus I wouldn't sign "bird" to mean that someone is "chicken" as in
"afraid."
For "chicken coop" I'd sign BIRD (while mouthing the first syllable
of chicken) and then I'd fingerspell C-O-O-P. If needed I
could sign FENCE-four-sides or I could do the sign for HOUSE (I'd do
it rather small).
- Dr. Bill
For the concept of CHICKEN POX, you could sign CHICKEN and fingerspell P-O-X:
If you want to learn more animal signs, check out:
Notes:
Also see: TURKEY
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