To sign DOG, just snap your fingers twice.
This is an interesting sign because it is sort of based on the fingerspelled
word D-O-G as well as the common gesture of snapping your fingers to get a
dog's attention. Note: The snap always uses the middle finger, not the index
finger. The beginning handshape looks a bit like a modified "D" hand and the
ending handshape winds up looking like the letter "G." Thus the sign sort of
looks like you are spelling the letters "DG" which creates a "lexicalized"
version of the fingerspelled word "D-O-G."
DOG:
Notes:
There are several 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
once then slap your leg.
Or you can slap your leg twice and not snap your fingers at all.
My recommendation just use "lexicalized fingerspelling"
method I describe above 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 a modified "D" to a "G."
OPTIONAL READING / ADVANCED DISCUSSION:
n a message dated 1/14/2007 7:00:38 P.M. Pacific Standard Time, brittdun@gmail.com writes:
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?
Brittany D.
Grove City, OH 43123-9084
Brittany,
Hello :)
The sign DOG actually has five variations. Oh, sure, people will tell
you THEIR version is right.
Just smile sweetly and nod.
If the person is your sign instructor then do it his or her way for
however long your class is. (Heh.)
The
main
versions of "DOG" are:
1. Snap your fingers twice.
2. Snap your fingers
once.
3. Slap your thigh twice.
4. Snap your fingers once and then slap your thigh once.
5. Slap your thigh once and then snap your fingers.
In your situation due to the table, the obvious choice is to use the
version that doesn't require hitting your leg.
If I were you, I'd use the snap" version
of #DOG.
A cool thing I want to point out is that the snap in this case is actually
what we call "lexicalized" fingerspelling. Start with a modified "D" handshape
(with just the middle finger touching the thumb and the index finger
extended) 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 "word" or sign.)
As an adult communicating with other skilled adults I generally just sign
D-G (with a double snap). But on the other hand, when communicating with a young child I sometimes switch to the double-leg
pat.
A 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). He doesn't like it a bit.
I can
understand his point of view, but I also think it is important to be
flexible. For example, one of my daughters, Sarah, has no joints in her fingers and thus can't
really do fingerspelling or "snapping." Guess which version of "dog" she
prefers?
Cordially,
-- Dr.
Bill
You can learn
sign language
(ASL) online at American Sign Language University ™
Lifeprint.com © Dr. William Vicars
