llama

LLAMA-(animal, Mexico Region, see discussion)

Robin DeLaRosa, a missionary serving in Cabo San Lucas Mexico, points out that there are a couple different meanings for the word "llama." When considering the correct sign for "llama" you have to know if you are discussing "llama" the animal or "llama" the Spanish word for "call."
Regarding the sign for "llama" (the animal), in a message dated 6/4/04 David Peach, a missionary serving in Mexico writes:
"Touch the tips of your two middle fingers [the middle finger and the ring finger] to the tip of your thumb on the same hand [your dominant hand]. Then the index and pinkie fingers stick up to form the ears. If using your right hand, "walk" your llama to the left (or vice versa if you are left handed). If done right, it kinda looks like a llama walking in front of you. Your arm being the neck. You don't have to do this, but I think it looks better. I don't put the tips of my fingers together, but rather the pads of my fingers so that it looks more like the llama's nose. Interestingly, that is also the sign for Bolivia."
(Source: personal correspondence, 6/4/2010, Robin DeLaRosa, Apartado 640, Cabo San Lucas, BCS, CP 23450 Mexico)

Discussion

In a message dated 6/3/2004 7:55:55 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
MESKIS writes:
I have several friends who were asking how to sign "llama." I don't know why, but they were. You're the only one I know of who could answer that.
Thanks,
Carlea

Hi Carlea,
I don't know the sign for llama. But why don't you try asking a contact of mine down in Mexico:
Robin DeLaRosa
Apartado 640
Cabo San Lucas, BCS
CP 23450 Mexico
jsfreaky@juno.com
Robin knows MSL and some native MSL users who might have a sign you could use. If you find out a good sign for llama, please do let me know.
-Bill

On Thu, 3 Jun 2004 23:04:48 EDT MESKIS@aol.com writes:
Robin:
I was directed to you with a question about how to sign the word "llama." Several of my friends were asking me and I was clueless. Dr. Bill Vicars recommended I contact you.
Any help is appreciated. Thanks!
Carlea

In a message dated 6/4/04 1:18:38 AM, jsfreaky@juno.com writes:
Hola Carlea! I am not sure if you are asking about "llama" the animal or "llama" the spanish word for call?

On Fri, 4 Jun 2004 07:02:25 EDT MESKIS@aol.com writes:
Lo siento! I meant "llama" the animal, not "llamar". My friends may be odd, but I don't think they're bilingually odd.
Thanks!
Carlea

In a message dated 6/4/04 8:11:10 PM, jsfreaky@juno.com writes:
Hola Carlea! While we do live in a third world country we don't exactly have llamas running around...lots of dogs but no llamas. Below is the info that I received from a fellow missionary to the deaf in Mexico...

Greetings!
Yes, there is a sign for llama. Touch the tips of your two middle fingers [the middle finger and the ring finger] to the tip of your thumb on the same hand [your dominant hand]. Then the index and pinkie fingers stick up to form the ears.
If using your right hand, "walk" your llama to the left (or vice versa if you are left handed). If done right, it kinda looks like a llama walking in front of you. Your arm being the neck.
You don't have to do this, but I think it looks better. I don't put the tips of my fingers together, but rather the pads of my fingers so that it looks more like the llama's nose.
Interestingly, that is also the sign for Bolivia. That is ASL. I don't know a sign in MSL for it.
Let me know if that helps.
-David Peach