county:
The American Sign Language (ASL) sign for "county" varies.
Some of the common ways to sign "county" include:
1. Fingerspell "county." (This is a VERY common approach).
2. Sign "county" with a dominant arm flat hand making a circular motion on the
non-dominant forearm. This sign can also mean "country or rural."
3. Sign "county" with a dominant "Y" hand making a circular motion on the
non-dominant forearm. (This sign can also mean "country.")
xxx
Note: You may also see other versions of the concept for "county." For
example, in a vlog Chanel Gleicher, Miss Deaf America 2012- 2014 (and a National
Association for the Deaf Ambassador) signed, "I also gave a performance at the
Mid-Atlantic Deaf and Hard of Hearing Festival at Howard County, MD." She signed
the concept of "county" by spelling "CO" using a sideways slide movement. (The
fingerspelling of "CO" is commonly associated with the meaning of "company" or
"corporation." You now have an example of it being used to mean "county.")
Source: Gleicher, Chanel (Apr 10, 2013) "Share: Miss Deaf America's Vlog --
April 2013," NADvlogs, web: https://youtu.be/ITBFiwzJ-u8?t=54 (54 second mark)
Note: Sometimes the "right" sign for county may be to not sign it at all. The
concept of "county" can be omitted in ASL if it is moot (unimportant"). For
example, Deaf newscaster Melissa Huber chose to omit the sign "county" when
signing the phrase, "Judge Aaron Persky gave him 6 months in county jail and 3
years probation." The concept of "county" that report was fairly unimportant to
the overall message of the newscast and the enjoyment / enrichment of the
typical viewer.
(Source: Huber, Melissa Y. (2016, June 8) "Outrage Grows over Six-Month Prison
Sentence" DTV News, web: https://youtu.be/nVHJgrDEfro?t=39 ).
However, again -- it is very common to simply spell "county." The lower the
context or the higher the need for precision -- the more likely you will spell
"county." Doing so helps to avoid confusion.
Interpreters should recognize both of the main ways of signing COUNTRY / COUNTY,
be able to figure out other versions, and be skilled enough at receptive
fingerspelling that they can catch the concept if spelled.
Also see: COUNTRY
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