DOG in Sign Language

ASL sign for DOG
Printable

What is the sign for "dog" in ASL?

Definition: A domesticated carnivorous mammal that typically has a long snout, an acute sense of smell, and a barking, howling, or whining voice.

Etymology: This ASL sign may look like a snap to a naive eye but it's actually a fingerspelled loan derived from the three letters "D-O-G".

Variation: Dominant palm tapping on the thigh. This is kind of obsolete or simply less used. It's often used with babies as part of "parentese" or "motherese".

Learner tip: You don't need to sign the combination of fingerspelled loan #DOG and tapping on the leg (as in a compound word) as commonly seen in non-native signers. This is the signature of hearing accent. :) Although, this doesn't really apply to parentese with baby when Deaf parent uses both ASL variations (not the compound of it).

Related signs: BARK, PUPPY, PET, PET-FRIENDLY, ANIMAL.

Pet friend or sometimes foe (okay, opposite word): CAT.

Sign with dogs

Dog Tricks: Deaf owners (and sometimes hearing signers) of dogs speak signs (not necessarily ASL) with their dogs in the same way hearing owners speak English with their dogs.

The video (2020) by Jayme Eyben demonstrated some commands in ASL with his cute dog, Winry.

Baby signing DOG

Watch how a child acquires the ASL sign DOG in a time lapse from baby to kindergarten age, including fingerspelling the word and signing the lexicalized loan.

Interesting to watch how the brain processes differently for fingerspelling (equivalent to writing letter by letter) and fingerspelled loans (equivalent to whole words, not letter by letter).

A drawing of DOG
Credit: Drawing by ASL-speaking coda at age 4.

Usage/Grammar

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Language learning, language play, etc.

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Some word entries have one of some tidbits in this section, such as minimal pairs of sign words, rhymes, etc. usually related to or associated with its word entry.

Written ASL

[Note: ASL writing is not an official standard. This sign language writing remains in a state of open space to allow room for experiment, evolution, and improvement.]

ASL writing for DOG

Written/contributed by Adrean Clark.

Written ASL for DOG

Experimental writing digits, 2015 or 2016 (the little circle system by Jolanta).

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