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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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