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Newsgroups: alt.folklore.urban
From: vjrnts@ultb.isc.rit.edu (V.J. Robinson )
Subject: Re: UL II, Shrimping 911 Call
Date: Fri, 6 Jan 1995 20:21:38 GMT

In article <3ejh6g$lvh@panix.com> lrudolph@panix.com (Lee Rudolph) writes: >>Clay "trust me, i grew up in a state where oral sex was illegal" Shirky
>
>What? The Academie Missourienne won't let you say the word? Can
>you at least sign it?

Well, *I* can. Dunno if they'd *allow* it in Missoura - but it can be done!

OK, before I get email:

The sign for the English word "sex": Use the hand you write with. Or whatever. Make a "We're number 1!!!!" handshape. Crook your index finger to make a hook shape. Now you're ready to actually sign the sign, which you do by placing your crooked finger, pointing forward, against your cheekbone, then move it down to touch your cheek just below your mouth. Don't slide it down your cheek, the sign is more like two touches to your cheek, high and low.

The sign for the English word "oral": Make the same handshape as above, but with index and middle finger in a V-shape before crooking. Turn hand toward your own mouth and move in a vertical circle in front of your mouth, the plane of the circle being parallel to the "plane" of your face.

The sign for the English term "blowjob": Same as "oral", but use your hand to make an "o" shape, and shape your mouth into an "o" too. Orient your hand so that it makes sense. You know what I mean. But the circle stays parallel to your face, not the sorta-intuitive back and forth one might expect.

ObSign: The sign for "horny" is the same as the sign for "hungry," only more ....... enthusiastic. Many beginning signers get into trouble signing "I'm REALLY hungry."

Vicki "no, don't thank me...." Robinson

From: vjrnts@osfmail.isc.rit.edu (Vicki Robinson)
Subject: Re: Deaf Man Attacked by Gangmembers
Date: Thu, 9 Mar 1995 04:09:10 GMT

In article <3jken0$4l6@news.uni-c.dk>,
Colin Rosenthal <rosentha@obs.aau.dk> wrote: >
>I once saw Michelle Shocked performing with a signer. One song had the
>word ``cocksucker'' in it but I was just too slow to catch the sign.
>So... can anyone describe for me the ASL for ``cocksucker''. Ta.

It's exactly as you might think, although this is the kind of slang that has *lots* of regional variations. However, universally understood (in the US, anyway, probably Canada too, that's universal, right?) is:

• Make an 'o' with your dominant hand, as though you were holding a bat, or another cylindrical object. Use your imagination.
• Hold your hand in front of your similarly 'o' shaped mouth, as though you were inserting that forementioned cylindrical object into your mouth.
• Make a couple of quick, back-and-forth motions with your hand as though Turning Japanese.
• Now bring both hands out in front of your body, below your shoulders, hands flat, fingers together, palms facing inward, about a foot (30 cm) apart. Move both hands down about 10 inches. (This is the 'person' marker, making any noun or verb descriptive of the person doing the action. Like the -er ending in English, as in "cocksuck-ER.")

And boy is it ever funny watching all 3*10^15 of you signing that as you sit in front of your monitors. (This is an accurate number, too, just ask VanHorne WHO IS AS OLD AS I AM, NO LIE!)

Vicki "Will teach sign signs for food" Robinson