This sign is generally spelled by adult Deaf native signers.
Actually, we only "sort of" spell it. It looks a lot more like this:
Or even just this:
This is called "lexicalized fingerspelling." (Because it has changed
to be more like a sign than individual letters.)
We spell it very
quickly. Many beginning level students, think, "Oh wow, that is impossibly
fast spelling, I'll never be able to do that!"
What the newbies don't realize is that when we are spelling such common
words many of the letters end up being "half-formed." We start with a strong
M and end with a strong D. (I've noticed too that for many of us the
"D" in "M-U-S-T-A-R-D" ends up being done with just the thumb and middle
finger touching and the index finger is up. The other fingers (the pinkie
and ring) are tucked in. This is because you just did the letter "R"
prior to the letter D. Since "R" uses just the two fingers, the next
letter takes advantage of those same two fingers. However this will vary
depending on the signer.
Mustard: (version 2)
For use with individuals who for whatever reason cannot understand the
standard version: "YELLOW SPREAD" or "YELLOW SQUIRT-on."
MUSTARD (version 3) (Not recommended)
"M" on palm (similar movement to BUTTER and SOAP)
MUSTARD (version 4) (Not recommended)
"M" on palm "spread" forward
once then backward once." This is an initialized version of "spread
on." It looks like you are using an "M" to spread mustard on a piece of
MUSTARD (version 5) (Not recommended)
This is a cool little version of the sign that my wife used to use.
As far as I can tell, she is the only person in the known universe
who uses this sign. (Barring time travel, or inter-dimensional
warps). It is actually a pretty cool sign, but unless you are signing
it to HER you won't get much satisfaction.
The movement is representational of dipping a knife into a small mustard jar
then wiping off the excess on the rim of the jar.
Note: The handshape is "two fingers" like an "h or u" dipping
into a "C" handshape, (like a Grey Poupon bottle).
Dr. Bill's new iPhone "Fingerspelling Practice" app is
GET IT HERE!
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