Sign writing advice PLEASE!

[Saduf Naqvi]

Thank you for the advice.  It will be interesting I will be sending out
documentation to all the participants tomorrow, and I will let the list know
about how fast they learnt the sign writing and how they felt about.  Although I
am a bit stressed, Im also very excited about the study.  Its a new area and I
think it will be very interesting.  

take care

Saduf


Quoting Stuart Thiessen <sw at PASSITONSERVICES.ORG>:

> See comments below.  Thanks!
> 
> Stuart
> 
> On Oct 23, 2005, at 17:46, Saduf Naqvi wrote:
> 
> > Dear All,
> >
> > I am running some experiments on different digital representations of 
> > sign
> > language and am comparing how effective they are at delivering 
> > information to
> > the Deaf community in the native language of the Deaf.
> >
> > I am comparing video recordings, animation sequences and also notation 
> > sequences.
> >
> > Obviously I am using signwriting for the notation sequence. However I 
> > am having
> > trouble writing the sequences.  I used sign puddle and got quite 
> > confused with
> > the notations that came back.  Which also raised another very 
> > important issue,
> > if I am testing this with a participant who doesn't use sign writing 
> > (which is
> > quite likely) then how can I explain what is being done, clearly and 
> > briefly.
> >
> > I cannot exactly explain it, but after I look at a few notations I 
> > start getting
> > the gist of how it works, but Im wondering how I can explain this to 
> > someone who
> > has never set eyes on this before.  How can I formally and briefly (as 
> > I have
> > strict time constraints) explain how the notation works to a person 
> > who has
> > never used sign writing before?
> 
> Since I am using ASL in our community, I am able to use Goldilocks and 
> the Three Bears or other printed material that Valerie has produced 
> that has both English and ASL. For deaf who are proficient in English, 
> they can usually figure out a "back translation" to ASL and figure out 
> the ASL text from the English once they understand the symbols. Where I 
> can, I leave the materials with them so they can study more on their 
> own. I try to offer classes from time to time through Pass It On 
> Services for those who want more formal instructions.  It is 
> slow-going, but better than nothing.
> 
> I tend to take it one sentence at a time. Usually, after a couple of 
> sentences, they begin to pick up the idea of it even if they haven't 
> memorized all of the symbols yet. :)
> 
> While animation and video require very little reader preparation, they 
> require extensive writer preparation.  While learning to read requires 
> some reader participation, writing tends to be easier to create, edit, 
> and distribute (cost wise) than video and animation. Over time, as deaf 
> people realize the value of writing their sign language _and_ deaf 
> schools include written sign language in their curriculum, then this 
> will become less of an issue, just like it is less of an issue for many 
> literate communities around the world. Like Valerie has mentioned 
> elsewhere, it seems that a basic knowledge of the system that gives you 
> enough tools to keep moving forward seems to take about 24 hours of 
> instruction.  That seems about right ... at least for reading. Compared 
> to years of schooling to master written English, that seems like a 
> pretty effective process ;)
> 
> I'm sure the mastery of SignWriting will require more time, but basic 
> mastery seems to be about what Valerie said.  But mere introduction to 
> the rudiments of the system can be as short as 30 minutes in my 
> experience. One person I talked with was able to "stumble" through the 
> text after about 30 minutes of instruction.  So, it all depends on the 
> person.
> 
> 
> 
> 


-- 
Miss Saduf Naqvi,
S.Naqvi at gold.ac.uk
Research Student,
Goldsmiths College - University of London,
New Cross,
London,
SE14 6NW,
020-7919-7462