tips for filming signing children in naturalistic settings

[I.E.P. Zwitserlood]

Hi Louise,
Kids usually get used to the camera(s) after a few recordings, so perhaps a couple of "fake" recordings can be made before the real recording starts. Using multiple camera's is a good idea so that all conversation participants will be in view. If possible, use also a camera recording the situation from a bird's view (perhaps a wide angle lens is necessary). This will help to interpret signs that are not clear from front view recordings or may give information when a signer turns somewhat away from the camera. It also gives a clear overview of who is doing what and responding to whom/what.
Good luck!
Best,
Inge

----- Original Message -----
From: Lou de B <luisitadb at optusnet.com.au>
Date: Thursday, October 9, 2008 4:29 pm
Subject: [SLLING-L] tips for filming signing children in naturalistic settings


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Hi all,
I?m about to start filming some children with deaf parents (the children are
mostly deaf themselves) and wanted to get some tips from people who have
done so recently. I haven?t collected naturalistic data before of a large
quantity so would like some hints about potential problems, or good ideas.
The situation is that the family will set up two cameras at a time that
suits them and film the children (aged 1 to about 6 or 7 years old, only 1
or2 children per family) for an hour or so. The data will be normal
interactions between the family members, such as meal time, story time etc.

I remember from a small amount of data collection I did in a naturalistic
setting as an undergraduate:
* trying to get the child roughly in the corner of the room so they were
less likely to turn their back to the camera
* trying to find games that weren?t too active (that would have the child
jumping) 
* avoiding playing with objects so they weren?t preoccupied/distracted and
so their hands were free to sign
* as well as all the usuals of well lit, well filmed etc.

Any advice greatly appreciated.

Louise de B.


--  
Dr Louise de Beuzeville
ARC Post-doctoral Fellow
Signed Language Linguistics Group
Department of Linguistics
MACQUARIE UNIVERSITY NSW 2109

phone: +61 (0)2 9850 8635
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