AW: QUESTION: write ASL and English "separate but equal?"...

[Stefan Woehrmann]

Hi Valerie ,

You wrote:

"The reason my documents are done differently, at different times, is
because I am writing for different audiences at different times...So
SignWriting is not a theory...it is just a writing system that can be
applied as the writer chooses..."


This is a very important statement. Fact is that  my style of spelling is
very much connected with my assumtion about my readers ability to read this
document, to understand the expressed idea.  My students are asked to learn
Spoken German with the help of  GebaerdenSchrift -documents.

In Germany the mouthmovements that go along with the signing are very
important. You would not be able to understand many documents if I would not
add the mouth-expressions -

On the other hand there are DGS - performances in which mouth - gestures
express other meanings but not articulation-movements of spoken words ...

What I understand now is, that the scribe has to make a decision how exact
or how detailed he needs to write his document.

By the way - it is almost the same with other writing systems. Look at the
big block- letters  for hearing children in the beginning of their . My
children love to see some special  spellings that are especially constructed
to  make the laugh ... like the attached sign for a dog (FU  - a boy)  and
another dog  (FARA  - a girl)

Have fun

Stefan ;-))






  -----Ursprungliche Nachricht-----
  Von: SignWriting List [mailto:SW-L at ADMIN.HUMBERC.ON.CA]Im Auftrag von dac
  Gesendet: Donnerstag, 15. Mai 2003 21:08
  An: SW-L at ADMIN.HUMBERC.ON.CA
  Betreff: QUESTION: write ASL and English "separate but equal?"...


  SignWriting List
  May 15, 2003

  QUESTION:
  Are we required to write the ASL and English as separate languages, or can
we place English words directly under the SignWriting signs to help people
learn signs?

  ANSWER: There isn't one set way to use SignWriting when teaching. You are
welcome to present it as you wish. It all depends on who you are teaching,
and why they are learning to read and write signs.

  If your students are Deaf and know ASL fluently, then writing each
language separately, is a wonderful way to show the differences in grammar
and how each language has its own unique beauty and grammar structure. It
establishes respect for ASL, showing that the language has a written form
now, just as English does...

  If you place the words directly under each sign, that might be good for
hearing people, like your students, who are just learning how to sign....so
it depends on who you are writing for...

  Plus some Deaf people are new to SignWriting too, so sometimes placing
words under the signs helps people get started...then when they become
fluent in reading SignWriting, the "separate but equal" language-documents
become easier to read, and also preferable...

  The reason my documents are done differently, at different times, is
because I am writing for different audiences at different times...So
SignWriting is not a theory...it is just a writing system that can be
applied as the writer chooses...

  Best of luck with your teaching -

  Val ;-)


  Valerie Sutton
  Sutton at SignWriting.org

  1. SignWritingSite
  http://www.SignWriting.org
  Read & Write Sign Languages

  2. SignBankSite
  http://www.SignBank.org
  Sign Language Dictionaries

  3. DanceWritingSite
  http://www.DanceWriting.org
  Read & Write Dance

  4. MovementWritingSite
  http://www.MovementWriting.org
  Read & Write Movement & Gesture

  5. Shop Online!
  http://www.SuttonShop.com
  Proceeds Donated to Deaf Literacy

  Deaf Action Committee for SignWriting
  Center For Sutton Movement Writing
  an educational nonprofit organization
  Box 517, La Jolla, CA, 92038-0517, USA
  tel: 858-456-0098....fax: 858-456-0020
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