[sw-l] Translation requested in ASL...

Sandy Fleming sandy at SCOTSTEXT.ORG
Tue Mar 15 18:13:01 UTC 2005


Charles,

That's interesting, and I hope not unrelated to SW as SW has more
potential than anything else for making it possible to create good
quality translations.

So to continue the discussion, I've never actually seen a genuine BSL
song being performed along with the English words, only signs in the
order of the words, regardless of BSL grammar.

What I'd like to know is, how do you actually perform a BSL or ASL song?
Are the English words discarded? Is the music discarded? Or is one group
responsible for English and another for the signed language? Or are
there people who can sing and sign together even though the word order
doesn't match?

Sandy

Charles Butler wrote:

> I work with the Gay Men's Chorus, where we have songs translated all
> the time.  More often than not, they are translations for meaning
> (ASL), not translations for rhythm (English-oriented).  In working
> with MCC for more than 11 years, the translations were more English
> oriented, but for performance, I could often work something closer to
> the ASL translation.
>
> "Trees green I see" will fit the rhythm nicely as a dancing hands
> interpreter.  A graphic picture of "deep peace of the running wave to
> you" can go either way.
>
> Example (from Rigoletto):
>
> /Tziti, Tziti, moviamo vendetta, ne sia colto or che men l'a spetta. /
>
> Chuckle, chuckle, the moment is perfect, while our friend (eyebrows
> raised) does not suspect.
>
> As an interpreter for music I'm often called to go from Italian to
> English to ASL to Portuguese to Latin, so working hard to make an ASL
> translation fit the rythm I think is better.
>
> Charles
>
> */Sandy Fleming <sandy at scotstext.org>/* wrote:
>
>     Could I ask what we usually mean when we ask for a song to be
>     translated?
>
>     Do we mean a transliteration that we could use to sign along with the
>     English words, or do we mean one in ASL?
>
>     For example in BSL the song would go:
>
>     Trees green I see...
>
>     But it's very hard to sign this along with:
>
>     I see trees of green...
>
>     I thought it best to ask before someone puts a lot of work into a
>     version that isn't what's wanted!
>
>     Sandy
>
>     Valerie Sutton wrote:
>
>     > SignWriting List
>     > March 15, 2005
>     >
>     > Dear SW List -
>     > Anyone want to do an ASL translation of this song? If so, please
>     write
>     > directly to Louise...smile....Val ;-)
>     >
>     > --------------------------
>     >
>     > Begin forwarded message:
>     >
>     > *From: *"Louise Sala"
>     > *Date: *March 15, 2005 8! :04:22 AM PST
>     > *To: *
>     > *Subject:
>     > *
>     > I was wondering if it is possible for you to translate a song for
>     > me into sign language. I teach a JK & SK class that I would like
>     > them to learn this for graduation in June. The song is "What a
>     > Wonderful World" by Louis Armstrong. If you need the words I will
>     > gladly send them to you. Thanks for all your help. My name is
>     > Louise and my email address is allycats at cogeco.ca
>     >
>     >
>
>



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