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

[Adam Frost]

Really interesting discussion! This is an issue that I run into a lot. (FYI, I am a Deaf musician. I would love to make this my line of work and life, but time won't allow at the moment.)
I personally am a strong advocate for using pure ASL. (Some call me a pureist. HA!) I have performed many songs (including "What a Wonderful World") in ASL while singing the English. Yes! I said sing. A lot of people have gotten into arguements on whether I am Deaf or not because I sing so well. The latest song I did was the "Star-Spangle Banner" for one of my classes in ASL while singing English. There wasn't a dry eye in the room. :-)
So, I wouldn't mind helping with the translation, but I don't know if time will permit me now. I will see and let Louise know. ;-)
ADAM ;-D

-----Original Message-----
From: "Trevor Jenkins" <trevor.jenkins at SUNEIDESIS.COM>
Date: 03/15/05 11:09 AM
To: "SignWriting List" <sw-l at majordomo.valenciacc.edu>
Subject: Re: [sw-l] Translation requested in ASL...

On Tue, 15 Mar 2005, Sandy Fleming <sandy at scotstext.org> wrote:

> 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.

I sign songs in church quite regularly; typically once a month
occasionally more frequently.

The problem is whether to do BSL or (what Shane might call) BSL with a
London accent that is with loads of English lip. ;-)

> 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?

It depends upon the audience as much as the song. Some want songs in SSE
some want BSL. When you get both groups in front of you it can be very
difficult. My personal style is to sign in BSL and then lip the English
lyrics.

There is a major problem with the English. Although my church doesn't use
hymns very often --- if it means anything to you Matt Redman used to be
our worship director --- we tend to have the latest songs. All very nice
but ... sometimes the original English words can appear meaningless and I
don't just mean in the modern stuff. For example, how many of you have see
an panoply recently; yet it is mentioned in a very popular Victorian hymn.

Regards, Trevor

<>< Re: deemed!








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