A song in South African sign??

Tue Mar 4 15:14:19 UTC 2008

This is from the Ethnologue but the information is from 1988.

The North British sign system was used for the deaf in white English-speaking families. In 1881 a school for Afrikaans-speaking families was begun using British Sign Language. Several dialects are used unofficially in different schools. There are 9 sign language systems, 60% related to British or Australian sign languages, few to American Sign Language.

I think your information on the Durban School is probably more accurate, Valerie. 

Deaf Action Committee for SignWriting <dac at signwriting.org> wrote: SignWriting ListMarch 4, 2008

Hello Kim and Charles!
As always, Kim, you have amazing projects!

It is my general understanding that South Africa has many signed languages. When SignWriting was used in Durbin, South Africa, at the Fulton School for the Deaf...

SignWriting in South Africa
http://www.SignWriting.org/africa

....at that time I was told by the teacher that there were 11 signed languages in their school!

Each tribe or area of South Africa has their own distinct languages I believe....So it is hard to say "South African Sign Language" would be the same as "Zulu Sign Language"...they just might be different languages for all we know...

So let's ask one of our List members from South Africa...Sebolelo Nhlapo from Pretoria...

Sebolelo...Do you know Zulu Sign Language? Is that the same as South African Sign Language? 

Val ;-)

On Mar 4, 2008, at 6:39 AM, Charles Butler wrote:

Wow, that would be a challenge.  I have sung Singabahambo and Asikatale in my own choruses.  Seeing it in Zulu sign would be a triumph.

Charles

Kimberley Shaw <skifoot at gmail.com> wrote: Hello Signwriters:
It has been a long while since I've posted to the list! My ASL studies
continue, although not within a formal interpreter-training program,
alas. But all the same, I am developing an ASL version of my chorus'
five standing-repertory songs, with plenty of advice from fluent
ASL-speaking Deafies in my area. (My hard-of-hearing ears wanna
vacation from singing!)
So, here is my query.
One of these songs, "Singabahambayo", has its first verse sung
entirely in Zulu before we go into English translation of its first
and second verses. Are any of you Signwriters able and/or willing to
transcribe a version of this song's first verse in South African
Sign?? Does it already have an established Sign form? I have no idea
how many deaf folk got involved with the South African freedom
movement ...
Best,
Kim from Boston

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