SignWriting Taught in Tunisian Deaf Community

[Valerie Sutton]

SignWriting List
September 19, 2012

Hello Dali!
This is very exciting indeed. I am so happy to learn about your news ;-))

Teaching is different depending on who you are teaching ….children, or adults, interpreters, or researchers …as you say the Deaf Community wants to make this theirs, which is perfect, so I would like to suggest that after you teach the adults the basics, using this book:

SignWriting Basics Instruction Manual
www.signwriting.org/archive/docs6/sw0550-SignWriting-Manual-Part1-Basics.pdf

and of course teach the adults SignPuddle and how to write their own signs, and search for signs, just as Maria and others suggested…their advice is excellent…

Then, ask the Deaf adults to help you translate and re-write some American books, into Tunisian Sign Language for your Deaf children…or create these materials based on other Tunisian children's stories…whatever works best for you…

Here are two books we use for teaching children in ASL…other countries have translated them into their sign languages and you are welcome to do the same:

Golidlocks Workbook
http://www.signwriting.org/archive/docs1/sw0076-US-Goldilocks-Level1.pdf

Goldilocks Basic Reading Book
http://www.signwriting.org/archive/docs1/sw0077-US-Goldilocks-Level2.pdf

In the process of translating these materials into written Tunisian Sign Language, using SignPuddle, your adult learners will become skilled at SignWriting through the process…

You have my full permission to use the illustrations in these books, including the Basics Instruction Manual.

I will send you a package today -

Have a wonderful time teaching, and please take photos and get permission to post so we can share them!

We wish you all many blessings in Tunisia - Please say a warm "hello" from me to all your students -

And they are all welcome to join the SignWriting List too - smile -

Val ;-)

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On Sep 19, 2012, at 12:58 PM, Dali balti wrote:

> I want to thank everyone for every single advice given to me!!!!
> I know you all by names, and I appreciate your wonderful suggestions!!! I feel that I am not alone in this giant work, and how difficult it will be, and also how amazing and funny it is!!!!
> I will answer some questions: for the moment I am the only one using signwriting in Tunisia, I have been struggling for 4 or 5 years to make deaf community in Tunisia intrested in using signwriting, but only hearing community was intrested and wanted to learn SignWriting as they are SignWriting interpreters.... the good thing is, that deaf are getting angry, they feel now that Signwriting is theirs, and they must learn it before hearing people!!! I was so happy, beacause we are creating a new deaf community in which I will teach signwriting too, for young deaf and children too!!! it is going to be a great step in Tunisian culture!!!
> Be sure, many deaf will start using SW puddle!!!! I am so happy!!!!

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On Sep 18, 2012, at 7:08 AM, Steve Slevinski wrote:

> Hi Dali,
> 
> That is very exciting.  Congratulations and good luck.
> 
> Will you be using a computer during class?  Will you have an acceptable internet connection?
> 
> Regards,
> -Steve
> 


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On Sep 18, 2012, at 4:43 AM, Charles Butler wrote:

> Dali,
> 
> I would agree with Maria Galea. Start with the SignPuddle you have begun and create exercises that match the handshapes and movements you have already recorded. This way the material is familiar, and as you work together you can create a textbook that works for you. I started a handwriting book for Ethiopian Sign Language which I can send you as a way to get started, if that would help. 
>  
> Charles Butler
> chazzer3332000 at yahoo.com
> 240-764-5748
> Clear writing moves business forward.
> From: yosra bouzid <yosrabouzid at HOTMAIL.FR>
> To: SW-L at LISTSERV.VALENCIACOLLEGE.EDU 
> Sent: Tuesday, September 18, 2012 7:05 AM
> Subject: Re: SignwWriting Advice Please
> 
> 
> It's so great to hear good news for our deaf community in tunisia
> This is a very big achievement. Congratulations!
> I wish you great success
> 
> Yosra

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On Sep 18, 2012, at 3:53 AM, MARIA GALEA wrote:

> Dear Balti,
> I have just analyzed the Tunisian Literature Sign Puddle (and another 9
> Literature Puddles)- so you might want to look into the symbol frequency
> of this Puddle - the results give immediate results and they may be of
> help with your teaching.
> So my little advice is:
> 1. To isolate the Tunisian Sign Language symbols used (you can do this
> with relative ease with the Symbol Frequency Tool that is ready to use in
> SignPuddle)
> 2. To look at the Tunisian Dictionary for specific examples of writing
> Tunisian signs (although I have not analyzed the Puddle Dictionaries)
> 3. Perhaps you could prepare a basic Tunisian Sign Language Manual before
> you start your lecturing.
> 
> I wish i could share with you the results I found for the Tunisian
> Literature Puddle, but I'm afraid I cannot just yet. As soon as the work
> is complete they will be available. But I suggest you carry out this task
> yourself, it is very do-able.
> 
> I'm glad to hear about the news of SignWriting that may spread in a
> University. That is wonderful!
> 
> PS: if you have any information about the Tunisian Puddles (e.g. how many
> writers input there and whether they are Deaf of Hearing - i would very
> much appreciate). If you do not have such statistics no worries..I'll just
> say so with reference to the Tunisian Literature Puddle
> 
> Wish you all the best!
> Maria


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On Sep 17, 2012, at 3:00 PM, Dali balti wrote:

> Hello everyone in the group!!!
> 
> I am Dali from Tunisia, I have been studing from you all every day with the help of all the raised questions, and specially from the nice books' offers sent to me by dear Valerie and SW team!!!
> The Good News are; I am going to teach SignWriting in a Very famous Tunisian University "Ibn Charaf"!!!!
> This dream has come true, all of the Tunisian Sign Language interpreters are going to learn SignWriting!!!! that's amazing!!!!
> For this reason, as I lack experience in teaching SW, I wish that you could help me with your nice advice, specially from those who had had such teaching experiences!!!
> I know that you will do help me out of love for deaf and for SignWriting which has become our mission to spread it in our countries and develop its use!!!
> I do thank you a lot, and I will appreciate every single help!!!!
> Blessings to everyone of you!!!!
> 
> Dali
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