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Sign Language Literature Chapter 6 - Coggle Diagram
Sign Language Literature Chapter 6
Storytelling Techniques
Visual Images
For sign language literature to be effective, it needs to generate emotions in its audiences, and signer frequently achieve this by manipulating elements of their signing to produce striking visual images.
Visual Images
Show it
Can SHOW what they are talking about by using classifier constructions, which are highly productive signs that show the form, location and movement of the referent.
These classifiers constructions are mostly signed with the hands, although the head, arms and torso can form classifiers too.
Become it
Can also BECOME what they are talking about by using the technique that we will call constructed action, although it has many names, including role shift, incorporation, person transfer and personation.
Tell it
Can simply TELL what they are talking about by using vocabulary signs.
Creative signers often exploit the visual motivation of these signs to create a visual image, and can boost their visual effect by revitalising aspects of the sign that many not seem especially visually significant when it is out of the art-sign context.
Signing in good storytelling
Fingerspelling is used very little in sign language storytelling. Interferes with enjoyment of the sign story.
The fingerspelling is used creatively, it can contribute to the emotional effect of the work.
The first time good signing storytellers introduce characters, they will make sure that the audience can identify them again later.
The visual image of the character is made stronger by showing audiences where the characters are within the story scene, what they look like and how they behave, especially by becoming the character through constructed action.
Visual Vernacular
Visual vernacular and the lexicon of film techniques can be used to analyse sign language literature.
Stories/movies that have inspired sign language: Martial arts, the Matrix, The story of the Flag.
Visual Cinematic Storytelling and Mime
Mime conveys actions and emotions through gestures, and is not word-based, as it is a powerfully visual art form that is easily understood by speakers of different languages.
Sign languages aren't mime.