Please enable JavaScript.
Coggle requires JavaScript to display documents.
Introducing Sign Language Literature, Folklore, and creativity Chapter 7…
Introducing Sign Language Literature, Folklore, and creativity Chapter 7
Constructed
Action & Signed Anthropomorphism
Anthropomorphism in Creative Sign Language
Occurs as part of constructed action where signers 'become' the character they are talking about
When signers take on the role of a human character, they use their body to represent the body or that human character
When signers take on the role of a non-human character, they do their best to use their human body to represent the body of the non-human
It is considerably easier for signers to give human form to the non-human things they are talking about than it is for users of any spoken language
Fundamental Difference between Anthropomorphism in Sign Language Literature & in Spoken Language Literature
Signing storytellers & poets can represent the form of non-humans directly by turning themselves into the things they want to describe
They can 'map' the non-humans onto their body, giving them eyes, a mouth, head, hands, and so on because the signer has them
Spoken language literature can talk about the perspectives of non-humans, but it cannot directly show how they are transformed into humans
Anthropomorphised Characters Appeal to Audiences
By giving human qualities to non-humans, we can identify with them & have friendly feelings toward them
When a Deaf person feels they can truly identify with a character because they feel they can change places with them, the story is successful
Way to appeal to audience is to empathise with them
Targets of Anthropomorphism
Animals
They are physically fairly similar to humans (have eyes, face, head, feet, etc.) so their body parts can easily be mapped onto the signer's body
Where humans and the animals do not share the same bodily features, signers can use their hands & arms to create substitutes, so we see even more, clearly an image that is a blend of human & animals
When the physical structure of an animal is too different from a human (snail, snake) the animal is usually represented almost entirely as though it were human - perhaps with a hint of the animal
Plants
Signers will still use constructed action to represent them, & this gives signers a greater option to anthropomorphise them
The tree is a particularly popular target of constructed action & anthropomorphism
The tree & other plants go through similar life stages to humans (birth, growth, reproduction & death)
Inanimate Objects, Constructed Action & Human Emotions
Skilled signers can attribute human forms & qualities to things which share little similarity with humans
In these examples, the face & body are important for showing the emotions & desires given to the inanimate objects
Cities, places & houses can be anthropomorphised through constructed action as well
Natural elements such as water & very large objects such as mountains, sun, moon can also be given human characteristics by showing human emotions & desires through their facial & body movements
Different Levels of Anthropomorphism
Descriptive Level
Little humanity is imparted to the non-humans that are shown by constructed action, so the anthropomorphism is minimal
The signer simply represents the expressions & behavior of non-humans (usually animals) using the human face & body
Shows what humans see animals doing, rather than how animals see their world from their own perspectives
Expressions of animals can be exaggerated but they remain fairly basic, & the animals are not considered to have complex emotions or independent though
Pre-Linguistic Level
Non-human characters show a certain level of personality, & performers look deeper into their possible thoughts or feelings
Still comes from human imagination, the perspective of the non-humans is presented more directly than at the descriptive level
The non-humans at this level are shown to think or feel independently, but they don't have language
Little interaction with other characters but they can express all the complex feelings which are normally attributed to humans such as joy, pride, surprise, anger, frustration or disappointment
Linguistic Level
The anthropomorphised non-humans are given the same level of intelligence as humans
They are considered to have a language which allows them to interact with characters and actively take part in the story world
Skilled signers can assign detailed characteristics to the non-humans, so each character can be fully developed with a distinct personality
Blending of Human & Non-Human Features
Anthropomorphism Concerns the Way Signers Combine Human & Non-Human Features
Signed anthropomorphism is not about the complete attribution of human qualities onto non-humans
In many cases, anthropomorphised non-humans retain their original features
Skillful signers will blend human & non-human elements in the right proportion to remind us that we are seeing something anthropomorphised
Boundary Between Humans & Non-Humans
This blending blurs the boundary between humans & non-humans & gives talking animals an ambiguous status in stories
Animals inherit qualities from both groups, but they belong to neither completely