Umoja (Unity)

Today, in “I’ll take any good news I can find”:

A production of Romeo and Juliet with Deaf actors signing their lines has been referred to as bilingual! Not just “accessible” or “diverse” but also BILINGUAL!

This makes me happy because the general idea of ASL (and other signed languages) is that they’re just a manual version of the spoken language. By that logic, Norwegian is just a higher-latitude version of German. Signed languages are languages of their own! With unique vocabulary, grammar, and dialects!

Journal Sentinel

Deaf actors make this 'Romeo & Juliet' a truly bilingual love story

In American Players Theatre's new "Romeo & Juliet," Deaf characters and American Sign Language are a normal part of daily life in that world

Ace

Sources: Rogan Shannon

[Image ID:

Ace in American Sign Language. The hands are translucent, overlapping, and the colors of the asexual flag.

End ID]

It's been awhile since I did an actual painting. I chose this sign, poem, specifically the express version, as a sort of love letter to the language and community. I've been studying American Sign Language for a few years now. Verbal communication has often been a struggle for me. With ASL, I have been able to meet and communicate with many wonderful people in a way that feels freeing. I am still learning. There are things I can't sign because I haven't learned the vocabulary yet. And there are things I can't say because they can only be expressed in sign.

[Image ID: a painting of a yellow and orange figure. Their arm starts clenched at their heart and opens as it extends forward. End ID]

Name Change

Guess what I did today!

Sources:

Name: SigningSavvy, Lifeprint, ASLDeafined

Change: SigningSavvy, Lifeprint, ASLDeafined

[Image ID: Name and Change in American Sign Language. Both signs start pink and end blue.

Name is two hands in H handshape palms facing signer. Dominant hand taps base hand at the fingers.

Change is both hands in X handshape crossed at the wrists. The hands rotate around each other to cross with the other arm in front.

End ID]

Since Trump took office all videos with American Sign Language interpreters have been removed from the White House website and YouTube channels. What could be the point of this beyond pure cruelty?

LGBT

Sources: them

[Image ID:

The signs for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Trans in American Sign Language

Lesbian: Index finger of L handshape taps chin. Face outline, lips, and hand have the colors of the lesbian flag (three shades of orange, one of white, and two shades of pink) as a gradient.

Gay: G handshape touches chin. Face, lips and hand are in pride colors (black, brown, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple) in a gradient.

Bisexual: Blue B and pink I handshapes overlapping slightly with purple in the overlap.

Trans: Hand in 5 handshape with thumb against the chest twist and closes in O handshape. Movement is illustrated by arms that are translucent blue and pink in different stages of the sign.

Background is white

End ID]

it's a little early for this but could we get a happy Halloween if you haven't already?

Sure, it's close enough

Halloween

Sources: SigningSavvy, Lifeprint, ASLDeafined

[Image ID:

Halloween in American Sign Language. Both hands in bent B handshape rotate to cover the eyes. Movement is illustrated by arms that are translucent purple and orange. Eyes and fangs are purple.

End ID]

Bat

Sources: SigningSavvy, Lifeprint, ASLDeafined

[Image ID: Bat in American Sign Language. Both hands with wrists crossed over signers chest flick out into the 1 handshape. Hands are purple with black nails. End ID]

It's good!

facebook.com

Deafula (1975) - full movie | Deafula (USA, 1975), de Peter Wolf. O primeiro filme de horror filmado com os diálogos em linguagem de sinais

Deafula (USA, 1975), de Peter Wolf. O primeiro filme de horror filmado com os diálogos em linguagem de sinais. É uma produção independente

Anyway I'm watching Deafula

Everyone needs to learn sign language pls. Like whatever version is used in your country I encourage you to learn.

Not only will you be learning another language, but you'll be able to talk to other signers, D(d)eaf or not, and two people can communicate in loud places without needing to hear the other.

I'm hard of hearing and have such a difficult time with trying to hear others. I stopped wearing hearing aids because I got annoyed that even after about 18 years I still had a hard time distinguishing what hearies were saying.

I'm learning my country's sign language (ASL) but don't have any experienced signers to practice with. I really hope more people learn these languages (and the history of said languages).

And sign is also helpful with neurodivergent people and babies aswell!