M0th-b0nes - Hi :)

Further Notes on Writing Signed Language

So I had a good think about this, based off of what I have written lately. As I go further into my novel, do even more research into different types of sign, and start on the arc that is written solely from the POV of my deaf character, I’ve begun to realize some other differences between signed and spoken dialogue.

For one thing, punctuation doesn’t apply in the same way. There is punctuation in sign language, but as I’ve talked about before, it is mostly facial; therefore, you describe it as a part of the dialogue tags. So then, what do about the commas, colons and semi-colons? In this case, the n-dash is your friend! The aforementioned punctuation marks indicate changes in tone, alterations of pace and pauses. Therefore, they can be replaced with an n-dash, like so

“You and I – I don’t think we can continue.”

And fingerspelled words would be written as single letters, hyphenated into a word:

”You and I - going to L-O-N-D-O-N.”

For another, the syntax of your translated signed dialogue is subtly different. One sign can ususally mean several different words and filler words are absent. If someone were to say “really big.” in sign, they might just make the sign for “big” and super over-exaggerate.

So, verbal dialogue version:

“It was really, really big!” Lottie jumped and down in excitement, her eyes shining.

And the signed dialogue version:

“The dog was huge!” Lottie flung out her hands into the word, making it larger than it needed to be, bouncing on her heels.

Keeping in mind that large, big, huge, bountiful (and other connected synonyms) are all the same sign.

I don’t like to write signed language in the syntax that it would be signed in (Name, yours, what instead of “what is your name”). Not only is this confusing for non-signing readers, but it also reads as childish or overly-simplistic for readers who don’t understand sign, which reinforces the harmful stereotype of deaf people being stupid/infantilisation of deaf people. It is impossible to truly do signed language justice in writing, because it’s a language made for hands, bodies and faces.

This all comes together to mean that the sentence structure of dialogue in sign will be different. You would use less contractions (isn’t, you’re, might’ve etc), fewer modifiers and shorter chunks of dialogue with the description of the sign in between.

If it reads differently or feels strange, that’s okay: signed language is different to verbal language and so they won’t sound the same as one another in writing. They’re more like cousins or step-siblings than part of the same direct family group. You’re utilizing different descriptors and tools.

Hopefully, this also answers the repeated issue of differentiation, which has come up time and time again from various people. Best of luck to you all with your writing x

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m0th-b0nes

3 years ago

I cant stop laughing at this

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m0th-b0nes

2 years ago

ꜱᴏꜰᴛ ᴛʜɪɴɢꜱ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴍᴀᴋᴇ ᴍᴇ ꜱᴄʀᴇᴀᴍ (a romantic's list)

hands clenching

like asdfghjkjhgfds

specifically *that* one

reaching for each other in the dark

pulling them close for a hug

hugs just hit harder than kisses 97% of the time

*knowing* they are behind you and feeling their every move

defending one another (healthy)

leaving little notes

HANDWRITTEN LETTERS.

running back for a last kiss

huddled together under an umbrella

falling asleep on their lap

people watching on the train

staying up late talking

"this made me think of you"

looking for their opinion first

rings rings rings

HANDS.

those soft smiles where the corners of their eyes crinkle up

EYES.

and the quirk of lips.

squeezing hands to let them know they're there

looking at them when something reminds of you of them and they're looking right back smiling

impromptu meetings

stifling each other's laugh while laughing

knowing looks

pulling them closer when the heart pangs

rubbing circles on your skin with their thumb

long conversations even after they should have left

when your heart squeezes when you see them

they holding you back after you try to leave

laughing in your ear

SOFT LAUGHS.

falling asleep to a movie flickering over your faces

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m0th-b0nes

10 months ago

I'm Abdelrahman, 22 years old. My journey has been marked by loss and resilience. When I was 18, my father passed away from COVID-19. Determined to build my own future, I pursued an education in multimedia technology, balancing my studies with work to cover my expenses. I was preparing to establish my home and life.

My mother: the princess whom we strive to make happy and satisfy. ❤️️

However, the war in Gaza, especially in the north, brought devastating tragedy. My home, university, job, and family were all destroyed in the conflict. While my family moved to the south, I was in the north, facing famine and moving from place to place, trying to survive.

Our street used to be lively and full of people, but it is no longer like that.

I have witnessed countless difficult and painful scenes while escaping death multiple times. In northern Gaza, life is reduced to a cycle of fleeing from danger and searching for food amidst the rubble of destroyed homes.

I have survived many times,I was hit by a missile in previously destroyed house

This picture is enough to show our suffering in getting flour to survive.

My dream is to travel abroad with my mother and sister to continue my education and develop my practical skills. For the past eight months, I have been unemployed, focusing on self-improvement and hoping for a better future.