1.2.12 Adam News and Info

Craazy: You ask some very good questions, and since the thread has little news today, I'll go ahead and answer them. Others not interested can scroll.


ASL is not, as many think, a code for English using hand motions for English words. ASL is a distinct language of its own. While it borrows some from English (as English also borrows words and phrases from other languages -- i.e. PATIO, PUTZ, and a bunch of French words I don't know how to spell), it has its own distinct vocabulary and grammar. Many English words have multiple meanings (i.e. RUN for office, RUN in my hose, RUNNY nose, RUN down the street). ASL does not use one sign for the same concepts. So, in each case above, I would use a different sign for the concept. That is one reason that word for word translations do not work.

For many deaf people whose primary language is ASL, English is hard to understand. Despite studying it for years, it has so many permutations and so many exceptions to every rule, these folks have trouble with fluency. So, the printed lyrics in English may not be well understood. Here are a couple of examples:

"cold as ice": The sign for cold refers to temperature, not personality. A room can be cold. A person, not. Plus, the lyrics do not specify "I" am acting cold. The structure he uses means ICE is COLD. The metaphor (or is it simile) of cold AS ice is a structure not used in ASL either. To interpret the metaphor, a translator would either have to say, "I was acting in a way that is similar in idea to the way that ice is cold", or have to use a sign or combination of signs with posture and facial expression that denotes being aloof, uncaring and distant. This guy just signed COLD ICE, i.e. "Ice is cold."

"I wouldn't know which way to turn" is an expression or idiom in English. It does not mean that a person would literally not know what direction to face. The interpreter has to find a way to express feeling confused, unfocused, not knowing what to do with oneself. Adding to the difficulty, the word TURN can be used in different ways in English. "It is my TURN," "TURN the music down," "TURN right at the end of the street." In ASL these are three different concepts and would each use a different sign or gesture. The signer uses a sign that literally and exclusively means "making a right turn in a vehicle". ??? ??? ??? ???





Good observation. When I am interpreting a speech or song I do not know, I have to wait for an entire idea or phrase in order to understand what it means so I can render it in a different language. For example, "The boy was hit by the ...." Until I know what agent hit the boy, I cannot sign that sentence, because being hit by a car, being hit by another person, and being hit by a ball would all be signed differently. With known lyrics in a song, I can prepare a translation that matches the beat of the music while conveying the appropriate meaning. However, some concepts are more difficult to convey than others. For example, "Move like Jagger." First, I cannot assume that deaf people who do not normally listen to music, much less music from many years ago would be familiar with who Jagger was, or even that Jagger referred to a person. I would have to envision how Jagger moves, and in what way the singer moves like him. The swagger, the strut, the manic nature? Does he slink? Then, I have to convey that meaning somehow without actually referring to Mick. It might take me longer to convey that than it does the singer to sing "Move like Jagger."

Conversely, there are things that are much easier to express in ASL than in English. "I was driving my car and had stopped at a red light. Suddenly I was hit from behind with considerable force which surprised me." That entire paragraph I can convey with four signs and accompanying facial expressions. Economy and clarity in a second or two. If that were the lyrics of a song, I would have to figure out how to fill out the rest of the time when I am already done conveying the idea.



Because ASL is a visual rather than an auditory language, it conveys information, ideas, feelings etc in a manner very different from spoken languages. It uses not only the hands, but the face, the body, the eyes and the space around one's body to convey a message. Think of it a little like creating a movie or music video to express the meaning of the song. Some lyrics have simple, straight forward lyrics that are easy to express in ASL. The challenge there is when those lyrics are repeated again and again and again and again. Without the music backing we are talking BORING! (Think "I whip my hair back and forth.")

Other lyrics are poetic, symbolic, using words to create a mood or feeling thru metaphor and audio rhyme. Yikes. How does the interpreter create the same mood using movement and space? It can become a bit like interpretive dance.



I am not a native signer, but I have studied the language extensively and have been signing for more than 35 years. It is a challenging language to learn fluently, but it is also beautiful and touching and very expressive. Well worth it. This signer either does not know both ASL and English at a level to create an effective interpretation, or he doesn't understand the complexities of interpretation in general.

Hope this explanation helps you appreciate all our members whose first language is not English yet who communicate so clearly and articulately in English, and even provide us with good translations.

Now, back to our regularly scheduled program.

Thank you for the video, gelly! I think (as always!) Adam sounds great in this performance!!! And he looks HOT!!! :

They only give BTIKM a 3 stars.. whateve... BUT I love what they said about his voice "SUPERHUMAN VOCAL RANGE".. hahahaha.. guess not many singers have his vocal range