Deaf American Prose: 1980-2010

What That ASL Dialect?

220 Sara Stallard What That ASL Dialect? Know how when chat with other writers deaf same me, discuss how put down way of communicating, like “she said” or “she signed.” Feel awkward to put ASL in English frame. Both language very different. Translate ASL in English always hard, take ASL hand, squeeze, drip out left only idea, finish, idea fluff into English, end up lose active expression its ASL. So, fed up, me blah, think a while about how approach ASL influence on my English. Understand, me already aware, notice three things. Number one—my sign conversation very blend mix English ASL. Sometime when talk about from English book, use whole English sentence quote, like SEE, know you, self SEE mode its English, but rest my story talk tend ASL structure. Often same time connect ENG word my head and oral little my talk while sign, but not all my ASL have English connection, even some ASL word have own mouth oral already. That part hard show in write so no one really accept that ASL have oral part. But rest ASL structure can show some in English with ASL dialect. Understand must careful, require skill English to write good ASL dialect, cuz ASL dialect still English same rule for clarity must. Need good English vocabulary—example—ASL sign for “truth” and “honest” look almost same, but deaf will mouth oral both different & when write ASL dialect in English, must know which specific word English for clarify what mean. “True, story that” = “That story’s true.” “True” sign different from “truth” while “truth” look same as “honest.” “Honest not know” = “Honestly, I don’t know.” But can’t mix two English word for same ASL sign, can’t write ASL dialect like “truth not know” because sign same, but more likely person sign will also mouth “honest,” not “truth” if sign that sentence. Number two—what’s true “proper English” anyway? That my question. When I sign, not 100% English in my ASL, of course, but still have English. Don’t believe in pidgin, it’s true ASL, just with English language dialect. Same other oral language influence each other: “southern drawl,” “regional accent,” “ghetto slang.” All deviate from academic English but still understand English frame in that dialect. Also foreigners learn talk English, first open they clumsy, mix grammar with their native language, but still recognize English when show up in their talk. That recognition apply to ASL too. What for criticize who use English term or phrase in Sign? Only show two language incorporated in self expression, with one as base and other idea same flavor. Me tired of try separate both ASL & English, both equal importance to me when sign or write. Number three—all writer their fear what, fail catch power of thought or idea in word. Word by human make often can’t express sublime its abstract or all of emotion. Main_Pgs_1-330.indd 220 3/28/2012 10:24:56 AM Sara Stallard 221 Know you, song by voice put down words on print, but word not show glory of voice, same problem ASL sign. . . its magnificent very 3-D expression involve body movement & full of facial expression. How write ASL? Seem can’t, but look like can show in English some fluid think grammar its ASL. Definitely not traditional English but no language start with writing anyway. Impossible. “Rudimentary” basic dialects & accent in different regions have different pronunciation for same word. Cause some difficult communication but once technology bring print machine and better ship for trade over sea, finally start print standard dictionary in eighteenth century cause English to stabilize, but not satisfy everyone at first! Require several hundred year to reach true academic rules for English but in grass root community English have life its own, most face exchange, person chat with other person. Individual unique voice is what writers always try catch, show clear who person is. This what deaf writers or who write about deaf struggle do-do show about ASL. Funny cuz ASL have same English. What way? Both do have regional variety. Both have fit each person character like sissy or macho or babble or dramatic. Tough show in ASL documentation because of sad history happen-happen relate deaf education, always suppress sign influence in English writing. Most because teachers themselves not fluent ASL, so don’t understand how student think. Us deaf lack a model for expressing or sign-based ideas in writing because never really do before, on...