Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!think.com!yale!bunker!hcap!hnews!109!147.0!David.Labell
From: David.Labell@p0.f147.n109.z1.fidonet.org (David Labell)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: Sign as Art
Message-ID: <18616@bunker.isc-br.com>
Date: 11 Apr 91 04:43:10 GMT
Sender: wtm@bunker.isc-br.com
Reply-To: David.Labell@p0.f147.n109.z1.fidonet.org
Organization: FidoNet node 1:109/147.0 - The CyberChurch BBS, Washington DC
Lines: 32
Approved: wtm@bunker.hcap.fidonet.org

Index Number: 14757

[This is from the Silent Talk Conference]

I just discovered this echo, and I may have missed any discussion
of this topic, but my wife and I have what we think is a unique attitude
toward sign language -- we love it but we don't speak it.

We love to attend interpreted concerts and shows. We sit near the
interpreter. Because ASL obviously arises out of body English, we
can follow the signs even though we couldn't understand them without
the "interpretation" of the lyrics or dialogue issuing from the stage.

In a funny way, we're like the people who prefer opera in Italian
-- with subtitles!

We have our own favorite performer, a guy named Barry Nickelsberg,
who interprets the Washington Folk Festival and interpreted "Alice's
Restaurant" for Arlo Guthrie at Wolf Trap Farm Park. When Arlo got
to the "27 8X10 color glossy pictures" section, Barry became frantic
trying to keep up. Arlo glanced across, grinned, and said, "That's
WORK!" There was a laugh from the crowd, and, when Barry translated
it, a second roar from the deaf contingent.

We don't speak or study sign. We just like to see it and to enjoy
it the same way we like being around people speaking a foreign language.

Comments?

--
Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!109!147.0!David.Labell
Internet: David.Labell@p0.f147.n109.z1.fidonet.org