Whether or not you understand ASL, I strongly encourage you to watch the video in this post, and also read the comments below it. This is probably one of the best ASL videos I have ever seen! The use of facial expressions, classifiers, etc. is brilliant.
I think this video really shows what ASL is truly all about as a language in its own right, not merely “pretty visual English.” When you compare this video to the signing that you saw in that music video… well, there’s just NO comparison!
I’m not going to try and give you a full English translation, because I think you really lose something in the translation. Instead, I ask that you “expand your mind.” Watch this video with the attitude of “I am going to understand this” – not the negative thinking of “I don’t know ASL.” Instead of taking that sort of defeatist approach, allow yourself to see the picture that is being painted on the hands. Allow yourself to “feel” what this guy is saying, and to see it with your mind’s eye.
To give you a basic idea of what he is signing just to fill in the gaps, Austin talks about how when he was a little boy, he liked to fantasize and live in a dream world. His older brother, who is deaf, had to wear those old fashioned hearing aids – the ones with the big box that one wore in a harness strapped onto your chest, with the wires that ran up to the earmolds in your ears (I grew up with one of those damn things myself!) Austin describes how whenever he teased his brother about his hearing aid, the brother would pull his earmolds out and twirl them around on their wires and whack poor Austin all over the head.
This led Austin to start fantasizing about a “Deaf Ninja” dressed in black who would come out at night in the moonlight, and who when approached by his big ninja enemies with their knifes and swords, would simply pull his earmolds out of his ears, twirl them around, and slaughter down his enemies. And do it all before a raindrop could hit the ground! (Think along the lines of “Crouching Tiger” or “The Matrix” and those sorts of films…) But oops! Even the best hearing aids don’t work for every sound, especially if the batteries have died, or whatever…
Anyway, using the above information, I encourage you to go watch this film. Watch the way he uses his hands, body, facial expressions, and movements to really tell the story.
This is ASL at its finest, folks. What I would give to be able to sign a story that eloquently!
This sculpture shows the sign for "connect"...and that is what Deaf Pagan Crossroads is all about - making connections. Connections between Deafhood and Paganism, connections between the Deaf Community and the Hearing Community, connections between myself as the writer and you as the reader. I hope you will take the time to read my various posts, some of which are listed below. Welcome to the Crossroads, and I hope you make some connections here!
I did watch the video. As a hearing person who isn’t at all familiar with ASL, I’m always hesitant to comment on entries involving ASL (or other issues/factors that impact the deaf community). But since you invited me to watch, I will say that I’m not sure I’d have understood it without the information you provided on the story. I think it’s possible I might have understood some of it, but it’s hard to say for sure.
Off topic a bit: Because my vision isn’t terribly great, I’m not a very visual person (except through the use of a camera) and I wonder if that combined with my seeming inability to learn other languages influence my ability to interpret what was going on.
I’ve been trying to word this comment very carefully so as not to say something really stupid or offensive. I’m not sure I succeeded. Or else I succeeded without actually saying what I want to say (or asking what I want to ask).
I truly thought the video was great. It was dramatic and with the bit of background it was compelling. I was looking for the story changes and the ninja with twirling earmolds.
Chuckle… š Okay, I don’t mean to laugh, but I find it a little “amusing” how several of my hearing “not involved in the Deaf Community” friends are always a little nervous about leaving comments here, especially to any Deaf-related posts, out of fear of saying something stupid or offensive.
I do want to thank all of you for your caring and your sensitivity. I can appreciate your concerns and fears, and desire not to come across looking like “just another stupid hearing person.”
I do realize that some of the posts here, as well as the comments left, may come across a bit overwhelming and perhaps intimidating for those who are not well-versed in sign language or the Deaf Culture. However, do not let this stop you from feeling free to express your thoughts.
I think you will find that most Deaf people are a pretty tolerant and understanding bunch. I doubt there is much that anyone can or would say here that could be viewed as stupid or offensive. And believe me, most of us have gotten the questions, heard the comments, yadda yadda yadda. There is not much anyone can say that we probably haven’t heard at some point already.
Not to mention, I have seen and read some pretty stupid and offensive things on various blogs and vlogs over the past couple of months – by both deaf and hearing individuals. Neither side holds a monopoly on stupidity. Hearing – or the lack of it – is not a mandate for acting like an offensive, idiotic a$$hole.
So go ahead… ask your questions, make your comments, say what you think or feel. If you’re out of line, I’ll let you know.
And don’t worry about looking stupid. Trust me, I have been known to make some real bloopers in my lifetime.
Oh…. I wanted to add – remember, this site attracts a wide diversity of readers.
In the same way that I have hearing Pagans who are nervous about making comments or asking questions related to deafness…
I also have Deaf non-pagans who are nervous about making comments or asking questions related to Paganism.
It works both ways.
So go ahead…leave a comment. It won’t kill ya!
i really liked his facial expressions it was really pretty good and i could sorta pick up on some of it
Even though I can only finger spell (s-l-o-w-l-y) LOL, I was able to pick up on the Ninja aspect of the film, and even laughed a couple of times, just because I got the feeling of what he was saying. Kind of like mime… facial expressions are very important. Cool video.