Do you ever wonder why some ASL translations hit the mark when others miss it by miles?
We’ve got some thoughts. That’s why in this blog, we’re diving into translation mistakes and how to avoid them. Check it out!
The ‘Me’ and ‘You’ Mistake
One of the challenges faced by ASL (American Sign Language) learners is the subtle distinction between signs like ‘me’ and ‘you’ versus ‘my’ and ‘yours’. It’s a common stumbling block that parallels the way an English learner might grapple with broken English.
New signers often default to using the full palm for ‘me’ and ‘you’ which really means my and your in ASL, the full palm is a direct and somewhat intuitive choice. However, the correct usage in ASL involves the pointing hand shape (point to you means YOU, point me myself, means ME). This distinction is crucial and often overlooked, but it’s key to accurate and clear communication in sign language.
These types of mistakes are quite common among beginners, and they’re an essential part of the learning curve. Much like an English speaker learning the difference between ‘I am’ and ‘it’s mine’. In ASL, the differentiation between ‘me you’ and ‘my yours’ is about expressing ownership and personal connection in a visually clear and culturally appropriate way.
It’s these small details that, when mastered, elevate a signer’s proficiency from basic to fluent. Recognizing and correcting these errors early in the learning process sets the foundation for more advanced and nuanced sign language skills.
Watch Your Pinkie
Many new signers have a tendency to extend their pinkies, creating a distinct flair in their signing. While this might feel like a personal touch or a mark of their signing identity, it can inadvertently alter the meaning of signs. For instance, a common issue is the transformation of the sign for ‘A’ into ‘Y’, simply by keeping the pinky extended.
This isn’t a straightforward error in the traditional sense, but more of a stylistic deviation that can impact the clarity and accuracy of communication. In ASL, every finger movement, handshape, and position holds significance, and even a small change like an extended pinky can convey a different message than intended.
While developing a personal signing style is a natural and encouraged part of learning, it’s crucial for ASL learners to balance this with the need for clear and correct communication. The goal should be to express oneself effectively within the parameters of ASL’s rich and expressive language structure.
Expand Your Mouth Morphing
ASL boasts a rich vocabulary of over hundreds of different mouth movements, each with its own grammatical and emotional significance. But many early learners tend to use only 5 mouth movements.
Sticking to a handful of mouth movements, despite their ease, can result in a monotonous and, at times, confusing signing experience. It can feel like speaking a spoken language with a very limited range of tones and inflections—the message gets across, but the depth and nuance are lost.
Each mouth movement in ASL can change the meaning of a sign or add a linguistic nuance, much like intonation and stress does in spoken languages. To truly capture the essence of ASL, learners need to venture beyond the basic mouth movements. As learners progress, they should be encouraged to observe and practice the diverse mouth movements used by proficient signers. This enriches their communicative ability, so they can convey messages more dynamically and authentically.
Remember You Are Being Watched
In the world of American Sign Language (ASL), the adage “actions speak louder than words” takes on a literal meaning. Unlike in the hearing world, where people may not always pay close attention to each other’s movements or fidgeting mannerisms, in ASL, your audience is always watching your every move.
Every gesture, every movement, is part of the conversation and conveys meaning, making self-awareness and composure required. If you are in a meeting, and you stop your signing to fidget, or scratch, it can be distracting. In the hearing world, small, personal actions like scratching an itch might go unnoticed. But, in ASL communication, where everyone watches your hands, these movements are more obvious. Stopping mid-sign to attend to a distraction can disrupt the flow of conversation and lead to misunderstandings.
In ASL, where every motion is part of the dialogue, even subtle fidgeting or shifting can be distracting.
The key for ASL users, especially interpreters, is to cultivate an awareness of their physical presence and movements. This awareness helps maintain a composed and controlled body, ensuring that your signs are clear and your message is effectively conveyed.
If you can avoid these four mistakes, you will be ahead of the game in your translation journey!
Need Interpreting?
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