July 27, 2022

"Many signs are metaphorical, linking visual objects or gestures to concepts. So when cultural shifts change the very concept of a word..."

"... a sign may no longer make sense. One example... is the word 'privilege,' which is increasingly used in discussions about which groups have more social advantage, such as white privilege or male privilege. One older sign for 'privilege' could also mean 'benefit,' 'gain,' 'credit' or 'profit.' It looks like putting a dollar into a shirt pocket. A newer sign visually represents someone being raised up, or put ahead, and is reminiscent of the ASL sign for 'inequality.'... Although the differences can sometimes lead to tension, ASL linguists emphasize that there is no right or wrong choice for a sign — because language is shaped by those who use it. The longer and more widely a sign is used, the more standardized it becomes, and ASL is still a fairly young, dynamic language...."


Also in that article: The need to sign within a smaller area around the face so it fits in Zoom.

6 comments:

madAsHell said...

The need to sign within a smaller area around the face so it fits in Zoom.

Another non-concern that should have been overlooked.

Joe Smith said...

All languages are visual when written...

Mark said...

How about a sign for putting an explanatory parenthetical in a headline to clarify what is meant by "sign"?

Mark said...

This is what (I think) is a problem with ASL (although "problem" really isn't the right word): There is a reason that the Deaf community (they use the capital) considers closed captioning to be insufficient/improper as opposed to some person doing ASL on screen: American Sign Language and English written text are two different languages. ASL is not simply English communicated by gestures; it is its own language.

And that creates problems in translation from English words like "privilege" to ASL.

Mark said...

Perhaps the problem of relativism (in words and thought) is more pronounced in ASL.

Words mean things, as has been repeatedly emphasized in this era of "same-sex marriage" and "transgender identity" where we are dealing with redefinitions of words.

The word "privilege" means something regardless of cultural change. It literally means advantage for a particular group. The word is derived from privy and lege - a law that only some are privy to, i.e. a private law or benefit that members have a right to. That's why it is utter nonsense for people to say as they do, "X is not a right, it is a privilege." Privileges ARE rights, rights that a specific few have.

boatbuilder said...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fIUfiI_X9I