Your Opinion about Signing Songs?

deafbajagal

deafbajagal

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Some hearing people (who are not interpreters) will sign a song for a public audience. Some people say it is beautiful and expressive. But others say it is misusing ASL/sign language for the wrong purpose.

What do you think?
 
deafbajagal said:
Some hearing people (who are not interpreters) will sign a song for a public audience. Some people say it is beautiful and expressive. But others say it is misusing ASL/sign language for the wrong purpose.

What do you think?
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i disagree. i see nothing wrong with asl-interpreted music for hearing or deaf.

when i attended my first aadb (american association of the deaf-blind) convention, my tactile terp and i went to a bar one night and she signed to me (in asl) all of the country songs that were being played on the jukebox. one of the things i liked about this experience was that i was able to understand the rhythm, flow and intonation of the music as well as the lyrics.

if i could have had someone terp for me everytime i wanted to hear a song in my music collection (pre-ci), it would have given me an increased appreciation of and complete access to music that i wouldn't ordinarily have.
 
I think people should be welcomed to express what ever way they are moved to as long as they aren't hurting anyone.

I dont understand how its using it for the wrong purpose, can someone explain that to me?
 
If these hearing people are not trained terps are signing the song incorrecting to a public audience including deaf people, especially children, I wouldnt like that. Just sends the wrong message that any person who knows signs even if just basic is capable of signing a song. It requires someone qualified to interpret the song using the correct syntax of ASL to be able to convey the beauty and message of the songs.
 
When I was at Gallaudet a thousand years ago, lol, I spent many hours next to the Student Lounge juke box signing the popular songs of the day for friends, acquaintances, and passersby who were interested.
 
I have been to church before and people sign the songs. Some are good at it and some are not. As in singing orally.

Depends if they are claiming it to be ASL. I've seen home signs or made up signs in songs before. Totally blew me away due to I was confused. As for the hearing audience. They would not know the difference.
Thought it was beautiful. I was stumped.
 
My very first song was "You Raise Me Up" by Josh Groban, tactiled to me by my intervenor, I was feeling all kinds of emotions.

You see, my intervenor was able to do it in ASL and express the emotions to me all in tactile and I was moved to tears.

My youngest sister actually stood besides me and observed everything. She had never seen anything so beautiful like it.

Signed songs, an amazing thing.
 
heartwheel said:
I think people should be welcomed to express what ever way they are moved to as long as they aren't hurting anyone.

I dont understand how its using it for the wrong purpose, can someone explain that to me?
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For example, a young girl "knows some sign language." So for church or whatever she decides to get up and sign a song (rather than signing it). She's hearing. The audience is hearing. Everyone cried because it was "so beautiful and expressive."
 
deafbajagal said:
For example, a young girl "knows some sign language." So for church or whatever she decides to get up and sign a song (rather than signing it). She's hearing. The audience is hearing. Everyone cried because it was "so beautiful and expressive."
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That is what I meant by "boring." It is a nuisance to have to praise everyone who wants to show off a partial skill at anything.

Interpreting students doing videos of songs for class assignments leave me rolling my eyes. (even though I disapprove of eye rolling)

My thought is that ASL is for communication.

If hearing people want to do "beautiful movement" let them take up interpretive dance.:2c:
 
I appreciate the explanation :)

I talk as close to what is "socially acceptable" as I can. it feels unnatural though.

I have often considered myself to languageless and have shed a lot of tears over my inability bridge my world with the others due to my struggles with language. For that reason I'm all for people squawking, crawling, gacking, hopping, stomping whatever it takes to get the message across.

I think people maybe crying for a lot more reasons than it was beautiful. They may be crying because they are using a part of their brain that is dormant, and ancient, longing, memory of ancestors, or just for the fact that its just dawning on them there are actually people out there who can't hear. I think there's even more reasons that I can't put into words.

Words have caused me a lot pain and no one ever taught me sign language so what should I do just crawl into a corner and shut up or wait until I have a degree in sign language before I'm allowed to attempt to express myself? I just got out of the corner, lol. Intolerance is going to turn me into a contortionist.
 
heartwheel said:
I talk as close to what is "socially acceptable" as I can. it feels unnatural though.
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I grew up being oral and the past few years, I pretty much tapered off my speech because it was not natural anymore for me to talk. ASL is my heart language.

Sometimes it is best to do what you feel comfortable and natural with, not socially acceptable. :hug:
 
I see nothing wrong with the songs being signed by hearing people.

What's wrong with that? :dunno:
 
I also don't see anything wrong with hearing people signing the songs in ASL but however, I do understand what the OP was trying to say.

While I applaud these hearing people wanting to learn ASL to convey a song but at the same time, when they sign a song front of the deaf audience - It may seem like it's not as if it is really meaningful because they are beginners on learning how to use ASL in the proper form. To the hearing people, they may think otherwise.
 
Thanks, Mrs. Bucket, that's good advice :)

Mrs Bucket said:
I grew up being oral and the past few years, I pretty much tapered off my speech because it was not natural anymore for me to talk. ASL is my heart language.

Sometimes it is best to do what you feel comfortable and natural with, not socially acceptable. :hug:
Click to expand...
 
heartwheel said:
I appreciate the explanation :)

I talk as close to what is "socially acceptable" as I can. it feels unnatural though.

I have often considered myself to languageless and have shed a lot of tears over my inability bridge my world with the others due to my struggles with language. For that reason I'm all for people squawking, crawling, gacking, hopping, stomping whatever it takes to get the message across.

I think people maybe crying for a lot more reasons than it was beautiful. They may be crying because they are using a part of their brain that is dormant, and ancient, longing, memory of ancestors, or just for the fact that its just dawning on them there are actually people out there who can't hear. I think there's even more reasons that I can't put into words.

Words have caused me a lot pain and no one ever taught me sign language so what should I do just crawl into a corner and shut up or wait until I have a degree in sign language before I'm allowed to attempt to express myself? I just got out of the corner, lol. Intolerance is going to turn me into a contortionist.
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heartwheel,

i just wanted to let you know that i think you write beautifully. :)
 
Mrs Bucket said:
My very first song was "You Raise Me Up" by Josh Groban, tactiled to me by my intervenor, I was feeling all kinds of emotions.

You see, my intervenor was able to do it in ASL and express the emotions to me all in tactile and I was moved to tears.

My youngest sister actually stood besides me and observed everything. She had never seen anything so beautiful like it.

Signed songs, an amazing thing.
Click to expand...

i was also brought to tears when my terp signed all of those country songs to me. for the first time in several years, i was finally able to truly understand the rhythm and lyrics of music. my tactile terp told me that she'll never forget seeing the tears run down my face or the happiness/excitement i expressed. out of all of the things that have been terped to me, that was one of the best experiences i've ever had in my life. i'll never forget it.
 
I have lots of songs that I sign on my iPod. However, I only sign them when i'm alone. I do so because not only am i much too shy to show to my deaf friends, I'm afraid that I don't sign them correctly in asl syntax. I sign them the best way i can and have a blast doing it.
 
deafbajagal said:
For example, a young girl "knows some sign language." So for church or whatever she decides to get up and sign a song (rather than signing it). She's hearing. The audience is hearing. Everyone cried because it was "so beautiful and expressive."
Click to expand...

I think the same it's beautiful, I would cry too. :)
 
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