Deaf school town names

tuatara

tuatara

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I was just reading an article on Street Leverage

A Deaf Perspective: Cultural Respect in Sign Language Interpreting | Street Leverage

that included this passage:

"About an hour into the workshop, I made a comment in passing how I wished all video interpreters knew the names of deaf school towns—that is, towns with deaf schools (i.e., Fremont, St. Augustine, even Faribault)—or at least be familiar with the names."

Not to suggest that I expect to become a video interpreter, but after reading about how these town names are an important part of Deaf Culture for some people, I've been thinking I'd like to start learning them.

The three she commented on were easy enough to look up (at least as to where they are and the name of the school - I'm really bad about knowing cities, so even this was something)-

Fremont: California School for the Deaf

St. Augustine: Florida School for the Deaf and Blind

Faribault: Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf

-but then to learn the names:

-I've seen Fremont signed in Gerald (one of the movies from aslfilms), which was just an F handshape shaken back and forth, but the other two I wasn't able to find signs for. And then I'm thinking there's probably a list somewhere, and a quick search turned up this page: World Deaf Directory - Deaf Schools

So now I want to start finding and learning signs for these towns' names. Does anyone know any of them? (I'm sure some of you know all of them, and I'm not looking for someone to sit down for hours and type them out. I'm thinking, maybe if you live in one of these towns, or in that state, and you're willing to describe its sign?) Or maybe there's a resource out there with more of them signed?

I know Pittsburgh, which you can find on aslpro - http://www.aslpro.com/cgi-bin/aslpro/aslpro.cgi (same as the sign for Portland, ME) and Philadelphia, which is listed there too.

Anyone want to contribute others? Either with a link to a video or a description of the sign?
 
Illinois School for Deaf is in Jacksonville, IL. I've wondered if Jacksonville, IL and Jacksonville, FL had the same sign or were they different?
 
I have an old recording of Michael Tuccelli (on fire with classifiers!) signing Jacksonville, FL as #JX. Not sure about Jacksonville, IL.

Actually, not even sure about FL. I know ASL changes fast. Do town names generally stay the same? (It's a pretty old video.)

edit: Ooh. he does St. Augustine too. Two I handshapes sort of stacked vertically and the top (dominant) hand sort of pounding repeatedly on the nondominant hand. (Sorry this is probably not the most eloquent way to describe the sign. Like the sign for residential schools I guess?)

Anyway, thanks Derek. Remembering (or learning) these a few at a time is going to make it a workable project I think. Trying to do 50 or 100 of them would just intimidate me. If I were organized I'd do a couple each day, but interacting with people is so much more motivating than looking at a list.
 
amylynne said:
I have an old recording of Michael Tuccelli (on fire with classifiers!) signing Jacksonville, FL as #JX.
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My book shows JAX, shaking J, and J brushing over the non-dominant S-fist. We need to get a reply from someone who lives there.

Not sure about Jacksonville, IL.
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J-hand sweeps over the non-dominant backside of the B-hand (palm down), or palm-in bent V-hand, bending several times in front of face. Like DOUBT.

Actually, not even sure about FL. I know ASL changes fast. Do town names generally stay the same? (It's a pretty old video.)

edit: Ooh. he does St. Augustine too. Two I handshapes sort of stacked vertically and the top (dominant) hand sort of pounding repeatedly on the nondominant hand. (Sorry this is probably not the most eloquent way to describe the sign. Like the sign for residential schools I guess?)
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Yes.
 
I use the book Signs Everywhere by Nancy Kelly-Jones and Harley Hamilton. It includes the towns, cities, states, and provinces in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Of course, it's always best to verify these signs with someone native to the area.
 
Thanks for all that, Reba!

Of course, it's always best to verify these signs with someone native to the area.
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Right. But I like the idea of the book. I can adjust as I get corrections from people who live in each place, but I'd like to have a body of (albeit tentative) knowledge.
 
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