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Atlantia-specific ASL (long!)
Poster: SCAVard@aol.com
In response to my recent post regarding American Sign Language (ASL)
interpretation within SCA settings, I received several private messages from
folks looking for more information.
As a form of disclaimer, let me make it clear that I am not an expert on the
subject, as I have been looking myself for this information for some time. I
am merely someone with a good, practical working knowledge of ASL who has
wanted to learn how to sign within the SCA for some time, but have had little
luck (until now) finding this information. In the interests of getting people
together with the information they're seeking, I am happy to share publically
what I've learned. Please do not confuse the messenger with the message, for I
am merely relaying what I have uncovered through my research. The experts on
the subject are those who are actively interpreting within SCA settings, I am
passing along what information they have made available through various
sources.
The SCA has its own unique vocabulary, one which contains words that are not
encountered on an everyday basis. How many times have you encountered the
words "Atlantia" or "Windmaster's Hill" or "Chirurgeon" in a setting OTHER
than the SCA? Further, some words which are used quite frequently in the SCA
have a different meaning than it would in the rest of the world. For example,
the word "King" is a concept that translates well from the mundane world into
an SCA setting, because it has the same meaning in both. But the word "Count"
does not. We use it as a title denoting rank, but the mundane world uses this
word primarily as a verb, as in "Don't count your chickens before they've
hatched."
One of the biggest hurdles that an interpreter has to overcome when settling
into an SCA setting is the learning of the vocabulary. It's not a matter of
knowing "how" to sign, but more a matter of knowing "what" to sign. For
instance, how does one interpret "That Count is from Dun Carraig"? It's
tough, and unless you know the SCA-specific signs for the nouns Count and Dun
Carraig, you're forced to resort to fingerspelling.
Anyway, enough of the theory, on to the practice!
Before I begin, let me toss ONE LAST disclaimer into the pile. The following
is not intended to teach anyone how to sign. It is EXTREMELY difficult to
explain in words how to sign, and like any language, ASL is one which can
really only be learned by being around others who use the language. The
following assumes that the reader has at least a working knowledge of ASL, and
will hopefully show them how to adapt the language they already know to convey
concepts that are SCA-specific.
My thanks to Lady Ariane Desire'e Des Cedres (aka Lady Cedar) for compiling
this information, to Lord Stefan li Rous for capturing this in his
Florilegium, and to Lord Gregory Blount for archiving Stefan's Florilegium on
his website.
--------------
NOTE : All ASL signs are preceded by an asterisk (*), the phrase "Manual
Alphabet Letter" is shortened "MAL"
THE VOCABULARY
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--
ROYALTY
*king MAL "K" from non-dominant shoulder to dominant hip. (Be sure that the
palm orientation is correct -- if not, this can easily be confused with the
sign for "*PRINCE")
*queen MAL "Q" moving from non-dominant shoulder to dominant hip.
*prince MAL "P" moving from non-dominant shoulder to dominant hip. (Be sure
that the palm orientation is correct -- if not, this can easily be confused
with the sign for "*KING")
*princess MAL "P" moving from non-dominant shoulder to dominant shoulder to
dominant hip.
duke MAL "W" at dominant temple (The closest we could come to the STRAWBERRY
LEAVES of a ducal coronet of rank)
duchess MAL "W" at dominant temple + "*GIRL" + "*FORMAL,POLITE,FANCY"
count MAL "C" moving from center of forehead to dominant temple.
countess MAL "C" moving from center of forehead to dominant temple + "*GIRL" +
"*FORMAL,POLITE,FANCY"
viscount MAL "V" at center of forehead moving to dominant temple and changing
to MAL "C" (Be VERY CAREFUL with the palm orientation on the "V" so as not to
sign "*STUPID" -- palm should be facing to the NON-DOMINANT side)
viscountess MAL "V" at center of forehead moving to dominant temple and
changing to MAL "C" (Be VERY CAREFUL with the palm orientation on the "V" so
as not to sign "*STUPID" -- palm should be facing to the NON-DOMINANT side) +
"*GIRL" + "*FORMAL,POLITE,FANCY"
baron Closed "X" handshape moving from center of the forehead to dominant
side, denoting three of the pearls in the Baronial coronet
baroness Closed "X" handshape moving from center of the forehead to dominant
side, denoting three of the pearls in the Baronial coronet + "*GIRL" +
"*FORMAL,POLITE,FANCY" [NOTE : If it is necessary to differentiate between a
"LANDED" and a "COURT" baron/baroness you can do so by adding "*GOLD" or
"*SILVER" after signing "BARON/ESS". Note, however, that I learned this
practice from my time in the Middle Kingdom, where the color or the coronet
denoted the type of Baron. This is NOT a universal practice. -Vard]
majesty "M" handshape moving up -- the sign for "*HIGH"
excellency "E" handshape moving up -- the sign for "*HIGH"
highness "H" handshape moving up -- the sign for "*HIGH"
royal MAL "R" moving from non-dominant shoulder to dominant hip
PEERAGE
*peer Sign for "*EQUAL"
master/mistress Sign for equal made into an intialized sign using the MAL "M"
on each hand (all masters/mistresses of whatever flavor are peers)
laurel MAL "L" on each hand placed on chest where the peerage medallion would
rest, showing the shape of the laurel wreath.
apprentice Sign for "*HELPER"
pelican duck-bill (handshape like sign for "*NO") then same handshape moving
to pierce the chest (the symbol of the order, the pelican vulning itself)
protege Sign for "*STUDENT"
knight MAL "K" at waist moving from center to dominant side, drawing the belt
which is the symbol of the order.
squire MAL "S" in the same movement as the sign for "KNIGHT"
master/mistress of arms MAL "M"at non-dominant shoulder, moving to dominant
of arms hip where it becomes MAL "A", for the baldric that is the symbol of
the order.
rose Sign for "*FLOWER"
OFFICERS
seneschal "*KEY" + "*PERSON" indicator
autocrat "*CONTROL" + "*PERSON" indicator {Closed "X" handshape on both hands,
palms facing each other. Move alternately foreward and backward -- as in
pulling strings}
chronicler "*WRITE" + "*PERSON" indicator
chatelaine/castellan "*WELCOME" + "*PERSON" indicator
chiurgeon Using a "C" handshape, make the sign for "*HOSPITAL" [I have also
seen "*DOCTOR" using an initialized "C" handshape. I do not know which is
more prevalent. -Vard]
exchequer "*COUNT" + "*PERSON" indicator
herald Sign for "LECTURE" done with an "H" handshape.
marshall Mime pulling a sword then with "one' handshapes, cross fingers in
saltire (the heraldry denoting marshalls)
archery marshall non-dominant hand in "one" handshape, dominant hand, MAL "M",
miming pulling back a bow from the non-dominant handshape.
minister of arts "*TEACHER" initialized with the MAL "M" + "*ART"
minister of sciences "*TEACHER" initialized with the MAL "M" + "*SCIENCE"
minister of arts and sciences "*TEACHER" initialized with the MAL "M" + "*ART"
+ "*SCIENCE"
OTHER COMMON SIGNS
court Sign for "*CELEBRATE" + Sign for "*MEETING"
"OYEZ" "*ATTENTION"
*kingdom "*KING" +"*AREA"
barony baron + "*AREA"
Award of Arms "*GIFT" + display with "A" handshape
KINGDOMS
Atlantia MAL "A" at mouth + "*SEA, OCEAN"
Atenveldt "*SUN" + "*FACE"
An Tir "*LION" + mime the claw outwards
Ansteorra "*SUN" starting from waist up +"*STAR"
Caid Simultaneously with both hands outline the shape of crescents in the air
about eye height
Calontir "*CROSS" + "*FANCY, DECORATED" {the cross with the *stuff*}
Drachenwald Mime sign for "firebreath" + "*WOODS"
Outlands "*DEER" + sign for animal jumping outward
East MAL "E" moved towards right
West MAL "W" moved towards left
Middle Non-dominant hand, palm upwards. Dominant hand above this, palm facing
body, "B" handshape. Dominant hand moves in small circle and lowers tostrike
center of non-dom. palm with fingertips
Meridies MAL "M" + 3 "*STARS"
Trimaris "*THREE" + "SEA, OCEAN"
Aethelmearc Interlaced fingers (for the escarbuncle) + "*ROLLING"
Ealdermere "*FLOWER" +"*WOLF"
SIGNS FOR SOME ATLANTIAN GROUPS (taken from a different handout of Lady
Cedar's. In her own words, "The basic philosophy behind the invention of SCA-
specific signs to date is this: if it exists in the language, don't mess with
it_!!!! If it does not exist in the language, the first place to look for an
idea to invent a sign is the heraldry. If it does not immediately lend itself
to either of these techniques, try to brainstorm what the term means and work
from there.")
Storvik "*SHIP" bouncing away toward viewer
Ponte Alto "*BRIDGE" initialized with the MAL "P"
Caer Mear "*TOWER" initialized with the MAL "C" + "SINK"
Sacred Stone "*ROCK" + "*HOLY"
Marinus "*BOAT" initialized with the MAL "M"
Nottinghill Coill "*KNOT"
Windmaster's Hill "*HILL" + "*WIND"
Hidden Mountain "*MOUNTAIN" + "*DARK"
Black Diamond "*BLACK" + "JEWEL" (using the MAL "9" handshape for Jewel)
VARD'S SIGNS FOR OTHER ATLANTIAN GROUPS (View these with skepticism, for they
might conflict with signs that already exist for them. Most of these are
based primarily on the group's heraldry, but there are one or two exceptions.
If you learn of a sign for these groups, use it and not my inventions below):
Spiaggia Levantina "*PURPLE" + "*EAGLE"
Bright Hills "*HILL" + "*GLITTER"
Dun Carraig "*CROSS" initialized with the MAL "D" changing to a MAL "C"
(I *hate* initializing this, but the only other viable alternative would
likely be confused with the American Red Cross)
Lochmere "*WATER" + "CRAB" (I sign "*NO" twice simultaneously with both
hands for "CRAB")
Highland Foorde "*MOUNTAIN" + "*THROUGH"
Stierbach "*RED" + "*COW"
Isenfir "*BLACK" + mime pulling a sword
There are, of course, many more groups, but I've not encountered them yet
while trying to sign. I welcome any inputs or corrections to this COMPLETELY
UNOFFICIAL list.
I will attempt to pull all of this information together into a pamphlet or web
site, and will of course make it available for any who wish to use it. My
apologies to the members of the Merry Rose who had absolutely no interest in
this subject, but I believed posting it to the list was the most expedient
method for getting this information out to the public.
// VARD // (PS - My name-sign is an MAL "V" tapped twice against the dominant
temple)
Lord Edvard Gayer, Chronicler
Barony of Dun Carraig, Atlantia
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