EVERY-DAY I STAND CORNER, WAIT. CARS SPEED-BY, HALT NONE. I CLASS LATE.
ASL implies objects. If the signer uses a "shatter" classifier, write "the windshield spiderwebbed." If they puff their cheeks, write "they exhaled in relief."
A woman works as a teacher at a school where parking is expensive. To save money, she parks at home for free and walks to work. The Obstacle:
AHEAD ACCIDENT! CL:3 [Vehicle 1] CL:3 [Vehicle 2] CRASH CL:5 [Debris scattering]. asl stop the traffic story translation
Here is a comprehensive breakdown, translation, and analysis of the ASL "Stop the Traffic" story. The Cultural Context of ASL Storytelling
Her walk requires her to cross a extremely busy street with constant, fast-moving traffic. She often finds herself stuck at the corner, waiting for a gap that never comes, which frequently makes her late for her class.
The signer establishes a virtual 3D map in front of them. The squirrel is placed in front of the car, while the truck is placed behind the car. The signer’s eye gaze moves forward to look at the squirrel and up toward the rearview mirror to track the truck. EVERY-DAY I STAND CORNER, WAIT
: One summer, while she is pregnant, she notices that cars suddenly stop to let her pass.
Students must use vehicle classifiers (like the 3-handshape ) to show the flow and sudden stopping of traffic.
: Shift your body slightly to the side, look angry or surprised, and mimic slamming on brakes. ASL implies objects
Instead of just signing about the event, the storyteller steps into the shoes of the character. When looking at the cars, the signer's eyes track back and forth as if watching real traffic zoom past. When pretending to stuff the jacket inside the shirt, the signer uses a combination of facial expressions (showing urgency and mischief) and precise body movements to physically act out the deception. Key Takeaways for ASL Students
"The other day, I was driving my car down a two-lane road. I was totally relaxed, steering with one hand, listening to the radio, and just enjoying the drive. Up ahead, I noticed a small squirrel step out onto the road. It froze right in the middle of my lane.
Identify each classifier handshape. Create a key:
Classifiers are handshapes that represent the size, shape, and movement of nouns.
I looked in my rearview mirror. A massive semi-truck was speeding up quickly behind me. The driver wasn't paying attention. If he didn't stop, he was going to rear-end my car and crush the squirrel.