I want your opionion on including sign language

scarlet_wings_kaili 2017-07-12 03:39:06 UTC #1

Hi! it's Kelly from Halfsoul. Recently I've been really thinking whether or not one of my characters should use sign language. Sorry that this is a little long :o
As a bit of context, Nalia does not talk because she is selectively mute. This is based on my own experience as a child when I was selectively mute because I was afraid of my own speech impediment. I had language delay and I still have a learning disability where I cannot remember sound. Now this is important because Nalia doesn't currently use sign language because I wasn't taught it. Instead, I originally thought that she could deal with it the same way I dealt with it: Not really bothering to communicate and/or running on her own tempo. I realize now that this could be a slight problem when it comes to readability.
I also recently I went to a TED talk hosted by my school and sign language came up. There I learned sign language doesn't just need to be for deaf people and that it is kind of similar to the way I actually "remember" sound -visually and spatially. So I wonder is it worth while to have Nalia know sign language, especially since the way I view her character could be very different from readers see her.

But there are some problems/con:
1) Will it be strange for her to suddenly know it after a chapter of it not happening?
2) While I've been meaning to learn sign language, I actually have no previous knowledge of how it works.

Pros are:
1) While Nalia will tell her part of story through her mind after Tale (another character) readers will better know what she's thinking before we get to that part.
2) Representation

Anyways, I really want to know what you guys think.
Thanks for your time XD

heraclus 2017-07-12 06:26:09 UTC #2

I think you should do it!!!

ryoko 2017-07-12 06:28:05 UTC #3

Are you planning on drawing her signing and translating what she's 'saying' for your readers? I think it's a great idea and unique. You said she's selectively mute, so her not signing in the first chapter doesn't seem to be a problem as maybe she was shy about signing as well? I have a character in my comic that's mute (due to injury) and he only communicates using a chalkboard or sometimes writing on someone's palm. I don't give him 'thoughts', so readers don't always know what he's thinking. I think your idea could work really well and could attract a whole new audience for you.

rmdooley 2017-07-12 13:43:58 UTC #4

Go for it. From what can be gathered of Nalia, a delay in engaging in communication for a chapter could make perfect sense for her character

If you're looking for different ways of execution, check out some of the Hawkeye comics where sign language was used

Good luck on your comic!

DMBrigman 2017-07-12 15:46:53 UTC #5

I was also going to suggest Hawkeye as @rmdooley did. I think you should include it, but definitely do your research and see if you can find someone who knows sign language so they can be a consultant.

There are lots of great online resources to help you learn. Remember, it is like any other language, with grammar and syntax, and it incorporates facial expressions, something very important to know when you draw. It is also important to note that sign language is not universal across countries so pick one like American Sign Language and stick to it.

tuesdayisms 2017-07-12 15:54:55 UTC #6

I've been taking an ASL class for nearly three years now and although I wouldn't consider myself fluent, I might know things that could help you.
ASL isn't perfect English. It is its own language with its own rules. Don't let this discourage you though. ASL is fairly easy to understand. I've heard the joke many times before that ASL sounds like Yoda if you literally translate everything in English and I think this is pretty accurate to a degree.

I wouldn't say you need to be fluent in order to write a deaf character though. Knowing someone who can help you (like a Deaf person or an ASL teacher), but it's not like you need to draw the whole sentence each time your character speaks (your hand would surely hurt after a while!)

Here are some cartoons and comics that use ASL:

(I recommend this comic, it's pretty funny on its own so you don't have to know a lot about ASL to enjoy it- but it's got a bunch of bonuses for Deaf people/people who know ASL)

And this isn't even all of them!
I'd say-
1. Familiarize yourself with the language a little bit. You don't have to study it for three years or anything, but at least know some basics.
2. Having a character who knows ASL means that you can't hide their hands when they need to speak. If you hate drawing hands as much as I do, this sounds like a nightmare. Fill up a page or two with hands and then pick some signs off the internet to try to replicate. There are plenty of educational ASL drawings of signs you may need. (Some might even have full sentences!)
3. Being at least a little knowledgeable about Deaf culture might help as well. Deaf people are usually very proud of their deafness and there's a lot of things I don't find myself qualified enough to explain. Searching on the Internet for Deaf people or finding a Deaf social media website would be great for research!

That's all I can think of right now, but I hope this is useful!

Michelle 2017-07-12 17:32:49 UTC #7

If you want to see another example of sign-language in comics, check out @shazzbaa's Runewriters too! One of the main characters is deaf and communicates via a mix of sign-language and verbally (by lip-reading.) I think the comic does a good job of incorporating sign language in a way that's easy to understand for those who aren't famliar with the language. :>

scarlet_wings_kaili 2017-07-12 19:11:41 UTC #8

Yea, that's pretty much it. As long as it doesn't seem to be too strange, I'm relived. I don't really want it to end up being confusing for readers :o Thanks for your opionin.
\

I'll definitely check that out. Thanks.

I don't know anyone who knows sign language yet, but I'll definitely do my research. To be honest, I am a bit worried that I'll mess it up since it's not something know much about to begin with, but I'll definitely keep your pointers in mind! Thanks

scarlet_wings_kaili 2017-07-12 19:21:38 UTC #9

That's good to know that doing it will be do-able. Of course ASL is it's own language, so I definitely will spend the time to learn about it. Nalia isn't actually deaf but I was actually talking to my roommate who was taught a little bit of ASL when she was young (she doesn't remember much of it thou) because she also had a speech impediment so I feel that the people who can benefit from sign language are not just deaf people. Thanks for giving me examples thou. It really helps

Thanks! I already checked it out and it's really helpful

sarrowsmith10 2017-07-12 19:27:14 UTC #10

I don't think having your first chapter without sign would be weird. I've known my cousin for years, and one day I saw her signing to her son (he has a cochlear implant). I was a bit surprised since her son talks and hears with the implant, I didn't realize they signed too! Her son is ten years old and it was the first time I noticed. Obviously she is not deaf, but she still used the language. So it's not just for the deaf, but those who interact with the community as well.

scarlet_wings_kaili 2017-07-12 19:31:25 UTC #11

That's good to know! It seems all my worries are for naught ^-^

Rhombik 2017-07-12 20:21:04 UTC #12

One of the comics in my library does this quite effectively I think.

Maybe you could write on her wall and ask as I don't think she's posted here (that I can see). Might be some useful pointers in there.

scarlet_wings_kaili 2017-07-14 21:29:11 UTC #13

Thanks for sharing that :o