Handshape & ABC Stories

How they impact the Deaf Community

Handshape Stories

• Handshape stories are one form of creative play with ASL.

• In handshape stories all the signs used must be chosen and ordered according to specific rules.

3 Kinds of Handshape Stories

1. ABC Stories2. Number Stories3. One handshape stories

ABC Stories

• ABC Stories are told using signs in the handshapes of each letter of the manual alphabet, starting with A and ending with Z.

• This involves using a pattern from English, with signs from ASL.

• ASL signs usually have no relationship to the English letter except for the handshape used.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PaLomHodZUA

Number Stories

• Number stories are similar to ABC stories, but use signs in the handshapes of ASL numbers from 1 to 10, 15, or 20.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUwC_l--rAA

One-Handshape Stories

• In one-handshape stories the performer recites a story or poem using only signs in a single handshape.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOHinP57wyY

How are handshape stories made?

• Just as spoken languages are made up of different sounds in various combinations, signed languages are made up of certain handshapes that occur in different locations, with various movements and orientations.

• All signs can be analyzed in terms of their parameters: handshape, movement, location, palm orientation and NMS.

A few things to know…

• Not all possible handshapes, movements or locations are acceptable in ASL.

• There are ASL handshapes other than those of the letters of the English alphabet.

• It is the constraint on handshapes- the strict order required- that provides the challenge in creating a handshape story.

ABC Stories

• The form of ABC stories is traditional, but the stories themselves vary.

• The most common types are risqué, humorous, or horror stories, especially among young people, but they may also relate to everyday experiences in a way that entertains and delights the listener.

• ABC stories may be passed on from one group to another, often with creative alterations or new twists.

Valentine’s Day Vocabulary• VALENTINE’S-DAY• LOVE• HEART• SWEETHEART• FALL-IN-LOVE• FLOWERS• BOX-OF-CHOCOLATE• BECOME• FLIRT• JEWELRY• RELATIONSHIP

• SWEETS• CUPID• CUTIE/BABY• CARD• HAPPY• FEELINGS• EMOTIONS• ROMANCE• KISS• CANDLE

Creating a Handshape Story• You will create a handshape story with a

Valentine’s Day theme.• You may choose one of the following types of

handshape story to sign:– ABC Story– Number Story– One-Handshape Story– Or; create a saying and signing the letters as an

ABC story

ExampleH- “he”A- “heart beat”P- two-of-usP- person-sees-usY- Oh-I-seeV- ValentineA- “heart beat”L- Fall-in-loveE- emotionsN-”admire- her”T- “it’s time”I- “I”N- “kneel”E- “engagement ring”S- “open box”D- pull-out-ringA- “head turn”Y- YES!

Now it’s your turn!• Create a handshape story and

valentine for someone special in your life.– i.e.- your mom, dad, girl friend,

boyfriend, grandma, grandpa, friend, aunt, uncle, etc….

• Use markers, colored paper and glue to create your valentine and write your handshape story on it.

• We will be presenting these tomorrow in class.