How do you sign "Shiver me timbers!

[mmmgood84]

I am working on creating a t-shirt for a themed week at a camp for deaf children. My initial inspiration was to create something that only 'deaf' people would understand, kind of like an inside joke. (similar to how computer people have words written out in binary and stuff like that on their t-shirts)

The theme is Pirate week and I have never done anything like this before. Do you guys have any ideas of what I could use... I'm thinking like "arrr matey" in sign language or "hoist the sails!".

The tshirt design will directly sign out the words. Anyone think this will be cool for kids? If not i'll stick with a typical pirate design with pictures and such. Age range is 3-11 years old.

Sorry if this isnt' the right topic to post in.. it seemed the most relevant.

Thanks for any help!

 

[Tousi]

Well, this means, "surprise" but how you would transfer that to a t-shirt, I am not sure. Since the phrase probably originated on the seas hundreds of years ago having to do with a ship's timbers, perhaps Member Reba, a former Navy person and currently a professional ASL interpreter will come along and provide enlightenment....

 

[Reba]

Well, this means, "surprise" but how you would transfer that to a t-shirt, I am not sure. Since the phrase probably originated on the seas hundreds of years ago having to do with a ship's timbers, perhaps Member Reba, a former Navy person and currently a professional ASL interpreter will come along and provide enlightenment....

Hey! I'm not that old! I wasn't on a sailing ship crew!

My ancestors came over on the Mayflower, not me.

It does remind me of a saying in the Navy about REAL sailors of the past compared with modern sailors--"when the ships were made of wood, and the men were made of iron."

The only American commissioned ships (that I know of) that are still under sail are the USS Constitution (the Navy's "Old Ironsides"), and the Coast Guard's training barque Eagle. Of course, the Constitution is not actively underway.

(Off topic--the American Flag that I received upon my retirement from the Navy had been flown over the Constitution.)

Back to the topic. It probably does have to do with the shaking of the ship's timbers (wooden structure) when either struck by a cannon ball or run aground. That is, a sudden shock. So, signing the phrase would include an expression of surprise or shock, or, as often the case with pirates, feigned surprise or shock.

I'm not sure how that would be expressed in ASL on a t-shirt.

 

[Reba]

Ages 3-11? I think it might be better to stick with obvious pirate graphics for that age group. That's not the age for "subtle" humor--the more blatant and gross the better. :P

Arrgh!

 

[mmmgood84]

Thank you guys for the info. Is there a way to sign "ahoy matey!" or "arrrrgg"? Or any other pirate lingo? Does that translate well to sign language or ASL?

 

[Beowulf]

Dang, Reba, it is quite an honor to have a flag from the Constitution. For Petesake, don't sell it on Ebay.
But back to topic...Lol, I like the Arggh! Maybe you could have three hoary pirates fingerspelling that, you know?
What did you decide?

 

[Reba]

Dang, Reba, it is quite an honor to have a flag from the Constitution. For Petesake, don't sell it on Ebay.

Oh, no, I would never do that. I have it in a nice display case on a shelf, along with the framed certificate.