How do you translate a piece of music into ASL without being too Englishicized?

Dixie

Dixie

Farting Snowflakes
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I have a creative streak going here and I decided I would like to try and translate a friend of mine's song into ASL without being to Englishicized and follow the beat of the music and still staying true to the lyrics.

The song?
"Becoming" by Naomi Carroll. I am actually friends with her. She is a Christian musician who has done one studio album, is currently working on a soundtrack for a movie and is writing another album all while working as a DJ for a radio station and giving vocal lessons to children and is also a worship leader at a church. I believe she is very good at what she does and she is a rare breath of fresh air in the Christian music scene.

Anyways, she has given me a copy of the lyrics but I wanted some advice on how to do this the RIGHT way. I want to stay true to ASL throughout but still have a good translation of the song.

The theme of the song is this : It's not about what I am but what I am becoming in the sight of God. A personal journey of sorts.
 
"Englishicized"? That's a new one. Most people just say, "I don't want my signing to be too English."

But anyway, translating music is tricky. You want to do some deep analysis of the text and determine what concept is being portrayed, and then sign the concepts rather than the lyrics. If you focus on concepts then it will help minimize source language intrusion.
 
The best way to avoid "anglicizing" asl is to not literally translate songs word for word but look at the context and the story of the entire song and translate that instead.
 
I learned so much from you englishicized is a new word for me.

for musics, just drop those words like are is were was like this. i know there are some deaf/hoh did sign in musics on youtube. i m sorry i couldnt remember what was the name.
 
Mountain Man said:
"Englishicized"? That's a new one. Most people just say, "I don't want my signing to be too English."

But anyway, translating music is tricky. You want to do some deep analysis of the text and determine what concept is being portrayed, and then sign the concepts rather than the lyrics. If you focus on concepts then it will help minimize source language intrusion.
Click to expand...

DeafCaroline said:
The best way to avoid "anglicizing" asl is to not literally translate songs word for word but look at the context and the story of the entire song and translate that instead.
Click to expand...

these!

:ty:
 
This reminded me of a couple of my favorite ASL videos on Youtube - I have a pretty long list of ones that make me happy or want to :dance:



Anyone else have a favorite they would like to share? :wave:
 
I have no idea how to put links into my comments (help please!) but my favorite is Pump It by BStorm. You'll find it on YouTube under the title: Pump It ala ASL. That and his version of Crazy, which is on his website.

There's another guy, but the name has done a think disappear on me.:giggle:
 
Kitten said:
I have no idea how to put links into my comments (help please!) but my favorite is Pump It by BStorm. You'll find it on YouTube under the title: Pump It ala ASL. That and his version of Crazy, which is on his website.

There's another guy, but the name has done a think disappear on me.:giggle:
Click to expand...

Just go to the webpage you want to link and highlight the address in the address bar then right click your mouse and choose "copy" from the menu. Next toggle back to the AD website, type in your message and then click on the icon above ^^ that looks like a globe and a link of a chain. Delete the "http://" that appears in the new box that pops up and then place your cursor in that same address bar, right click your mouse and choose paste. Your link should then be included in your message. Hope that helps!
 
You can also just paste it. This forum automatically parses URLs (puts the code in for them).

EDIT: This is one of my favorites right now, and it is SO not Englishicized/English-y/PSE.


My song signing (when I think about doing it) tends to fall between PSE and this (closer to PSE). I don't sign word-for-word, I don't do English grammar/word order, and I think about what each sentence/group of sentences means. Still, it tends to look more English than this lady, just because my first language is English and I'm not fluent in ASL yet.
 
"You can also just paste it. This forum automatically parses URLs (puts the code in for them)."

Well now that is sooo much easier than the long route I take haha. Thanks purplewowies, will try that next time :) .
 
One thing to watch our for is acting out the song. You want to make sure you're conveying clear and complete concepts and not just gesturing in time with the music.
 
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