SCA-SL-art - 9/8/94

 

An article on SCA specific sign language by Cedar.

 

NOTE: See also the files: disabilities-msg, sign-lang-msg, eyeglasses-msg, cryptography-msg, 15C-Eyeglsses-art.

 

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NOTICE -

 

This article was submitted to me by the author for inclusion in this set of files, called Stefan's Florilegium.

 

These files are available on the Internet at: http://www.florilegium.org

 

Copyright to the contents of this file remains with the author.

 

While the author will likely give permission for this work to be reprinted in SCA type publications, please check with the author first or check for any permissions granted at the end of this file.

 

Thank you,

Mark S. Harris...AKA:..Stefan li Rous

stefan at florilegium.org

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From: Heather L. Garvey (9/8/94)

To: Mark Harris

RE>Some Random Pennsic Thoughts

 

* Would you please email me a copy of the handout when you get it typed in?

* There was someone in our group who was asking about sign language within

* the SCA and I'd like to make it available in the group of files I have

* collected from the computer networks.

 

      Ok, but realize that I had to leave out bits, 'cause of typing

and time constraints. If you send Cedar a SASE, she'd probably send back

the handout. This is not my work whatsoever, except helping type it in...

 

-----

 

            SCA-SPECIFIC SIGN LANGUAGE

 

      REVISED FOR PENNSIC XXIII, A.S. XXIX

 

This handout is a meager attempt to explain sign language in words.

While someone who knows sign language will probably understand some of

the handout, it is *unbelievably difficult* to explain sign language

in words. Therefore this handout is meant as a reminder for those who

have taken the class *and is not intended to stand as a teaching

document on its own*.

 

The basic philosophy behind the invention of SCA-specific signs to date

is this: if it exists in the language, _don't mess with it_!!!! [1] If

it does not exist in the language, the first place to look for an idea

to invent a sign is the heraldry. If it does not immediately lend itself

to either of these techniques, try to brainstorm what the term means and

work from there. [2]

 

I will NEVER be able to cover every possible sign invention -- I'll never

be in that many places at once!! But if my students have the techniques

to cope with new and unusual sign situations on their own, that's all

I can ask for.

 

 

This handout compiled by Lady Ariane Desiree des Cedres, called Cedar

 

mka   Michelle R. Owings-Christian

      21 Englishtown Road

      Parsippany, NJ    07054

      (201) 887-1779 (home)

      (201) 660-6828 (office)

 

If you have any questions, thoughts, ideas, concerns about sign language

use in the SCA, please feel free to contact me at the address/phone

above or drop by the MAGICANDLE merchant booth wherever you may find it.

(Most East Kingdom events and, always, PENNSIC.)

 

      [1] For example, the heraldry of the Middle Kingdom is wonderfully

iconic and would make a great heraldry-based sign. But there is already a

sign for the word 'middle' and when someone says "middle", as an interpreter

I automatically do the sign that exists.

 

      [2] There is an ASL sign for 'court' but it means a court of

law in the modern sense. When I tried to decide on a sign for Court

in the SCA sense, I finally created a "portmanteau sign": a combination

of the signs for 'meeting' and 'celebration', which is how I see SCA Courts.

 

 

---------------

 

NOTE : All ASL signs are preceded by an asterisk (*)

[Ed. note: The phrase "Manual Alphabet Letter" is shortened "MAL"]

[ to preserve my wrists and space. I have also removed the   ]

[ sections on Kingdom Awards, as my wrists are griping. :)  ]

[ If you really want them, you can contact Cedar            ]

 

WORD        DESCRIPTION

----        -----------

 

*king       MAL "K" from non-dominant shoulder to dominant hip.

            (Be sure that the palm orientation is correct -- if not,

            this can easily be confused with the sign for "*PRINCE")

 

*queen            MAL "Q" moving from non-dominant shoulder to dominant hip.

 

*prince           MAL "P" moving from non-dominant shoulder to dominant hip.

            (Be sure that the palm orientation is correct -- if not,

                 this can easily be confused with the sign for "*KING")

 

*princess   MAL "P" moving from non-dominant shoulder to dominant

            shoulder to dominant hip.

 

NOTE :      I have also seen the signs for "*PRINCE" and "*PRINCESS" reversed.

      I believe it is a regional difference.

 

duke        MAL "W" at dominant temple (The closest we could come to

            the STRAWBERRY LEAVES of a ducal coronet of rank)

 

duchess           MAL "W" at dominant temple + "*GIRL" + "*FORMAL,POLITE,FANCY"

 

count       MAL "C" moving from center of forehead to dominant temple.

 

countess    MAL "C" moving from center of forehead to dominant temple

            + "*GIRL" + "*FORMAL,POLITE,FANCY"

 

viscount    MAL "V" at center of forehead moving to dominant temple

            and changing to MAL "C" (Be VERY CAREFUL with the palm

            orientation on the "V" so as not to sign "*STUPID" --

            palm should be facing to the NON-DOMINANT side)

 

viscountess MAL "V" at center of forehead moving to dominant temple

                and changing to MAL "C" (Be VERY CAREFUL with the palm

                orientation on the "V" so as not to sign "*STUPID" --

                palm should be facing to the NON-DOMINANT side) + "*GIRL"

            + "*FORMAL,POLITE,FANCY"

 

laurel            MAL "L" on each hand placed on chest where the peerage

            medallion would rest, showing the shape of the laurel

            wreath.

 

pelican           duck-bill (handshape like sign for "*NO") then same

            handshape moving to pierce the chest (the symbol of

            the order, the pelican vulning itself)

 

*peer       Sign for "*EQUAL"

 

master/mistress   Sign for equal made into an intialized sign using

            the MAL "M" on each hand (all masters/mistresses

            of whatever flavor are peers)

     

knight            MAL "K" at waist moving from center to dominant side,

            drawing the belt which is the symbol of the order.

 

squire            MAL "S" in the same movement as the sign for "KNIGHT"

 

master/mistress MAL "M"at non-dominant shoulder, moving to dominant

of arms           hip where it becomes MAL "A", for the baldric that is

            the symbol of the order.

 

baron       Closed "X" handshape moving from center of the forehead

            to dominant side, denoting three of the pearls in the

            Baronial coronet

 

baroness    Closed "X" handshape moving from center of the forehead

                to dominant side, denoting three of the pearls in the

                Baronial coronet + "*GIRL" + "*FORMAL,POLITE,FANCY"

 

NOTE :      If it becomes important to differentiate between a "LANDED"

      and a "COURT" baron/baroness you can do so. When I lived in

      the Midrealm it was easy to do because all LANDED barons had

      gold coronets and all COURT barons had silver coronets but that

      does not seem to hold true in the Eastrealm (and these are the

      only two kingdoms of which I have any experience).

 

seneschal   "*KEY" + "*PERSON" indicator

 

marshall    Mime pulling a sword then with "one' handshapes, cross

            fingers in saltire (the heraldry denoting marshalls)

 

autocrat    "*CONTROL" + "*PERSON" indicator {Closed "X" handshape

            on both hands, palms facing each other. Move alternately

            foreward and backward -- as in pulling strings} I've also

            seen the ASL sign for "BOSS" made with an "A" but I find

            that a very awkward maneuver

 

archery marshall Left hand in "one" handshape, right hand, MAL "M",

            miming pulling back a bow from the left handshape.

 

herald            Sign for "LECTURE" done with an "H" handshape.

 

chiurgeon   Using a "C" handshape, make the sign for "*HOSPITAL"

 

majesty           "M" handshape moving up -- the sign for "*HIGH"

 

excellency  "E" handshape moving up -- the sign for "*HIGH"

 

highness    "H" handshape moving up -- the sign for "*HIGH"

 

royal       MAL "R" moving from non-dominant shoulder to dominant hip

 

court       Sign for "*CELEBRATE" + Sign for "*MEETING"

 

"OYEZ"            "*ATTENTION"

 

*kingdom    "*KING" +"*AREA"

 

barony            baron + "*AREA"

 

minister of arts "*TEACHER" initialized with the MAL "M" + "*ART"

 

minister of       "*TEACHER" initialized with the MAL "M" + "*SCIENCE"

sciences

 

minister of       "*TEACHER" initialized with the MAL "M" + "*ART" + "*SCIENCE"

arts/sciences

 

Award of Arms     "*GIFT" + display with "A" handshape

 

-------------

 

SIGNS FOR ALL OF THE KINGDONS AND SOME PRINCIPALITIES

 

Atlantia    MAL "A" + "*SEA, OCEAN"

 

Atenveldt   "*SUN" + "*FACE"

 

An Tir            "*LION" + mime the claw outwards

 

Ansteorra   "*SUN" starting from waist up +"*STAR"

 

Caid        Simultaneously with both hands outline the shape of

            crescents in the air about eye height

 

Calontir    "*CROSS" + "*FANCY, DECORATED" {the cross with the *stuff*}

 

Drachenwald Mime sign for "firebreath" + "*WOODS"

 

Outlands    "*DEER" + sign for animal jumping outward

 

*East       MAL "E" moved towards right

 

*West       MAL "W" moved towards left

 

*Middle           Non-dominant hand, palm upwards. Dominant hand above

            this, palm facing body, "B" handshape. Dominant hand

            moves in small circle and lowers tostrike center of

            non-dom. palm with fingertips

 

Meridies    MAL "M" + 3 "*STARS"

 

Trimaris    "*THREE" + "SEA, OCEAN"

 

Aethelmearc Interlaced fingers (for the escarbuncle) + "*ROLLING"

 

Ealdermere  "*FLOWER" +"*WOLF"

 

Cynagua           MAL "C" at throat moving into sign for "*SWAN"

 

The Mists   "*FOG"

 

Settmour Swamp    "*TOWER" + mime sign for falling over

 

Concordia of      "*SNAKE" in circle biting its tail +

the Snows   "*SNOW"

 

Coldwood    "*COLD" + "*WOOD"

 

Stonemarche "*STONE, ROCK" + "*AREA"

 

<the end>



Formatting copyright © Mark S. Harris (THLord Stefan li Rous).
All other copyrights are property of the original article and message authors.

Comments to the Editor: stefan at florilegium.org