How to Say No

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Welcome to Celebrate Creativity - Episode 429 _ How to Say No

Name Signs as Clarifiers: Which Side Is He On?

One common practice when interpreting a play is for t when mythological references are used the interpreter needs well needs to be able to be creative yes be creative add to avoid finger spelling and therefore breaking the meter the interpreter excuse me just a second here he interpreter to come up with a sign to signify a character - this is much faster - much faster - then finger spelling the name each time. And a name sign is also easier for a member of the death audience to see. Name signs can be introduced while the interpreter speaks with the Deaf audience a few minutes prior to the beginning of a play. This not only serves as a time to introduce the characters and helps the Deaf audience make the transition into Shakespeare's world, but gives the Deaf audience an opportunity to become accustomed to the signing style of the interpreter.

An interpreter should not “overload” the Deaf audience with name signs.  In many cases, a character can be referred to by their relationship or role, such as “nurse” or “servant.”  If the character is on stage, the interpreter can point to that person.  If the character is offstage, and is referred to again, the interpreter may establish a position on stage, “assign” the location to a character, and when he quickly points to that area, the audience knows that specific character is being mentioned.   Name signs can even be used to clarify relationships between characters in a Shakespearean play.  In the Blackfriars production of The Life and Death of King Richard the Third, the characters who supported the House of York had name signs on the left side of the body, while the characters who supported of the House of Lancaster  had name signs on the right side of the body.   That night, the Deaf individuals were perhaps the only people in the audience unfamiliar with English history who were easily able to follow the political intrigues of the play!  

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