PEO - Deaf Literature (Lesson)

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Deaf Literature

Stories with Hand Constraints

Stories with hand constraints are a type of ASL poetry. The three more common types are as follows: 

ABC Story  - Stories that use the manual alphabet from A - Z or vice versa - Also known as A to Z Story.

Number Story - Very similar to an ABC story, but the story is performed using numbers, not letters. Stories typically range from 1 through 10, but can use larger numbers.

One - Handshape Story - Story is performed using only a single handshape. 

Stories with Hand Constraint Principles

There are four basic principles that a Hand Constraint story must follow. 

  • Succession Principle - The story must present manual handshapes in successive order. (A, B, C...1, 2, 3... - Does not apply to One-Handshape Story). 
  • Minimal Deviation - Keep the handshape deviations as minimal as possible.
  • Use of Cohesive Devices
    • Use of Space/Role Shifts
    • Direction of Eye Gazes
    • Paralinguistic Cues: Gestures, Body Movement
    • Use of 3 P’s: Pacing, Pausing, and Phrasing
    • Use of Facial Expressions
  • Integrity of the Storyline - The story has to make sense
    • Clear introduction and Conclusion
    • Logical sequence to the story

ABC Story Example

Watch this example of an ABC Story - "A Turkey for Thanksgiving".

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[CC BY 4.0] UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED | IMAGES: LICENSED AND USED ACCORDING TO TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION.  Video used by permission from Luke Bundrum.