ASL Lessons | Bookstore | Library | ASL University Main ►
The Dialects of ASL:
K. Osborn McGuire
June 19 2024
The Dialects of ASL
Just like Basil Staghare in Redwall says, “Language!” in his British accent (16:15-16:20). The accent isn’t conveyed in the subtitles. Depeche Mode’s “Where’s the Revolution?” signed in ASL does not show the accent of the British singer (0:00-3:55). Given that ASL doesn't have a way that I know of to do a British accent, it has plenty of its own unique and special ASL styles. Some people, (cough) Hearies (cough) might be surprised to learn that the intricate language of ASL does not have a standardized style, and by style I mean signed accents. For yes, there are accents in a non-verbal communication system. Michai Hanley an ASL performer states, “Our backgrounds differ based upon how we were raised.” and “We have a unique way of expressing ourselves. Our race, our culture, how we feel is shown when we communicate.”
(Signing Black in America, 0:46-1:09) In America there are several noticeable signed accents. In the article Does American Sign Language Have Accents? It states “Like other natural languages, ASL has evolved spontaneously in humans through long use and repetition without conscious planning.” (“By Start ASL Social January 31, 2023”) So, this paper is not going to include any sign languages other than sign language in America. The few noticeable accents that I could find resources for are: Northern signed accents, Southern signed accents, and the impressive BASL (Black American Sign Language).Yes, just in case you are wondering, I am a Hearie. Moving on...
Given that the stuff I found for Northern sign language accents was limited, there is enough to draw a cookie cutter picture. Which I'm sure has plenty of its own variants, but that would be a paper of its own. What I found is that Northern accents tend to be faster, insistent, and sometimes a little more offensive. An accurate example of Northern accent signing would be the video on Vimeo.com entitled NY Accent in Sign Language (0:00-2:08) where theater producer Samuel Caraballo demonstrates the New York accent and (warning) it was replete with expletives. The properties of faster and more intense signing style is echoed in another Northern region. In the article Exploring ASL Variations and Dialects on deafwebsites(dot)com, they state “New England, steeped in history, has its own distinctive ASL signs. The rapid tempo and specific signs in this region affect the area's cultural and historical content, contributing to its rich linguistic tapestry.” Interesting how the sign language accents for the North parallels pretty closely with the verbal Northern accent.
The Southern signed accent is reportedly leisurely, more relaxed and clearer, and these properties parallels well with the spoken Southern accent. Though I could not find a good reference video for the Southern signed accents, I did find a video of a bunch people signing and celebrating National ASL Day at Georgia Southern University (0:00-0:55). It's in the South, and the signers are relaxed and definitely have a casual pace, but to my given inexperienced eye they look like a bunch of Hearies that had just learned the sign before stepping out in front of the camera. (My apologies if I am wrong, especially if they are Deaf, then I am very sorry.) I have been able to find written descriptions of the Southern accent, but they seem to state that almost the exact same way with the same attitude. In the article “Does American Sign Language Have Accents?” on startasl(dot)com they describe that the southern accent often touches the lower face and chest area more frequently as part of their style. Likewise on ASL Kids, Katelyn Cheng states “There are some regional patterns in ASL syntax. For example, the ASL dialects spoken in the Northeastern United States tend to use more two-handed signs and involve more facial expressions, while the ASL dialects spoken in the Southern United States tend to use fewer facial expressions and rely more on body language.” (“Exploring the Regional Variations in American Sign Language”) And in “Exploring ASL Variations and Dialects” on DeafWebsites, “In Southern states, you might notice signs that are smoother and more fluid, mirroring the slower-paced speech typically associated with the South. These regional signs often carry unique meanings or nuances not observed elsewhere.” The video documentation for this style does not seem to exist.
And then there is BASL, which is more like a sibling than an accent to American Sign Language. American Sign Language, the history of it was bred between French Sign Language and a little bit of home signs that white American students brought to Deaf American Schools. (“American Sign Language: Deaf History”). To paraphrase Carolyn McGaskill, professor at Gallaudet University, because of America's very dark segregated past, the African American Deaf students were separated and were not taught ASL as focused as white Deaf students (Signing in Black America). So the African American Deaf community, it is so unique, whole, and developed that I cannot count it as an accent or subtype of ASL. (And you know how much of an authority I am on accents.) Even though it is definitely American and a signed language, it is different from ASL, it is unique from ASL. Its rich and developed culture amongst an already detailed American Deaf culture draws my fascination. Wade Green, ASL performer on Signing in Black America said, “People who use Black ASL typically show more facial expressions, I can see their- let's say their attitude. Or their personality, their swag. I can also see their body language and how they express what they want to say.” I could only say that BASL is siblings with ASL and not an accent, even though this paper is about styles and accents. Warren “Wawa” Snipe Hip Hop Artist, from Signing in Black America stated, “I've heard people say, you know, “I would like to know more about it.” “What is it?” And it just shows that they're not aware of what Black ASL is. I can't be upset with them because they don't know. You know? Because in a world where we use sign language there is always something new to learn” (2:14–2:27). BASL is much more colorful and has much more soul in it. They will often describe that white people sign in a box, BASL doesn't follow that idea. More motion in their body language and it is amplified even more in BASL. Or isn't a sign you communicate through an idea “body shift” to signify something else. With BASL there is even more so, more expression. They do have unique slang terms or signs that definitely have besties in their African American hearing culture. Ceil Lucas Emerita Porfessor at Gallaudet University in Signing in Black America states, “There is this myth that White AsL is better than Black ASL is you know, not, not so good. Which is ironic given that Black ASL is more traditional and more standard in some ways, than White ASL. Older forms of ASL you have lots of two-handed signs, so, WANT, DON'T KNOW, TIRED, um, and so forth that in every day discourse become one-handed. Black signers keep the two-handed signs,” and “Older forms of ASL have very little mouthing of English. Even though a lot of people were educated orally, so you get, you know, with no mouth movement. And Black -oh especially older Black signers, uh, show very little mouthing. Um so, there is a way in which Black ASL preserves older forms.”(8:22-8:58 ). So it is said, ASL has a lot of one handed signs, BASL has a lot of two handed signs. I don't know if that is true because there are a lot of two handed signs from Dr Bill. But then again he will teach us a lot of different versions of any given sign. Props to Dr. Bill for being a good teacher.
ACCENT-spoken [spoken accent, dialect] ACCENT (wrist-version) -- to have a visual-language-based signing accent
( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bN3gJAJo4VY )
Hopefully I've introduced you to a few of the accents that make the great culture that is the Deaf people. Each accent is unique and special in its own right. These are definitely not all of the accents that there are. These are definitely to me the main ones. All of these people are different, all of these people are unique, but they are all Deaf Americans who use sign language.
References:
“Signing Black in America - more about this project at www.talkingblackinamerica.org” YouTube, Uploaded by The Language & Life Project, 21 Jan, 2021, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oiLltM1tJ9M
“Redwall | Episode 2: Cluny The Scourge. Part Two | Full Episode” YouTube, Uploaded by Treehouse Direct, 20 Feb, 2021, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xthQFVetsrU
“National ASL Day at Georgia Southern University” YouTube, Uploaded by Georgia Southern University, 15 Apr, 2024, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=beAwvMInNH8
“NY Accent in Sign Language” YouTube, Uploaded by Heather Quinlan, 14 April, 2011, https://vimeo.com/22393961
“Depeche Mode "Where's the Revolution?" ASL music video
” YouTube, Uploaded by MyProfessorSignsLanguage,23 Jan, 2022
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=baRG2wgoaOk
StartASL“Does American Sign Language Have Accents?”
https://www.startasl.com/does-american-sign-language-have-accents/ Accessed 31 January, 2023
Deaf websites “Exploring ASL Variations and Dialects”
https://deafwebsites.com/exploring-asl-variations-and-dialects/ Accessed 2005-2023
By Bas “Exploring the Regional Variations in American Sign Language” ASL kids,
https://asl-kids.com/exploring-the-regional-variations-in-american-sign-language/ Accessed 18 February, 2023
Ari Savitt “American Sign Language: Deaf History” Lifeprint,
https://www.lifeprint.com/asl101/topics/history6.htm Accessed 13 July, 2007
Notes:
If interested on this topic you may want to check out:
* Want to help support ASL University? It's easy: DONATE (Thanks!)
* Another way to help is to buy something from Dr. Bill's "Bookstore."
* Want even more ASL resources? Visit the "ASL Training Center!" (Subscription Extension of ASLU)
* Also check out Dr. Bill's channel: www.youtube.com/billvicars
You can learn American Sign Language (ASL) online at American Sign Language University ™
ASL resources by Lifeprint.com © Dr. William Vicars