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ASL: ABC Stories


An ABC story is a form of American Sign Language (ASL) performance art consisting of telling a story using the handshapes of the ASL fingerspelled alphabet in sequence. The story starts with a sign that uses the "A" handshape, then the next sign in the story uses a "B" handshape, then the next sign uses a "C" and so forth until the story ends with a sign using the general hand shape and movement path of the fingerspelled letter "Z." 
 



ABC Story: "THE HAUNTED HOUSE "



ABC Story: "THE HAUNTED HOUSE "

A = A KNOCK ON THE DOOR
B = DOOR OPENS
C = SEARCHING AROUND
D = HEAR SOMETHING
E = E-E-E-K!
F = LOOKING AROUND (He sees something scary)
G = He ZOOMS off.
H = He HURRIES along.
I = Man IMAGINES all kinds of things.
J = ART on the wall (He notices it)
K = A picture of a man SMOKING.
L = A PICTURE on the wall
M = M-M-M-M-M (He hears a sound)
N = he LOOKS-AT the painting again
O = HOLE (He notices it in the painting)
P = PERSON SWINGING IN THE AIR (dead)
Q = Shape of the rope
R = Hanging by a ROPE from the ceiling.
S = HUNG!
T = SUDDENLY
U = A PERSON STANDING there
V = Staring at each other
W = (role shift) PLACING A CURSE ON THE MAN
X = (role shift) The man's LEGS ARE SHAKING
Y = He orders the person to STAY where he is
Z = He ESCAPES!


 


 

* ABC Story: "CAR RACE"

 

A = COMPETITION (It's a race!)

B = LOW SLEEK RACING CARS

C = WHEELS (vibrating)

D = RACE-CAR front raises up as it takes off.

E = EEEEEEE! (Wheels screeching!)

F = Spectator's EYES watch the cars 

G = ZOOM Cars go past quickly.

H = Cars going around the track.

I = The perimeter

J =The shape of the track

K = SEE! Watching the cars!

L = CAR-tumbling end over end

M = Doctor!

N = NO

O = NONE!

P = FAIL

Q = PEABRAIN!

R = REASON?

S = DRIVER
T = TOKING

U = HIGH

V = CARLESS

W = no-WORRIES

X = ADDICTED

Y = OH-I-SEE

Z = Nuh-uh, not acceptable. (Wagging side to side)
 

 


 



 

Notes: 

For a "Signwriting" example of a "Pidgin Signed English" version of an "ABC Apple story" see: "Signwriting."

 




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