How Do I Love Thee: Abstracting
American Sign Language
When examining the cognitive tool of abstracting in relation to the shapes of letters of the alphabet, I was drawn to the study of American Sign Language. Below, my first medium is a slide show that I created that compares the written alphabet letter, as well as the letter as it is displayed in sign language.
When examining the cognitive tool of abstracting in relation to the shapes of letters of the alphabet, I was drawn to the study of American Sign Language. Below, my first medium is a slide show that I created that compares the written alphabet letter, as well as the letter as it is displayed in sign language.
The other medium I chose to convey abstraction is a written poem that highlights the use of sign language. The poem is broken into two (5 line) sections to represent the hands of the human body.
The cognitive tool of abstracting encourages individuals to focus on one particular trait of an object or subject (shape, color, composition, size) and create a new meaning from that trait. The emphasis placed on one specific trait allows the inquirer to explore uncommon (often unseen) features, and possibly further the connection with other subjects to create an analogy in relation to different objects/subjects. For my abstraction, I chose to highlight American Sign Language. When thinking about the shapes of the alphabet, I previously focused on how shapes can be conveyed outside of standard lines and curves. However, American Sign Language embraces the ability to communicate the shapes of the alphabet through formations and motions made with the hands. Each letter of the alphabet has a corresponding representation in sign language. The structure of the alphabet retains its integrity, yet the shapes are presented in an abstract manner.
The first medium that I used to emphasize the art of sign language and the alphabet is a slideshow (video). I created this video to capture the shapes of each letter, as we recognize it in print, and then its translation into American Sign Language. This allows viewers to see that in other mediums, letters are comprised of elements outside of the standard lines and curves that we are trained to write and recognize. Few of the letters maintain the integrity of their original shape, but they all retain their meaning. While I am able to read and write the shapes of the alphabet with ease, it was interesting to encounter some challenges with positioning my fingers while forming the letters with my hands.
The second medium that I used to express abstracting is the use of a written poem. This is a medium that I am not typically known for using, so it was a journey out of my “comfort zone.” I chose to structure the poem in 10 short, yet direct lines. The ten lines are separated into two sets of five lines, with each set representing the composition of the human hand. I (inadvertently) experienced the notion discussed by the Root-Bernstein’s in Sparks of Genius, that condensing a written piece into a abridged version can pose a challenge for writers. I chose this medium in an attempt to capture the power and expression that the shapes of the letters represent in American Sign Language. The brief lines hope to heighten the recognition of expressing letters, with only the sense of touch.
Exploring the cognitive tool of abstracting has helped to broaden my horizon about the composition of alphabet shapes, outside of their standard written structure. The past few modules have helped me to explore the line and curve elements of letter shapes, but exploring American Sign Language “flipped the script” on this foundation. Instead of solely focusing on letters around us, it is also pertinent to examine the motions and formations of gestures in relation to letters and communication. Printed letters come in all shapes and sizes, but the use of sign language is an art, an expression, and an experience.
The first medium that I used to emphasize the art of sign language and the alphabet is a slideshow (video). I created this video to capture the shapes of each letter, as we recognize it in print, and then its translation into American Sign Language. This allows viewers to see that in other mediums, letters are comprised of elements outside of the standard lines and curves that we are trained to write and recognize. Few of the letters maintain the integrity of their original shape, but they all retain their meaning. While I am able to read and write the shapes of the alphabet with ease, it was interesting to encounter some challenges with positioning my fingers while forming the letters with my hands.
The second medium that I used to express abstracting is the use of a written poem. This is a medium that I am not typically known for using, so it was a journey out of my “comfort zone.” I chose to structure the poem in 10 short, yet direct lines. The ten lines are separated into two sets of five lines, with each set representing the composition of the human hand. I (inadvertently) experienced the notion discussed by the Root-Bernstein’s in Sparks of Genius, that condensing a written piece into a abridged version can pose a challenge for writers. I chose this medium in an attempt to capture the power and expression that the shapes of the letters represent in American Sign Language. The brief lines hope to heighten the recognition of expressing letters, with only the sense of touch.
Exploring the cognitive tool of abstracting has helped to broaden my horizon about the composition of alphabet shapes, outside of their standard written structure. The past few modules have helped me to explore the line and curve elements of letter shapes, but exploring American Sign Language “flipped the script” on this foundation. Instead of solely focusing on letters around us, it is also pertinent to examine the motions and formations of gestures in relation to letters and communication. Printed letters come in all shapes and sizes, but the use of sign language is an art, an expression, and an experience.