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ASL Rose Newsletter
Vol. 1 No. 10
October 2007



What are the two “Have You Ever Seen...? An American Sign Language (ASL) Handshape DVDs/Books” (HYES DVD/Book) doing in the Halloween night as shown in the picture above that is beautifully illustrated by Matt Daigle? The HYES DVD/book appears as a spooky treat for a boy and a girl who expect something in return for their enthusiastic "Trick or Treat!" The door opens slowly, and they peer over their bags for something spooky. Then suddenly, their eyes open with excitement when they see that they won’t be getting a candy that melts in one's mouth! What’s with the change?! What is it? It is a "candy" that stimulates their minds about American Sign Language (ASL).

Would you believe that Halloween and language share things in common? Eerie?! Maybe at first, but then you might find the answer logical rather than illogical.

When someone covers up in a costume, they become a different ‘creature’ and entertain others. Let’s think of it this way: the person under the costume is the ‘primary’ person- the real person. When the costume is put on, like on Halloween, the costume becomes the ‘secondary’ person. There is a good possibility of many people will be wearing their ‘primary’ and ‘secondary’ selves for Halloween night!

How does this connect with language? Because we have both primary and secondary forms of communication as well! We engage in our primary form of communication when we talk (sign/speak). Every ‘word’ we say is our own unique imprint in a language that comes naturally to us, like our own selves before we dress up in a costume. The secondary form of communication appears when we write. Writing is like a costume! Writing is not learned from everyday interaction, like a primary language is. We have to learn writing through long, tedious practice. Some people don’t like writing, and some people don’t like costumes—but, sometimes writing becomes so comfortable that it almost blends with the primary language, like people walking around in themselves as their costumes!

Really amazing! Now you see both Halloween and language do have some things in common.

“Trick or Treat!” That is what we say on Halloween night. Children go up to people with treats, and say, in their primary language, “Trick or Treat!” whether the phrase is signed or spoken. In English, we can write ‘trick or treat’ on paper, but can it be sign-written in ASL, using a secondary language? It is nearly nowhere seen when it comes from ASL signing to ASL writing. Here comes a spooky question: Do deaf children deserve to build a foundation of education through the writing system of ASL? It is sad to note that most people would answer to that question with a big BOO! Maybe it’s even more spooky to see that they are willing to spend fortunes on Halloween costumes than the development of an ASL writing system.

There exist several ASL writing systems, but none are currently used widespread. Below, we have included some regional signs for ‘Halloween’ using Stokoe’s ASL writing system, which was developed by William C. Stokoe and his team in the 1960s. ASL Rose chose to highlight his writing system to honor his pioneering work in ASL. Use the Stokoe notations to help you match the Halloween signs with the six different states. Can you figure out them all?



It is fascinating to see the six pictures above showing the different handshapes used to sign Halloween. Can you guess how many USA regional signs there are for ‘Halloween?’ How many other handshapes? You can gather some information on regional signs from ASL books. For teachers: one exciting way to learn more about regional signs is to set up videophone calls with several schools for the deaf in different parts of the country in regard to their signs on Halloween! The students can exchange signs relating to Halloween, such as ghost, witch, haunted house, vampire, werewolf… any other Halloween word you can think of! In this newsletter, ASL Rose has provided some more Halloween ASL activities for young school-age children.

Trick or Treat?! You may order UNspooky treats – HYES DVD/book and stimulate others’ mind with ASL and entertain others on the evening of October 31. Include many ASL activities and maybe a campfire!

Happy Halloween and Happy ASL Writing!

Bonus Activities

Scary Handshape Illustrations

  1. Paint your hand on a piece of paper.
  2. Use black and orange markers to draw scary faces.
  3. Add hairy nose, moles, scars, spider webs, funny eyes or noses.

List of Booful Handshapes

  1. Create two charts.
  2. On top of the charts, draw Bent 5.
  3. Create two teams.
  4. Each team comes up with signs for this particular handshape.
  5. For example: MONSTER, ONE-EYEBALL COME OUT
  6. Do same for other handshapes: Bent V, G/Q (Open and Closed)

The ABCs of Halloween

  1. Create a Halloween theme such as “Dracula”
  2. Each student takes a turn to create a sign for letter A. Then the next student signs the A and adds B. The 3rd student signs A, B and creates a sign for C.
  3. The last student with Z signs the entire story.
  4. Discuss its characters, plot, theme, setting and other components of the story.

Pumpkin Collage

  1. Draw a sketch of a pumpkin on a piece of paper.
  2. Cut out several pictures of various handshapes to show faces of the pumpkin.

Halloween ASL Rap

  1. Create a rap using various characters related to Halloween.
  2. One may use a drum, clap hands or stomp feet on floor to show the percussion of the ASL Rap.
  3. Few children can participate in a group showing this ASL Rap about a character or two.
  4. For example: FRANKENSTEIN – create rhythm to show its walk, signs and head movements explaining why he was created to be alive again.

Handshape Open B Mask

  1. On a piece of cardboard paper, sketch one’s hand (big enough to cover the face).
  2. Cut out two holes for the eyes.
  3. Attach a string from thumb to pinkie finger.
  4. Draw pictures on the hand related to Halloween.

Spooky Stories by the Bonfire

  1. With adult supervision, bonfire is created and children is surrounded it.
  2. An adult takes turn to tell a spooky story. One adult could scare them with a costume.

Handshape Sculpture

  1. Each child creates a handshape.
  2. The next child adds another handshape to the first handshape.
  3. The goal is to make a funny or scary handshape sculpture.
  4. One could take a picture of each handshape being added to the sculpture.
  5. Show pictures as in flash cards.