In the dressing room, News Reporter: The shoot is soon, so I gotta remember that I was indoctrinated in my ASL classes that English words like “or”, “of”, “to”, “be”, “by", “at”, etc, have to be eliminated. Alright, I got it.
Text: Are little “English” words part of ASL?
In the newsroom, News Reporter: This is Crystal Clear News.
In the upper corner, an image of a water wave against skyscrapers with the caption “Tsunami Warning” and the text below “Live Breaking News”.
News Reporter: A space rock has impacted the ocean and a tsunami is on its way you.
In the living room: Deaf Person: Uh, does that mean the tsunami is on the way to somewhere over there or is it coming to me?
In the newsroom, the news reporter turns and looks away from the camera.
In the backstage: Crew: No, no! If eliminating “English” words causes some information to be removed, it will lead to some misunderstanding. This is a no go. ASL uses “English” words, but just a little and only at certain times. That’s it. Go ahead and include the word “to” for that phrase to be more specific and clear. Do it.
In the newsroom: News Reporter: What? Oh. (Turns back to the camera) A space rock has impacted the ocean and a tsunami is on its way to you.
In the living room: Deaf Person: Oh, no! We’re doomed!
In the newsroom: In the upper corner, an image of a skull with the caption “Death Warning”.
News Reporter: The death toll will rise. It will impact one there cities.
In the living room: Deaf Person: Does that mean it will impact someone inside the city, or does that mean one of the cities? Uh?
In the newsroom, the news reporter turns and looks to the crew.
In the backstage: Crew: No, no! It is better to follow what deaf people all over the USA and Canada sign in their conversations. Follow that guideline. Go ahead and include the word “of” for that phrase to be more specific and clear. Do it.
In the newsroom: News Reporter: Seriously?! Oh. (Turns back to the camera) The death toll will rise. It will impact one of the cities.
In the living room: Deaf Person: Oh! Hopefully it is not meee!
In the newsroom: In the upper corner, an image of a house in a flood with the caption “Flood Warning”.
News Reporter: The flood waters will raise hmm recede.
In the living room: Deaf Person: Seriously! Does that mean the water will raise and then recede? Or does that mean the water will either raise or recede? Uh?
In the newsroom, the news reporter turns and looks to the crew.
In the backstage: Crew: No, no! Don’t you know that ASL has been influenced by different languages from day 1? It has always been like this. Also, deaf people are already bilingual. Go ahead and spell out the word “or” to be more specific and clear. Do it.
In the newsroom: News Reporter: Oh my! Oh. (Turns back to the camera) The flood waters will raise or recede.
In the living room: Deaf Person: Oh! I hope the water will go down, down, down.
In the newsroom: News Reporter: This is Crystal Clear News. We will provide more information regarding survival needs. More to come. (Eyes widen nervously, then relax and smile.)
And the text “Crystal Clear News” appears with a spark.