tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320269312957801390.post8991761793747565028..comments2024-03-28T05:59:52.454-07:00Comments on TalkToYoUniverse: TTYU Retro: The Trouble with Translating ASL by Rebecca Inch-PartridgeJuliette Wadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879627074920760712noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320269312957801390.post-47814137166399931692012-08-31T16:07:14.832-07:002012-08-31T16:07:14.832-07:00When it comes to aliens, who know what the tense m...When it comes to aliens, who know what the tense modifiers might be. My experience with ASL is that just as you establish the person you are talking about before telling the story, you set up the time frame. Since ASL is full of spacial concepts the sign for future is in front and you demonstrate how far in the future. Likewise, the sign for past moves behind you. Then once that time frame is established there is no differences in the verbs. This works fine as long as the other person caught the start of the conversation. I must admit to some confusion a few times when I thought someone was saying they were about to do something, when in fact they were telling about something they had just done. It can be kind of embarrassing and cause confusion when people join a conversation in progress. <br /><br /> Rebecca Partridgehttp://www.r.i.partridge.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320269312957801390.post-59257171471822482372012-08-19T19:35:00.247-07:002012-08-19T19:35:00.247-07:00In theory, there are topics that would be universa...In theory, there are topics that would be universal - mathematics, for example, and physical science data (though figuring out the corresponding units of measurement would be a challenge). I'm curious about other aspects, like tenses. As I understand it, ASL's default is present tense, with modifiers used to indicate past or future. How would this work in talking to an alien? We seem to have the same situation with dolphin languages, where so far we haven't been able to figure out what those modifiers are, or whether they even exist. Seems to me that could be a serious problem.Pat MacEwenhttp://patmacewen.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320269312957801390.post-76938361272077498642012-08-06T10:34:54.560-07:002012-08-06T10:34:54.560-07:00Interesting thoughts. I'll have to keep those ...Interesting thoughts. I'll have to keep those in mind.Jaleh Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02467289924719654371noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320269312957801390.post-3599007948320163372012-08-06T06:32:11.245-07:002012-08-06T06:32:11.245-07:00Silent Dances (StarBridge #2, 1998) by A.C. Crispi...Silent Dances (StarBridge #2, 1998) by A.C. Crispin and Kathleen O'Malley has a deaf human using not only ASL but the sign language of an avian race.Kathy Sullivanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02853773950136365293noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320269312957801390.post-30662498609224497362012-08-06T06:17:11.349-07:002012-08-06T06:17:11.349-07:00This is why, while I think it would be cool to con...This is why, while I think it would be cool to confirm intelligent life on another planet, actually meeting them would be a nightmare. Think about it? Will they have diseases, will they be violent, will they want to communicate at all? Consider humans of different backgrounds meeting: Someone from China and the US meet, neither speak a word of the others language, and if there's not an interpreter both would probably digress into a nonsensical gesture system that mean very different things to both. And they'd still get further than 2 different species because on some level an understanding of basic human interaction and manners would kick in and they'd offer each other a drink or a seat. An alien might think a sign for "drinking" is a threat (to the aliens in Signs water was deadly) or gesturing "sit down" might be seen as a command to lower themselves or they would think we are offering to be subjugated.Realmwrighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12025487066357949785noreply@blogger.com