(Sets up the primary conflict).
English is a linear, auditory-oral language. Words are spoken or written in sequence, one after the other. ASL, by contrast, is a visual-spatial language that can convey multiple pieces of information simultaneously. For example, while signing a sentence about a car accident, a signer might simultaneously: asl stop the traffic story translation
I waited. A sleek sports car zipped lanes, cutting off a minivan. There was no gap, no break, and no chance of the drivers slowing down for a pedestrian. I looked across the street to my destination, then back at the relentless stream of traffic. Enough was enough. (Sets up the primary conflict)
Here’s a clear English translation of a typical “ASL Stop the Traffic” story post, suitable for sharing on social media or in a class assignment: ASL, by contrast, is a visual-spatial language that
– Instead of saying “The car stopped quickly,” the signer shows the car’s handshape jerking to a halt. That’s visual immersion.
One day, while waiting at the corner, she gets a creative idea. She takes off her jacket, rolls it up, and stuffs it under her shirt to look pregnant.