http://signingbooks.org/ 2010-09-08T09:10:51+02:00 http://signingbooks.org/ http://signingbooks.org/lib/images/favicon.ico text/html 2009-12-07T16:32:32+02:00 http://signingbooks.org/doku.php?id=1._target_group&rev=1260199952&do=diff Summary Deaf people have their own language and their own culture. It is difficult for a French producer to make a typically English production. It is as difficult for a hearing producer, to make a Deaf production. Define the target group of your production, get to know them, consult them, involve them. text/html 2009-12-07T15:55:15+02:00 http://signingbooks.org/doku.php?id=animations&rev=1260197715&do=diff Summary Animations are used in signing books to add visual interest, and to visualise sound and sound effects. In educational programmes they can be added to visualise complex structures. As far as we know, there are no cartoons (yet!) in sign language. Virtual - animated - scenery and props can be used to allow signers to interact with cartoon figures, to walk around in virtual real or imaginary settings, etc. In practice, few if any production teams have the resources to do this. A recent… text/html 2009-12-07T22:54:05+02:00 http://signingbooks.org/doku.php?id=contents&rev=1260222845&do=diff Summary Deaf people live in two worlds: they are members of the Deaf community, and of the larger hearing community. The majority of deaf children are born in hearing families that will have had little or no experience with Deaf people, or sign language. Video can give deaf children and their relatives access to both. In Bilingual Deaf Education, sign language is used as the language of instruction for school subjects. The national language is taught as a second language, usually on the basis… text/html 2009-12-07T15:42:41+02:00 http://signingbooks.org/doku.php?id=editing&rev=1260196961&do=diff Summary The editor will combine shots and scenes into a understandable, coherent and attractive whole. Mainstream editing conventions that depend on the use of sound (e.g. background music, sound effects) will have to be replaced by or supported with visual means. For many productions, the video of the signer has to be combined with visuals in a way that is both attractive and effective: the sign language always clearly visible for the viewer, the relationship between visuals and signer obviou… text/html 2009-12-07T15:12:21+02:00 http://signingbooks.org/doku.php?id=filming&rev=1260195141&do=diff Sign language is a three dimensional, visual language that uses the hands, arms, shoulders, head, face, lips and tongue of the signer as 'articulators'. In filming signing books the camera therefore doesn't only record people, objects, scenery, and actions, the camera also records the text: the sign language. For viewers to understand what is being signed, the camera must record the sign language naturally and completely. Cut-offs (hands moving outside the range of the camera), obstructions (s… text/html 2009-12-07T22:50:36+02:00 http://signingbooks.org/doku.php?id=format&rev=1260222636&do=diff Summary Video and TV are not used in the same way as books are, and viewers may have different expectations for signing books than for printed books. For some productions, a television or video format may be more appropriate than a ‘book’ format; for others, an interactive multimedia format may be preferable. A format that is effective for the mainstream population, may not be the most appropriate format for a Deaf target group. The target group may not have access to the same peripherals as … text/html 2009-12-07T22:31:14+02:00 http://signingbooks.org/doku.php?id=introduction&rev=1260221474&do=diff In 1997, we optimistically wrote that we were going to improve the quality, quantity, accessibility and cost-effectiveness of signing books for Deaf people in the EU (Project proposal, Signing Books for the Deaf, 1997). We were going to do this by producing guidelines and a manual for the production and distribution of videos and CD-ROMs in sign language, in the EU. text/html 2009-12-07T14:33:51+02:00 http://signingbooks.org/doku.php?id=location&rev=1260192831&do=diff Summary There should be good contrast between the signer's hands and face and clothing, and between the all of these and the background. Scenery, lights, costumes, make-up, props: all of these can be used to enhance a video. However, they should never be allowed to interfere with the visibility of the signer (hands, face) or the sign language (orientation, use of space). If a neutral background is needed, light colours are preferred over dark colours, and light blues and greys over more pro… text/html 2009-12-07T16:17:01+02:00 http://signingbooks.org/doku.php?id=navigation&rev=1260199021&do=diff Summary Most signing books are still produced on videotape. To check if a video contains certain information, a viewer may have to play the entire video before knowing the answer. “Navigation aids” enable viewers to find information in a more efficient way, and to know where one is at each point in time in a production. Navigation aids are usually included in interactive productions (CD-ROM and DVD), but are at least as essential in longer productions on videotape that a viewer may want to wa… text/html 2009-12-07T22:09:12+02:00 http://signingbooks.org/doku.php?id=promotion&rev=1260220152&do=diff Summary In many countries, signing books are sold by the production companies themselves. However, little or no attention (or money) are usually available at the end of the production line for promotion and sales. Many companies don't have a catalogue, and sell their productions only to members of their organisation or to members of the Deaf community. As a consequence, public libraries and the general public are rarely aware of the existence of signing books in their country, and/or the publ… text/html 2009-12-07T16:39:29+02:00 http://signingbooks.org/doku.php?id=resources&rev=1260200369&do=diff Summary For the production of sign language videos, experienced Deaf people are indispensable: as signers, as translators, scriptwriters, camera-persons, consultants, etc. In the European Union, it is very difficult for Deaf people to receive formal training in video and multimedia productions. Very little expertise is available in written or video format. For your production, you can probably find the expertise, i.e. the people you need, through networking and personal contacts. Internation… text/html 2009-12-07T22:56:27+02:00 http://signingbooks.org/doku.php?id=script&rev=1260222987&do=diff Summary A mainstream production (a book, video or instructional programme) that was developed for a hearing audience, will have a 'hearing' perspective. For Deaf viewers to really understand and/or identify with your production, a 'Deaf' perspective may be more appropriate. Most Deaf adults are not fluent readers or writers. For Deaf people to be able to participate effectively in a production team a scenario and/or script will have to be supported by, or replaced with, a storyboard and/or vis… text/html 2009-12-07T22:55:31+02:00 http://signingbooks.org/doku.php?id=signers&rev=1260222931&do=diff Summary The signer is the 'face' of your video. In most productions, the signer is much more than the presenter. Signers will also be involved in writing or translating the texts, and sometimes in scriptwriting. Not every Deaf person is a good signer, not every good signer can sign fluently in front of a camera, and not every person who can do this is appropriate for every subject and/or for every target group. In most countries, there are very few people with experience in this field - al… text/html 2009-12-07T14:54:58+02:00 http://signingbooks.org/doku.php?id=signing&rev=1260194098&do=diff Summary The signer should feel comfortable with his/her lines as well as with the camera (and the camera-person!) to be able to sign with confidence and conviction, from the heart. For many productions the preferred set-up is for the signer to directly address the camera. A signer can sit or stand; if s/he is to walk around, movements should be carefully choreographed, to allow the cameraperson to shoot the scene without losing track of the signer or the sign language. The signer will usual… text/html 2009-12-07T21:32:04+02:00 http://signingbooks.org/doku.php?id=sound&rev=1260217924&do=diff During the filming of a video for Deaf people, sound is usually not recorded. To allow non-signing people access to the signed information, a voice-over is often added during the post-production stage. This is especially important for videos for Deaf children, most of whom grow up in hearing families, and for other videos that will be viewed by mixed Deaf-hearing audiences. The voice-over and other sounds added to a video should meet the expectations and requirements of hearing people who don'… text/html 2009-12-08T11:03:19+02:00 http://signingbooks.org/doku.php?id=start&rev=1260266599&do=diff by: Liesbeth Pyfers in co-operation with * Bencie Woll * Rita Bruning * Thomas Handke * Constanze Schmaling Original text: 1999 * Summary * The Signing Books Project Guidelines * Introduction Pre-production * 1. Your Target Group * 2. Your Objectives * 3. Your Resources * 4. Your Format * 5. Your Contents * 6. The Signers * 7. The Script, Scenario * 8. The Text * 9. The Visuals * 10. Lights, Props text/html 2009-12-07T22:13:18+02:00 http://signingbooks.org/doku.php?id=startover&rev=1260220398&do=diff Summary And then: The end? Go to Hollywood and collect your Oscar? No, back to the beginning!! Start over Compare your plans with your outcome. Watch your video with people who do and with some who don't like it (yes, there will always be some people who don't like it). Try to find out what you did right and what you did wrong. And then: start all over again with your next production. text/html 2009-12-07T21:54:33+02:00 http://signingbooks.org/doku.php?id=subtitles&rev=1260219273&do=diff Summary Subtitles, captions, and other printed texts can be used to support and in some cases to replace sign language or a voice-over in signing books. Subtitles (lines of text in the bottom of the screen) should reflect faithfully what is being said / signed. Timing, language level, and the extent to which texts are abbreviated or simplified will depend on the target group and the objective of the production. Captions (texts on the screen) can be used for names, difficult words, new words… text/html 2009-12-07T23:08:24+02:00 http://signingbooks.org/doku.php?id=summary&rev=1260223704&do=diff “Signing Books for the Deaf” was the name of a EU project, funded under the TAP-DE (4209) programme, which ran from 1-1-98 to 31-12-99. Signing Books are videos (on tape, CD-ROMs or DVD) in sign language, for deaf sign language users. Blind people use 'talking books', Deaf people use 'signing books'. text/html 2009-12-07T22:07:34+02:00 http://signingbooks.org/doku.php?id=support&rev=1260220054&do=diff Summary Your (potential) customers should be able to contact you for information, for ordering, and for after-sales support. Your (potential) customers will include both Deaf people and hearing people; they should all be able to contact you by text-telephone, telephone, fax, and email. If your productions include 'new media' such as CD-ROM, DVD or DVD-ROM, users may need technical support. text/html 2009-12-07T23:02:11+02:00 http://signingbooks.org/doku.php?id=text&rev=1260223331&do=diff There is no generally accepted written form for sign languages. 'Glosses' can be used to write down an outline of a signed text, but this is by no means a one-to-one representation of what the signer will sign. 'Writing' in sign language is a highly personal process, and the output is difficult to transfer. The best results are achieved when the 'writer' and the 'signer' are the same person or a team of two who work together closely during the writing as well as during the filming stages. Tra… text/html 2009-12-07T22:27:51+02:00 http://signingbooks.org/doku.php?id=the_signing_books_project&rev=1260221271&do=diff Signing Books for the Deaf was a European project funded under the TAP-DE programme (TAP DE 4209). The project started on January 1, 1998 and lasted until December 1999. Partners in the project were: * FODOK – NL (main contractor), * Pragma - NL (co-ordinator), * City University – UK, * Hamburg University – DE, * Signum GmbH (associated partner, DE) * sDG – NL (financial management). text/html 2009-12-07T23:02:40+02:00 http://signingbooks.org/doku.php?id=visuals&rev=1260223360&do=diff Summary Video and television are visual media. Viewers expect to see more than a 'talking head', or in the case of signing books, 'a signing body'. In signing books, visuals (still pictures or film) can be used: - to support the message and content of a video, - to add visual interest and variety and to support the mood and pace of a production, and - for navigation purposes. The first function is very important for viewers who are not fluent signers, for viewers who are not very f… text/html 2009-12-07T16:36:44+02:00 http://signingbooks.org/doku.php?id=your_objectives&rev=1260200204&do=diff Summary Decide what your primary objective is: to entertain, to inform, or to educate the target group? Check what background knowledge your target group has, and find a balance between making sure everyone understands, and being boring or patronising. Make sure your objective is relevant for the target group & make sure everyone involved in the production is aware of, shares and supports the objective.