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Augmentative alternative communication
Ritual, gesture dance, gesture drama Therapy and personal growth Conversation: signing, speak-signing International tourism Verbal link language Teaching a second verbal language |
There are many new WORLDSIGN developments which I would like to share with you. For those of you who are just becoming acquainted with WORLDSIGN, I will give you some background information.
WORLDSIGN has been in an intensive developmental stage for 13 years. During this time the three modes of WORLDSIGN: Symbol Gesture, Symbol Writing and Animation have acquired their present forms. The concept of designing graphic symbols for writing based on symbolgesturing (signing) was a key concept from the beginning. The realization that these symbols could be animated in a linguistically useful manner for film, video and computers arose during the later years of development.
Because WORLDSIGN was intended for global use, the initialized signs used by different deaf sign languages could not be used. Also, because it is intended primarily for use by hearing people, a great deal of attention was given to the symbol gesture languages used by hearing people. For example, the gesture language of the North American Native people, the Australian Aborgines, and the Southern Indian gesture dances of Katha Kali and Bharata Natyam were given much attention.
There are approximately 750 basic signs (symbol gestures) and corresponding written symbols in WORLDSIGN. Of these basic signs over one half are derived from ASL (American Sign Language). The symbol gesture language used widely by North American Natives have contributed the next largest group of signs. Gestuno, which came out of a Unification of Signs Commission of the A World Federation of the Deaf have contributed the next largest group and the remainder have been adopted from the Deaf of India, Japan, China and Brazil. Widely used colloquial signs have been adopted whenever possible and, in a few cases, arbitrary signs have needed to be developed.
The criteria for choosing a sign:Over two thirds of the written symbols are kinegraphs and are based on the kinesthetic aspects of this group of signs. The balance are ideo-pictographs and are based on pictorial aspects of the other group of signs. Because it is very difficult to make necessary changes in an emerging system such as WORLDSIGN if large numbers of people are involved, we have deliberately encouraged a number of small experimental situations where WORLDSIGN could have practical application. These have included classes for children where the concern was in developing pre-reading and pre-writing skills, a class for children with learning difficulties, a clinical situation involved with children having speech difficulties, and a sign-dance production in which children having severe mental and motor handicaps participated. Midge Maloney develope the WORLDSIGN DANCE THEATRE COMPANY into an exciting art form and with company members have performed and taught workshops to a wide spectrum of audiences.
We also expanded the animated mode of WORLDSIGN with the assistance from the National Film Board of Canada and the Canada Council. "Communication with Symbol Animation", a one hour video emerged from this as well as several shorter videos. Ian McCutcheon played a leading role in this experimental video work.
During the development of WORLDSlGN, signs and symbols went through many modifications and the need to bring about a continuing coherency of symbols was extremely obvious. I strongly felt the need of developing an international classification system whereby any unknown symbol could be "looked up" as is the case of an unknown word in English or French. I realized also that such a classification system could insure the desired continuing coherency. During the past year such a system has been developed. It is a numerical system which is based on salient features of the symbols (such as the 23 basic hand positions).
A working computer model has been developed in which by typing in a few numbers a voice identifies the symbol in a desired language, shows the static and animnated forms and can show a person signing the symbol. It can be used by illiterate as well as literate people and can be used in the teaching of literacy. This major "breakthrough" will enable us, within the next year, to start international publication of WORLDSIGN material. In addition to an electronic symbolary (a symbol reference book) on which work has already started, the same material will be available in a printed form.
Because any visual symbolic image can be incorporated into WORLDSIGN as a noun, verb or adjective, as desired, much attention has been given to the means by which a vast number of images that are commonly recognized around the world can be linguistically utilized. In addition to these commonly recognized symbolic images, there are also commonly recognized devices of a grammatical nature which are extensively used in the worldwide production of comic books, film and video. Such common devices as the speech or thought balloons, for example, are incorporated into WORLDSIGN as are fades, dissolves, super-impositions, etc.
A very recent development which is made possible by the numerical classification concept is the "Kinebook". Just as a kinegraph is an action write, a Kinebook is an action book. It has some resemblance to a comic book, particularly to those comic books which have a strong cinematic influence. It has, in addition, a WORLDSIGN content including the time and space varying symbol content of the animated mode of WORLDSICN. A Kinebook also need not necessarily be comical. Index numbers when printed underneath the symbol enable the reader/viewer to "look up" the meaning of any unknown symbol using either a printed symbolary or an electronic symbolary for computer usage.
The same graphics used in an animated piece would be used in a companion Kinebook. The dancers or actors, in the process of signing, in combination with held or projected symbols, would be shown in multiple action photos in a Kinebook. The "look up" index numbers would be printed underneath the symbols in the Kinebook but would not be used in the film, video or stage performances. The prior reading/viewing of a Kinebook associated with a particular piece of WORLDSIGN animation or WORLIDSICN dance/drama enables the reader/viewer to understand the content. This would be an excellent way for people to enjoy and learn WORLDSIGN at the same time. Needless to say, those of us connected with the WORLDSIGN COMMUNICATION SOCIETY are very pleased and excited by these new developments.
Another exciting endeavor that came about in April 1990 was a four person delegation that we sent to Kilkenny, lreland where a WORLDSIGN presentation was made at an international congress organized by SIETAR (Society of Intercultural Education Training and Research). Although WORLDSIGN has been presented at several previous international congresses, this was the first time that the international dassification system was demonstrated to such a group. Two invaluable people who have recently become associated with WORLDSIGN were of key importance at this conference. Jeff Bustard was our computer expert and we had a small scale working computer model of our new classification system. Lori Langford brought to the conference her interest and enthusiasm in creative tourism and international exchange. She gave a separate presentation of the potential of WORLDSIGN for creative global tourism which reflected her interest in intercultural exchange.
In addition to earlier funding from the Canada Council and the National Film Board of Canada, we were generously assisted in 1988 by the Vancouver Foundation. This helped us in the development of the international classification system. This system will enable us to make WORLDSIGN available to a global population.
We were also assisted by many individual donations both in the form of labor and money. We are very appreciative of this support.
Top of PageTourism is the largest industry in the world, generating some two trillion dollars annually Beyond its economic significance, Tourism is potentially the most important vehicle for promoting understanding, trust and goodwill among peoples of the world. The existing infrastructures currently used in all countries to meet the needs of visitors: currency exchange, arrangement of accommodation, transportation, tourist information, meals and entertainment, all present opportunities to enhance the quality of exchange between guest and host. Worldsign, in all three of its modes, has the potential to allow direct communication between guests and hosts even while each speaks their native language. A subset of Worldsign symbols and signs, directly relating to tourist activities, would act as a bridge in communication and as a vehicle for visitors to learn simple words in the host language in the context of speaking directly to a person. Functional communication and personal exchange - Worldsign has exciting possibilities for world travelers.
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Augmentative alternative communication
Ritual, gesture dance, gesture drama Therapy and personal growth Conversation: signing, speak-signing International tourism Verbal link language Teaching a second verbal language |
Orcutt's research is original and visionary. If given wider exposure, his global thinking and profound ideas on language wUl surely influence all those who contribute to the field of communications technology and media, as well as those who have lost faith in their own capacity to participate in our changing world. Orcutt's gift is rare. Worldsign and its fundamental concepts and philosophy are for all people, whether they are young or old, living in developed or developing countries - whether they have control of the new technologies or not David Orcutt is the genuine article. I urge all those who read this letter to do what they can to assist him in his journey. When you see a room full of kids signing Worldsign in a flurry of learning, it is an experience of seeing the face of the next century in the very best light."
Tom Sherman |
Pre-reading and pre-writing skills
International symbolic art Teaching a written language Literacy, Deaf literacy International publications Global comic books Scientific writing International business communication Kinesthetic written link language |
"I have followed David Orcutt's work in the development of Worldsign over many years and have very high regard for the capabilities his system provides. The attention it gives to the three modes of signing, writing and animation allows it to play a special role in world communication. David Orcutt's integrity, creativity and dedication to developing a communication system that can be used by persons on all language backgrounds and all levels of literacy is worthy of recognition."
Shirley McNaughton |
Multi-media time- and space- varying animations
Augmentative alternative communication International computer creations International children's show New interactive mass media International film creations International video creations International computer networking International electronic Worldsign symbolary |
"I have written many papers that have been published widely extollng the virtues of Worldsign. The potential impacts of widely adopting Worldsign, along with our conventional writing, could be very profound. Giving our right hemisphere a linguistic capability could bring about a whole new renaissance in western culture.
David Orcutt's devotion to the development and promotion of Worldsign is truly phenomenal. His creativity and diligent research clearly show in the dictionaries of Worldsign. A form of communication that can be signed, written, danced and one that also uniquely celebrates the best in computer graphics, is surely a profound gift to mankind. David Orcutt, its inventor and developer, should be properly honored. As the first Canadian to win the McLuhan Award, David would be reasonably honored. Let me add my enthusiastic voice to the support of his selection."
Gordon B. Thompson"...there is a great deal of hunger throughout the Deaf world for its own writing system, and I am becoming very concerned that the proliferation of different sign writing systems will only serve to confuse the issue even more. I also wanted you to know that the various sign writing systems only served to strengthen my conviction that Worldsign has the potential of becoming the most accessjble sign writing system for the majority of Deaf persons."
Roger CarverThe Worldsign Dance Theatre Company sprang out of experimental dance work for the WORLDSIGN video production "Communication With Symbol Animation". Together with Margee Bruyere, we discovered that sign dance was extremely inspirational and created in us the zeal to experiment further and to share through performance this new medium. Jan Frazer and Selina Stanway joined the company and we began experimenting with choreography and performed and taught classes using recorded popu]ar songs. I then became interested in experimenting with rear-projected symbolic images, and with the kind assistance of the National Film Board and the volunteer efforts of company members and Nelson's Shaw Cable 10, created two chroma-keyed video dance productions. While all of this was being worked on we were also touring and I was giving workshops for children and pre-school educators.
Then came time for change. Old company members were replaced by new ones, and the format changed with this. I became interested in performing with live musicians and approached two a-capella singers, Beryl Clayton and Toni Hoyland. The focus was on presenting womens' issues that are rarely spoken of, allowing us all to come out of silence, as well as the audience. Lezlie Chapman and Helene Hogue joined the company and together with the full body gesture of the songs' lyrical content and the power of the live voice, we found we had created an intensely profound and moving medium for live performance. This proved to be a highly successful group, touring and performing to a wide variety of audiences for the past-three years.
My interest now is on the use of storytelling using the spoken word and gesture. The theme will be "Creating New Mythologies, Creating a New World". I see the use of multi-media in the form of projected images and WORLDSIGN animated symbols, masks, chants and dance. This production will be designed for international touring, and would indude the creation of a complementary "Kinebook", which would serve as a promotional device for bookings and as an international reference guide for the audience's comprehension. If you have interest in seeing the works of the Worldsign Dance Theatre Company there is a 30-minute video available with excerpts of our work since its inception. Also, here is a list of some of the major performances etc. that we have done.
All performances and video productions for the Worldsign Dance Theatre Company; 1985-1990. The Light and Power Theatre Company's Worldsign Vignettes for "The CQ Factor' Tour in September, 1989.
As a charitable society we are always in need of, and grateful for, funding from a wide variety of sources. If you are interested in assisting Worldsign with a donation, it would be very much appreciated. As we have a tax number, all donations are tax-deductible. We are also deeply grateful for the consultation, advice and support (both monetary and non-monetary) we have received throughout the years from so many people.