National Anthem Deaf Performances | ASL Breakdown

Summary

In this video, the host explores three unique performances of the U.S. national anthem in American Sign Language (ASL), comparing the styles of three Deaf performers: WAWA, a Purple Communications signer, and Troy Kotsur. Each performer brings their own flair, offering variations in handshapes, non-manual signals, and pacing based on their performance setting. The video highlights the expressive beauty of ASL, illustrating how each interpretation communicates the anthem's meaning with distinct personal touches, while still maintaining the same core message. Viewers are invited to learn how to sign the national anthem and appreciate ASL's poetic diversity.

Takeaways

• 😀 The video compares three different Deaf performers' interpretations of the national anthem in American Sign Language (ASL).
• 😀 Each performer brings their unique style and flair to the anthem, making their interpretations distinct while conveying the same meaning.
• 😀 ASL allows for poetic license, meaning performers can express the same concepts in various ways, maintaining the core message.
• 😀 Performance style varies based on the intended audience, with larger performances requiring more exaggerated movements and video performances being quicker and more condensed.
• 😀 WAWA’s performance is large-scale, designed for the Super Bowl audience, using grand gestures like tapping to grab attention and expansive movements to depict the sunrise.
• 😀 The Purple Communications performer’s style is more formal and quicker due to the song’s pacing, with a distinct handshape for the sunrise and a more compact performance.
• 😀 Troy Kotsur brings a personal touch with his spyglass gesture for the sunrise and emphasizes the explosion of rockets with a unique flame movement, creating a powerful performance.
• 😀 The script highlights the role of classifiers in ASL, especially for representing things like rockets, explosions, and other elements of the anthem’s imagery.
• 😀 Each signer adapts their handshapes and movements to reflect their interpretation, such as WAWA’s use of a two-handed ‘land’ and Troy’s focus on flag symbolism and military references.
• 😀 The performers’ final lines emphasize the concepts of freedom and bravery, with WAWA using strong, expansive signs, and Troy adding emotional depth with minimalistic yet powerful gestures.
• 😀 The video encourages viewers to appreciate the diversity of ASL performances and provides an opportunity to learn the national anthem in ASL through a tutorial.

Q & A

What is the focus of the video in terms of American Sign Language (ASL)?

The video focuses on comparing three different Deaf performers' interpretations of the national anthem in American Sign Language, showcasing their unique styles and approaches.

What is the purpose of comparing the three performances in the video?

The purpose is to highlight the differences in the performers' styles, with each bringing their own interpretation and flair to the national anthem while still conveying the same meaning.

How does ASL allow for creative expression in performances like the national anthem?

ASL allows for a poetic license where signers can express concepts in various ways, as long as the core meaning remains the same. This flexibility lets performers add their personal touch to the language.

What is the significance of WAWA’s performance style in the Super Bowl setting?

WAWA's performance is tailored for a large stadium audience, so he uses big, bold movements and dramatic expressions, such as tapping to get attention and showing the sunrise with large, sweeping signs.

How does the second performer’s approach differ from WAWA’s in terms of style and pacing?

The second performer signs more formally, using quicker, more concise movements due to the faster pace of the music. She also uses an F-hand for the sunrise and incorporates wiggled fingers to show the sun shining bright.

What distinguishes Troy Kotsur’s performance of the national anthem?

Troy Kotsur's performance includes unique elements like using a spyglass to depict the sun and showing explosions and bursts with intense, dramatic pauses that emphasize the power of the moment.

What does WAWA’s use of classifiers, like the rockets and bombs, convey in his performance?

WAWA uses classifiers to illustrate the movement of rockets and bombs, showing them traveling through the air, bursting, and then using side-to-side motions to symbolize the ongoing conflict in the air.

What key differences can be observed in the way the performers sign the 'rockets' and 'bombs' in the anthem?

Each performer has a slightly different interpretation: WAWA uses sweeping side-to-side motions to show multiple rockets, the second performer uses a simpler up-and-down gesture, and Troy Kotsur adds a flame detail and explosive bursts before showing the dust settling.

How does Troy Kotsur’s non-manual expression (facial expression) enhance his performance?

Troy Kotsur’s non-manual expression adds intensity to the performance, particularly when showing fierce moments like the explosion, using his facial expressions to emphasize the gravity of the situation.

What message does the final part of the anthem convey through each performer’s signing?

The final part of the anthem, 'the land of the free, and the home of the brave,' is performed with strong, emotional gestures to represent freedom and bravery, with each performer highlighting the sacrifice of military personnel and the pride of the American people.