ASL Literature
Byrne
Prior to 1980, only a small number of ASL works were available and these were frequently
translations of English-language works. While the University of Arizona Collection may be
extensive, its organization needs further improvements. The collection has a weakness when it
comes to genres. The author’s doctoral dissertation includes input from ASL and Deaf Studies
experts who offered ideas regarding how to best organize ASL literature. Not only was the
interview helpful, the dissertation includes a literature review that includes various experts who
expressed more ideas in scholarly publications (e.g., Bahan, 2006; Bauman et al., 2006;
Brueggemann, 2009; Byrne, 1997–2012; Lane et al., 1996; Peters, 2000; Rose, 1992; Rutherford,
1993; S. Supalla, 2001; Valli, 1993; Valli et al., 2011). The dissertation is where all original ASL
works were placed under appropriate genres, sub-genres, and sub-sub-genres.
As seen in Figure 1, ASL literature comprising single-authored works is divided into three
main genres: poetry, drama, and prose. The folkloristic works stand as a genre that is coequal to
the single-authored works. The folkloristic sub-genres are legends, tall tales, riddles, and humor.
ASL Literature
Folklore
Single-Authored
Poetry
1) Legends
2) Tall Tales
3) Riddles
4) Humor
Drama
1) Rhymes
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
1) Comedy
Movement – based
Location – based
Palm Orientation – based
Non-Manual Signal – based
Handedness
Handshape – based
2) Historical
3) Monologue
Prose
1) Narratives of Personal
Experience
2) Science Fiction
3) Fiction
4) Non-Fiction
5) Humor
2) Epics
6) Allegories
7) Riddles
Figure 1
Genres of ASL Literature
As part of the re-organized taxonomy for ASL literature, works listed in the original
University of Arizona Collection that were translations from English were subject to removal.
Other improvements to the collection included correction of bibliographical errors and additions
of newer original ASL works. The revised collection has been renamed A Database of ASL
SASLJ, Vol. 1, No. 1 – Fall/Winter 2017
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