Name signs

Name signs are one of the most important parts of Deaf culture. The name sign is inseparable from the person, and we can refer to important external, internal properties with it. Always use names signs in integrated or Deaf groups!

Details of activity

Function

Warm up the group, tune to the topic | Development of the "here and now" feeling | Melting, arrival, icebreaking | Group organization

Description

The group sits or stands in a circle. Based on the variability of the group, the facilitators should lead the game: Deaf / coming from Deaf family / hearing participants. The facilitators sign or tell what the „name sign” is, what its function is, tell their own and its history. If there is a participant in the group who has a name sign, he or she will also introduce and explain why he or she received it. For those who do not have a name sign, the group creates a name sign together based on some external property or the first letter of their name. After that, we sign everyone's names signs together in a circle.

Eligible competencies, skills, attitudes

Observation | Concentration | Accuracy of signing | Creativity

Related or background activity

Form of work

Whole group

Time of activity

15 – 20 minutes (depends on part.number)

Age group

All

Tool, material

Difficulty

Deaf Culture / awareness / discussion

Conversation: The role of the name sign in Deaf culture and population. Why is visuality so important? Specifics of name signs: appearance, body, hairstyle, etc.

After the activity, be consistent in the use of name signs and use them throughout the whole training period!

If we have a recurring training, this activity can start all the time in a mixed group.

More activities can be used to practice name signs

Other