ROLE SHIFTING

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ROLE SHIFTING

• ASL 102
• SPRING QUARTER 2006
• By Michael A. Cooper

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ROLE SHIFTING

• Role Shifting is a concept used in American Sign
  Language to convey that the narrator (signer)
  takes on roles of different people to tell
  stories.
• In English, Role Shifting roughly would be
  translated as, He saidShe said
• Role Shifting is signed as RS with a slight
  twist.

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How to do Role Shifting?

• As you (narrator) enact 1st role, you name the
  role then you name the 2nd role.
• Once you name both roles, no need to name these
  roles. Instead of naming these roles, you shift
  your body slightly for EACH role you enact.
• Be sure to have your eye gaze match the roles
  (character) as well as your facial expressions
  face the roles (characters)

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Role Shifting versus Contrastive Structure

• Role Shifting involves the dialogue of characters
  that you (narrator) are telling the stories of
  these characters by using slight body shifts.
• Contrastive Structure also use slight body
  shifts, however, it only contrasts or compare
  items/people. It does NOT involve dialogues at
  all.

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Role Shifting Exercises

• Practice role shifting between a little boy and
  his mother with the boy being stubborn of not
  doing his chores.
• Practice role shifting between a grown man and
  his mother having a causal conversation
• Practice role shifting between husband and wife
  having a bad argument

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Role Shifting Excercises

• Practice Role Shifting between a small boy and a
  tall boy (use eye gaze). You create a
  conversation between these two people.
• Practice Role Shifting between a HAPPY girl (use
  happy expressions) and an angry boy (using angry
  expressions). You create a conversation between
  these two children.

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Role Shifting Exercises

• Practice Role Shifting between you and your best
  friend. (Create a story).
• Practice Role Shifting between you and your
  favorite family member. (Create a story).
• Practice Role Shifting between you and your
  younger version of yourself. (Create a story).
• Practice Role Shifting between you and your
  future version of yourself (Create a story)