A fun thing to do with the sign language alphabet is to make up an "ABC story." ABC stories use each letter of the sign alphabet to represent something. For example, the "A" handshape is used to "knock" on a door.
Value of ABC Stories
ABC stories are used as entertainment and as an educational tool to develop deaf children's language. Deaf studies and sign language classes frequently include ABC stories. ABC stories are considered to be one aspect of ASL literature, or ASL storytelling.
ABC Stories Online
A few ABC stories are available on the web. YouTube has several ABC stories, many of which were listed in a Deafness blog post.
ABC Stories on Video
Some ABC stories can be seen on video:
- Sign Media has a video of ABC Stories, American Sign Language ABC Stories. This video features performances by six individuals including Bob Cook, Bill Ennis, Patrick Graybill, and Dennis Webster. Stories cover topics such as going west, skiing, and good morning.
- Color of Language offers a Family Sign Language Video Series that includes ABC Stories. Lessons 8 through 10, which can be borrowed from the Described and Captioned Media Program, have the ABC stories "Golf" and "The Race."
- Beginning ASL Videocourse #6: Read Any Good Fingers Lately? is a beginning ASL video from Sign Enhancers that can be borrowed or streamed from the Described and Captioned Media Program.
ASL Number Stories
A close cousin of the ABC Story is the ASL Number story, in which a story is told using the numbers in sign language. The Family Sign Language Video Series also includes ASL Number stories. The Clerc Center Digital Video Project also includes number stories.
