In contemporary American Sign Language (ASL), the handshape and position reflects the word sign “interpret.” There are so many relevant synonyms for “interpret” as well: understand, decipher, unravel, translate, illuminate, shed light-all of which have meaning in the story. I love Mary’s direct gaze, and how with her eyes and her hands, she asks the reader to understand. Though my main character Mary Lambert’s hands are not in motion on the cover, the artwork conveys the expressiveness and nuance of signed languages. We decided on the handshape I’m signing below. For the Deaf and Deaf-blind, hands are not just useful tools, they are how we communicate with the world.Īs we developed the front cover, I was asked to submit casual still photos of various signs. I thought of this quote while contemplating Julie Morstad’s cover art for my novel, Show Me a Sign. “Her hands were so cool, like flowers that have grown in shady places,” Helen Keller said after meeting Laura Bridgman, the first Deaf-blind person educated in America.
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