Signing Accurately From the Bible

THE Scriptures state that it is God’s will that people of all sorts “come to an accurate knowledge of truth.” (1 Tim. 2:4) In accord with that, when we sign from the Bible, our desire to convey accurate knowledge should influence how we sign.

The ability to sign scriptures is important for youths and older ones alike. As Witnesses of Jehovah, we have a responsibility to share with others a knowledge of Jehovah and his ways. This may involve signing to one person or to a small group. We also do such signing within the family circle. Student talk assignments provide appropriate opportunities for brothers and sisters, young and old, to receive counsel with a view to improving their signing from video.

We generally refer our audience to the Bible on video in our ministry and when teaching from the platform during congregation meetings. Why, then, the need to practice signing scriptures ourselves? Signing from the Bible helps us to “keep holding to the standard of wholesome words.” (2 Tim. 1:13) When we practice signing Bible verses, we become more familiar with Bible terminology and make it part of our sign-language vocabulary. Using the same signs when we quote from the Bible unifies us.

Perhaps you have already taught the Bible to others in a spoken language. However, are you comfortable teaching the Bible in sign language? Signing scriptures yourself is an important step in helping you achieve this goal. You should be able to sign naturally and with conviction.

In the ministry, at times it is not possible to show the Bible to the householder. Perhaps he is too busy, or there may be other factors that make it impossible for him to see the video. You should be prepared to sign a scriptural thought yourself in such cases. You should also be prepared to sign scriptures if video equipment fails.

Signing from the Bible publicly, whether to individuals or to a congregation, is something to take seriously. The Bible is inspired of God. Additionally, “the word of God is alive and exerts power . . . and is able to discern thoughts and intentions of the heart.” (Heb. 4:12) God’s Word contains priceless knowledge that is available from no other source. It can help a person to know the only true God and to cultivate a fine relationship with him as well as to cope successfully with the problems of life. It explains the way to eternal life in God’s new world. Our goal should be to sign from the Bible to the best of our ability.—Ps. 119:140; Jer. 26:2.

How to Sign From Video Accurately. There are many facets to signing from theocratic videos effectively, but developing accuracy is the first step. That means endeavoring to sign exactly what is presented in video. Be careful not to skip signs, cut off the beginning or end of a sign, or mistakenly sign a similar sign that has a different meaning. For example, the signs for “train” and “temporary” are nearly identical in American Sign Language, with the exception of palm orientation. If you mistakenly exchange one sign for another, this could result in confusing your audience.

Context: In order to sign correctly, you need to understand the context. That will require careful preparation. Since each sign and facial expression has significance, the meaning could be distorted if you omit signs, use incorrect facial expressions, or make other mistakes. Mistakes may result from a failure to consider the context in which signs are used. For example, would Leviticus 10:1 be understood correctly if the signer’s facial expression did not indicate Nadab and Abhihu’s presumptuousness? Would the viewer comprehend the account found at Numbers 25:8 if the detail that Zimri and Cozbi were put to death was omitted? or if 1 John 2:1 were signed in a way that indicated a practice of sin instead of an unintentional sin? or if the sign for “an act of worship” found at Matthew 4:9 did not indicate a single act? Signing complete thoughts, rather than simply signing individual words, will help you avoid mistakes in signing. Try to understand what each sign—including facial expression, movement, modulation, and all its other attributes—conveys in the setting in which it appears. Clearly understanding what you are signing is an important step toward being able to convey accurate knowledge to others. In time, as you develop the ability to think ahead, anticipate what is coming, and consider the flow of thought, your accuracy in signing from video will improve.

Prompting: You should also consider how you will be prompted during your signing. Some speakers prefer to copy the signing from a tablet or other device. If you choose to use this method, make sure there is enough battery life in the device for the duration of your talk. Whatever you use as a prompting source should be large enough for you to see. If you are struggling to see clearly, this may affect your signing, especially your facial expressions. Other speakers are more comfortable using written notes with pictures or text based on the signing in the video. If you choose this option, your notes need to include cues regarding facial expression and movement.

Pausing: Signing accurately from video requires knowing where to pause and how long to pause. (This is explained in more detail in Study 5, “Appropriate Pausing.”) For example, a full stop along with a head nod might indicate that you are moving on to a new point. Shorter pauses might indicate separate but related points, or they might be used between items in a list. They may also be used when transitioning to different points under the same topic.

Role shifts: It is important to pay attention to role shifts. If these are not utilized properly, the viewer may misunderstand who is talking. This includes correct eye gaze. When assuming the role of a character, keep in mind where his attention should be. For example, is the character speaking to Jehovah, requiring you to look up? Or are you signing from the perspective of Jehovah, thereby requiring that you look down to the other character? Or you may be assuming the roles of other characters that you have placed to the left or right. The placement of characters, objects, and ideas in space must be correct.

Facial grammar: Another factor to keep in mind is facial grammar. Signs may be inflected by facial expression to convey a certain shade of meaning or to isolate a specific point. For example, facial expression can determine whether a sentence is a statement or a question, or whether a question is rhetorical or not.

Spelling: Spelling is another area that needs attention. Some books of the Bible, such as First and Second Chronicles, Ezra, and Nehemiah, are full of proper nouns. Practice spelling those words correctly. At times, names may be spelled more quickly when repeated, but they should still be clearly understandable to viewers. If you struggle with the spelling of names, write them down and bring the list with you onstage for reference if needed.

Naturalness: While accuracy is important, you should not compromise naturalness. This could happen when you are mirroring another signer. For example, the signer may be right-handed and you may be left-handed, or vice versa. In this case, there is no need to change handedness. You do not need to imitate everything about the signer, such as his signing style or mannerisms, but the content of what you sign should be the same.

When you apply these suggestions, you will be able to sign accurately from video. The goal is to sign in a meaningful way. Remember that your objective should be to convey thoughts, not merely to repeat signs.

Practice is required if you are going to cultivate the ability to sign accurately from video. Sign just one Bible verse, and then do it again and again until you can sign it without any mistakes. Then go on to the next verse. Finally, endeavor to sign several verses without skipping, repeating, or making other mistakes on any of the signs. This includes their movements as well as facial expressions that convey emotion or affect grammar. After you have taken those steps, ask someone to watch your signing and point out any mistakes that you may make.

In some parts of the world, poor eyesight or glaring light contribute to difficulty in watching the video. If it is possible to give these the needed attention, improvement in signing will undoubtedly result.

It was to an experienced Christian elder that the apostle Paul wrote: “Continue applying yourself to public reading.” (1 Tim. 4:13) This is obviously an area in which all of us will find room for improvement.