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Auslan Cultural Practices

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Auslan Cultural Practices

Read the mini-guide, then help plan a welcoming get-together. Auslan is a language with its own grammar and culture. Signs can vary between people and places, so practise signs with your teacher or an Auslan user. Do not invent or copy a sign name for yourself.

Mini-guide: making communication welcoming

• Face the person who is signing and keep your attention on them. Eye contact helps you follow the message; it is not a reason to stare. • Use an appropriate way to get someone’s attention, such as a gentle wave in their line of sight. Never grab or startle them. • Leave space for signing and make sure the area is well lit. • Auslan storytelling can use facial expression, body movement, signing space and role shift (showing different people or viewpoints). • A sign name is a cultural name given by Deaf people; do not make one up for yourself or another person. • At a friendly gathering, farewells may take time because people chat with several friends before leaving. This is sometimes called a “long goodbye”; it is not a rule for every person or event.

Explore the situation

Hamish arrives at an Auslan community picnic. She waves gently where people can see her, waits until her friend looks towards her, and then signs hello. She stands where the light is good and keeps enough space for both people to sign. Later, Hamish listens to a story in Auslan. The storyteller changes body position and expression to show two characters. When it is time to leave, Hamish says goodbye to friends one by one.

1.Hamish wants to get her friend’s attention. Which action is most respectful?

Wave gently in the friend’s line of sight.
Tap hard on the friend’s shoulder without warning.
Call from behind while the friend is signing.

2.Why does Hamish face her friend while they communicate?

3.True or false: Hamish should stare continuously at her friend to show respect.

4.What two features help the storyteller show different characters in the Auslan story?

5.Match each term to its meaning.

Signing space
Role shift
Sign name

Showing a different character or viewpoint
Clear room around the signer to make signs
A cultural name given by Deaf people

6.Fill in the blank: A respectful way to get someone’s attention is to wave gently where they can you.

7.At the end of the picnic, Hamish chats with several friends before leaving. What might people call this kind of extended farewell?

8.A classmate asks you to invent a sign name for them. What should you say or do?

9.Plan a two-turn greeting for a partner. Include an appropriate attention-getter, a greeting, and a question or reply. Write the meaning of what you plan to sign; practise the Auslan signs with your teacher or an Auslan user.

10.Choose one practice from the mini-guide that you will use to help make communication welcoming. Explain how it helps.