Role Shifting and Storytelling In ASL.

[Rolando Lucero Villalobos]

Here's one of my favorite stories to tell. Notice the role shifts and how aware I keep things at. Very important! Story: "I'm going to tell you a story. So a wood cutter goes to the forest looking for wood, well, trees to cut wood for winter. So he/she goes walking, stops, and sees a nice tree. So he/she gets the ax and starts swinging, hitting it, and says 'TIMBERRR' the tree falls. He/she watches/examines it and says 'nice', and he/she goes on and continues walking, and stops and sees a big tree! He needs this tree  So he gets his ax and starts cutting away. He/she says 'TIMBERRR' but nothing, the tree still stood. 'Hmm weird' thought the wood cutter. Again, 'TIMBERRR'. The tree wouldn't budge, nothing. So he/she searches online locates a tree expert and gives the expert a call. The tree expert answers 'Hi, need help?' Wood cutter replies 'Yes, I have a problem. There's this tree that wont fall.' Expert then says 'Oh really? Well that's weird. Let me go take a look.' 'Okay, see you later". Here comes the tree expert. He comes and sees the tree. 'Hmm, yes I see. I know. That tree is deaf", the wood cutter confused 'What??? The tree is deaf?' 'Yes, you need to finger-spell' 'Oh, okay..." so the wood cutter starts to sign at the tree 'T-I-M-B-E-R' and it falls!!!  Finished (The end)".

[AZJen]

I laughed out loud and understood the story perfectly! Thanks for signing so clearly! A new spin on "if a tree falls in the forest and there is no one to hear it, does it make a sound?" If a tree is dead and can't hear itself, does it really fall? 😂