This document discusses key elements used in American Sign Language (ASL) storytelling, including maintaining continuity. It explains that continuity is maintained through time signs, modified verbs, and transition signs. Examples are provided that demonstrate the use of time signs like "one day" to indicate passage of time. Modified verbs with circular movements show actions lasting over periods of time. Transition signs signal new scenes or completion leading to next actions. Maintaining these elements aids in smooth story progression and understanding.

1. UNIT 25:
STORYTELLING
ASL 4 – INTRODUCTION AND KEY ELEMENTS
PART TWO

2. KEY ELEMENTS USE IN ASL STORYTELLING
• Placement of Characters
• Movement of Characters
• Movement of Objects
• Maintaining Continuity
• Character Development
• Special Features

3. KEY ELEMENTS: MAINTAIN CONTINUITY
• To help maintain a sense of continuity as the story progresses,
the passage of time must be indicated and accounted for.
• This can be done with:
• Time Signs
• Modified Verbs
• Transition Signs

4. KEY ELEMENTS: MAINTAINING CONTINUITY
• Time Signs
• Use time signs or phrases to give a specific time (e.g., "one
day"), or to jump from one time frame to another (e.g.,
"that night") or to tell how much time has elapsed (e.g., "for
three weeks" or "every morning and every night").

5. KEY ELEMENTS: MAINTAINING CONTINUITY
• The following excerpts are four examples of time signs
that move stories along.

6. EXAMPLE ONE
• In this excerpt from "The Frog
Prince," after talking about the
king's five daughters, Ken uses a
time phrase that not only specifies
the time but is a traditional phrase
used to signal the transition from
the Introduction to the Body of the
story.

7. EXAMPLE TWO
• In "The Frog Prince," this
time phrase, used after
describing the frog's
emotions, forwards the
story to the next night
at the castle.

8. EXAMPLE THREE
• In "The Magic Mirror of
Rabbi Adam," this time sign
is used to show the length of
time that passed between
one action (the merchant
packing up and going home)
and another (coming back to
town).

9. EXAMPLE FOUR
• This excerpt from "The Twelve
Dancing Princesses" shows the King
coming into the princesses' room
every evening to say good night, and
returning to the room in the
morning. The signer modifies the
time signs to indicate that the king's
visits to the princesses‘ room went
on for some time.

10. KEY ELEMENTS: MAINTAINING CONTINUITY
• Modified Verbs
• Modify the verb with a repeated circular movement
(continuous aspect) to indicate the action lasted over a
period of time, e.g., "She cried and cried" or "she mulled it
over."

11. KEY ELEMENTS: MAINTAINING CONTINUITY
• The following excerpts are three examples of modified
verbs indicating the actions lasting over a period of time.

12. EXAMPLE ONE
• In "The Bridge of Magpies," we have this
example of the two lovers crying so much
for so long that it resulted in flooding on
earth. To show this intense action
occurring over a period of time, Missy
modifies the verb "to shed tears" with
repeated circular movements (continuous
aspect) accompanied by an opening and
closing of the mouth in rhythm with the
signing and squinted eyes to indicate
intensity.

13. EXAMPLE TWO
• In "The Bridge of Magpies,"
Missy modifies the verb "to
rain" (continuous aspect)
accompanied by a facial
expression that shows this
intense action occurred over
a period of time.

14. EXAMPLE THREE
• In "The Magic Mirror of Rabbi Adam,"
Ben describes the rabbi carefully
examining the apple tree as he walks
around it. In this case, the modified
verbs are two classifiers used for
"walking around." The classifiers are
modified (continuous aspect) and are
accompanied by similar but less intense
facial expressions.

15. KEY ELEMENTS: MAINTAINING CONTINUITY
• Transitions
• Use transition signs to signal the beginning of a new scene.
• The signs below indicate an unexpected occurrence happening
(left) and the completion of one set of actions that leads us to
the next set of actions (right).

16. KEY ELEMENTS: MAINTAINING CONTINUITY
• The following excerpts are two examples of these
transition signs being used to continue a story.