Happy International Week of the Deaf! It’s technically next week, but let’s celebrate every week! I’m learning Australian Sign Language (Auslan) from Vanessa Vlajkovic. We’re both Deafblind and tactile signing.
Video description: Nessa and Haben sit on a stone pedestal, and behind them, with one monstrous paw on that same pedestal, is the scariest-looking koala. Black, white, and blue paint across his large body (possibly six feet tall) match the name the artists gave this sculpture: Darth Vader. His eyes glare with the face of an old, hooded person. The sculpture stands in the forest, and birds talk throughout the video. Haben’s Seeing Eye dog stands by, a bit bored.
Haben (ASL): You sign (fingerspells in Auslan) K-O-A-L-A.
Nessa (Auslan): Koala.
(She crosses her arms in front of her and taps her chest twice with her palms, almost like hugging something to herself. Haben repeats the sign as Nessa adjusts her hands and confirms. When she gets it right, she laughs with delight.)
Nessa (Auslan): K-O-A-L-A C-U-D-D-L-Y. Yes.
Haben (ASL): Not that one!
(Haben points to Darth Vader.)
(Nessa and Haben laugh. A Kookaburra off-screen cackles.)