Role-Shifting

When you are telling a story, or telling someone what you did throughout a day in your life (in order, of course), role-shifting is a useful concept in ASL.

Shifting (When Telling What You Did)

We'll start with something simple.  Today, you:

1. Went to the store
2. Went back home

ASL is written using role-shifting like this:

TODAY, STORE I GO FINISH (left), HOME I GO FINISH (right).  - Today I went to the store, then I went home.

To role-shift, you simply turn your upper body left and right, depending on how many tasks or events there were and which one you are currently showing.  You always begin role-shifting from your left and move gradually towards your right.

• Since there are only two tasks/events in this sentence, you move to your left before signing.  Once you sign FINISH, you will then move to your right, rather than moving only a little to the right.
• Using the sign FINISH indicates your completion of that task, then, you shift to the other side, sign your next task, using FINISH once again to indicate that you're done.  Once you've finished your sentence, end your role-shifting.
• When shifting, you do not need to twist your body too much or turn your entire body; just use your upper-body.

For more complicated role-shifting, let's say you are telling a friend that today, you:

1. Woke up, got dressed
2. Went to the store
3. Went to the restaurant
4. Went back home

You will begin on the far left of your body without turning sideways or twisting your body too dramatically.  The more things you are telling the person, the more spots you will have to shift to.  Think of it as a wide semi-circle in front of your body.  You begin with the far left of the circle, then move towards the far right until you're done.

Role-Shifting (When Telling a Story)

When telling a story, role-shifting is used to switch between characters, acting out what each character did.
We'll use a story of a little girl and a dog.  You begin by signing either the girl or dog, then pointing down at the floor on whichever side of your body they are on (if they are not present).
For our purposes, the girl is on the left and the dog is on the right.

The little girl hugged the dog.  Then, the dog licked her face.  She begins wiping her face and wiping the drool on her shirt in disgust.

Acting out the scene, you would begin on the left.  As the girl, you can turn your body (but not too far or the other signer can't see you), towards where the dog is supposed to be, and then act as if you are hugging the dog as the girl.  Then, you would shift and turn to your right, therefore becoming the dog and act out the dog.  (You may also just show the dog licking her face by brushing your hand up your face, then acting out the girl's response).  You switch back and forth until the story is done.

If there are more than two people/animals involved, you would use the same concept in shifting as if there were many tasks, and have several spots in your "semi-circle" around you to assign to a person or animal.  Then you would have to individually act out each character in proper order.

• Typically, the first character to act would be on your left side, where you first begin your role-shifting.