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​East Fork:

A Journal of the Arts​​


Life of a Navy Mother
By: Alicia Bodle

The entry I am submitting is what is referred to as a handshape story, which is a major form of literature in ASL. This is one example of how the Deaf community preserve and pass down stories from generation to generation. In a handshape story, the storyteller may only use one handshape throughout the entire story and rely heavily upon facial expressions to portray the story.


I have included a quick synopsis of the story for those who may not know ASL. The story is entitled “Life of a Navy Mother”. The story takes you on the journey of a Navy mother saying goodbye and sending her son off to war, the emotions she feels over the next six months while she waits for his return, and the celebration of him stepping foot back on American soil.