Signing hymns

Sign language is a visual form of communication developed by and for Deaf people world-wide. (A general history of signing is included in Costello, 2009). Signed languages, which differ from region to region in the same way that spoken languages differ, consist of formal, standardized lexicons containing hand shapes, movements of hands, arms, and body and facial expression to convey meaning. A skilled interpreter takes words or phrases in the source language, in this case the written or spoken language, comprehends their full meaning and interprets it into a conceptually accurate physical visual representation in the sign language. For example, the American Sign Language (ASL), used by...