0:00:03.317,0:00:07.000
Interpreter: Piano, "p,"[br]is my favorite musical symbol.

0:00:07.504,0:00:09.293
It means to play softly.

0:00:10.007,0:00:14.170
If you're playing a musical instrument[br]and you notice a "p" in the score,

0:00:14.194,0:00:15.817
you need to play softer.

0:00:16.120,0:00:18.480
Two p's -- even softer.

0:00:18.804,0:00:21.959
Four p's -- extremely soft.

0:00:26.353,0:00:29.756
This is my drawing of a p-tree,

0:00:29.780,0:00:31.090
which demonstrates

0:00:31.114,0:00:35.603
no matter how many thousands[br]upon thousands of p's there may be,

0:00:35.627,0:00:37.560
you'll never reach complete silence.

0:00:38.477,0:00:41.255
That's my current definition of silence:

0:00:41.279,0:00:43.128
a very obscure sound.

0:00:44.976,0:00:46.459
I'd like to share a little bit

0:00:46.483,0:00:49.649
about the history[br]of American Sign Language, ASL,

0:00:49.673,0:00:51.361
plus a bit of my own background.

0:00:53.851,0:00:59.067
French sign language was brought[br]to America during the early 1800s,

0:00:59.091,0:01:03.166
and as time went by,[br]mixed with local signs,

0:01:03.190,0:01:06.519
it evolved into the language[br]we know today as ASL.

0:01:07.168,0:01:09.765
So it has a history of about 200 years.

0:01:11.800,0:01:13.508
I was born deaf,

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and I was taught to believe[br]that sound wasn't a part of my life.

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And I believed it to be true.

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Yet, I realize now[br]that that wasn't the case at all.

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Sound was very much a part of my life,

0:01:32.081,0:01:33.957
really, on my mind every day.

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As a Deaf person living[br]in a world of sound,

0:01:42.494,0:01:45.414
it's as if I was living[br]in a foreign country,

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blindly following its rules,[br]customs, behaviors and norms

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without ever questioning them.

0:02:01.460,0:02:03.930
So how is it that I understand sound?

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Well, I watch how people[br]behave and respond to sound.

0:02:10.654,0:02:14.276
You people are like my loudspeakers,[br]and amplify sound.

0:02:14.300,0:02:16.421
I learn and mirror that behavior.

0:02:16.782,0:02:19.733
At the same time,[br]I've learned that I create sound,

0:02:19.757,0:02:21.914
and I've seen how people respond to me.

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Thus I've learned, for example ...

0:02:24.480,0:02:27.119
"Don't slam the door!"

0:02:28.350,0:02:31.747
"Don't make too much noise when[br]you're eating from the potato-chip bag!"

0:02:31.771,0:02:32.771
(Laughter)

0:02:32.795,0:02:34.063
"Don't burp,

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and when you're eating,

0:02:35.292,0:02:38.134
make sure you don't scrape[br]your utensils on the plate."

0:02:38.158,0:02:40.688
All of these things[br]I term "sound etiquette."

0:02:43.927,0:02:46.358
Maybe I think about sound etiquette

0:02:46.382,0:02:48.596
more than the average hearing person does.

0:02:49.963,0:02:51.919
I'm hyper-vigilant around sound.

0:02:55.463,0:02:59.329
And I'm always waiting[br]in eager nervous anticipation

0:02:59.353,0:03:01.435
around sound, about what's to come next.

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Hence, this drawing.

0:03:04.280,0:03:06.894
TBD, to be decided.

0:03:07.724,0:03:10.264
TBC, to be continued.

0:03:10.819,0:03:12.616
TBA, to be announced.

0:03:16.793,0:03:18.659
And you notice the staff --

0:03:18.683,0:03:20.874
there are no notes contained in the lines.

0:03:20.898,0:03:24.546
That's because the lines[br]already contain sound

0:03:24.570,0:03:26.901
through the subtle smudges and smears.

0:03:28.863,0:03:32.242
In Deaf culture,[br]movement is equivalent to sound.

0:03:37.617,0:03:40.301
This is a sign for "staff" in ASL.

0:03:40.325,0:03:42.817
A typical staff contains five lines.

0:03:43.904,0:03:46.678
Yet for me, signing it[br]with my thumb sticking up like that

0:03:46.702,0:03:48.029
doesn't feel natural.

0:03:48.053,0:03:51.461
That's why you'll notice in my drawings,[br]I stick to four lines on paper.

0:03:53.199,0:03:57.188
In the year 2008, I had the opportunity[br]to travel to Berlin, Germany,

0:03:57.212,0:03:58.981
for an artist residency there.

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Prior to this time,[br]I had been working as a painter.

0:04:05.020,0:04:09.075
During this summer, I visited[br]different museums and gallery spaces,

0:04:09.099,0:04:11.081
and as I went from one place to the next,

0:04:11.105,0:04:13.424
I noticed there was no visual art there.

0:04:14.618,0:04:19.885
At that time, sound was trending,[br]and this struck me ...

0:04:19.909,0:04:21.887
there was no visual art,

0:04:21.911,0:04:23.418
everything was auditory.

0:04:25.482,0:04:28.122
Now sound has come into my art territory.

0:04:29.168,0:04:31.816
Is it going to further[br]distance me from art?

0:04:33.800,0:04:36.496
I realized that doesn't[br]have to be the case at all.

0:04:36.520,0:04:37.671
I actually know sound.

0:04:37.695,0:04:40.337
I know it so well

0:04:40.361,0:04:43.699
that it doesn't have to be something[br]just experienced through the ears.

0:04:43.723,0:04:46.708
It could be felt tactually,

0:04:46.732,0:04:48.615
or experienced as a visual,

0:04:48.639,0:04:50.313
or even as an idea.

0:04:53.048,0:04:56.309
So I decided to reclaim ownership of sound

0:04:56.333,0:04:58.447
and to put it into my art practice.

0:05:01.016,0:05:04.595
And everything that I had been[br]taught regarding sound,

0:05:04.619,0:05:07.353
I decided to do away with and unlearn.

0:05:09.099,0:05:11.389
I started creating a new body of work.

0:05:12.961,0:05:15.515
And when I presented this[br]to the art community,

0:05:15.539,0:05:19.435
I was blown away with the amount[br]of support and attention I received.

0:05:20.676,0:05:22.042
I realized:

0:05:23.669,0:05:27.155
sound is like money,

0:05:27.179,0:05:30.351
power, control --

0:05:30.375,0:05:31.919
social currency.

0:05:35.782,0:05:39.646
In the back of my mind, I've always felt[br]that sound was your thing,

0:05:39.670,0:05:41.157
a hearing person's thing.

0:05:44.014,0:05:46.489
And sound is so powerful

0:05:46.513,0:05:50.269
that it could either[br]disempower me and my artwork,

0:05:50.293,0:05:52.301
or it could empower me.

0:05:53.138,0:05:54.675
I chose to be empowered.

0:05:56.969,0:06:00.317
There's a massive culture[br]around spoken language.

0:06:01.233,0:06:06.500
And just because I don't use[br]my literal voice to communicate,

0:06:06.524,0:06:10.276
in society's eyes[br]it's as if I don't have a voice at all.

0:06:12.945,0:06:16.863
So I need to work with individuals[br]who can support me as an equal

0:06:16.887,0:06:18.359
and become my voice.

0:06:20.523,0:06:24.765
And that way, I'm able to maintain[br]relevancy in society today.

0:06:24.789,0:06:27.211
So at school, at work and institutions,

0:06:27.235,0:06:29.559
I work with many[br]different ASL interpreters.

0:06:31.254,0:06:34.453
And their voice becomes[br]my voice and identity.

0:06:36.365,0:06:38.070
They help me to be heard.

0:06:42.380,0:06:46.543
And their voices hold value and currency.

0:06:52.178,0:06:54.516
Ironically, by borrowing out their voices,

0:06:54.540,0:06:58.361
I'm able to maintain[br]a temporary form of currency,

0:06:58.385,0:07:01.367
kind of like taking out a loan[br]with a very high interest rate.

0:07:06.052,0:07:08.149
If I didn't continue this practice,

0:07:08.173,0:07:11.006
I feel that I could just[br]fade off into oblivion

0:07:11.030,0:07:13.397
and not maintain[br]any form of social currency.

0:07:17.488,0:07:20.143
So with sound as my new art medium,

0:07:20.167,0:07:21.901
I delved into the world of music.

0:07:23.089,0:07:27.065
And I was surprised to see[br]the similarities between music and ASL.

0:07:29.186,0:07:30.703
For example,

0:07:30.727,0:07:33.079
a musical note

0:07:33.103,0:07:36.126
cannot be fully captured[br]and expressed on paper.

0:07:36.783,0:07:39.835
And the same holds true[br]for a concept in ASL.

0:07:41.610,0:07:45.624
They're both highly spatial[br]and highly inflected --

0:07:50.213,0:07:52.370
meaning that subtle changes

0:07:52.394,0:07:54.903
can affect the entire meaning

0:07:54.927,0:07:56.711
of both signs and sounds.

0:07:59.898,0:08:02.120
I'd like to share with you[br]a piano metaphor,

0:08:02.144,0:08:05.129
to have you have a better[br]understanding of how ASL works.

0:08:05.153,0:08:06.711
So, envision a piano.

0:08:08.299,0:08:11.654
ASL is broken down into[br]many different grammatical parameters.

0:08:12.771,0:08:16.831
If you assign a different parameter[br]to each finger as you play the piano --

0:08:16.855,0:08:21.860
such as facial expression, body movement,

0:08:21.884,0:08:25.656
speed, hand shape and so on,

0:08:25.680,0:08:27.888
as you play the piano --

0:08:27.912,0:08:29.749
English is a linear language,

0:08:29.773,0:08:32.578
as if one key is being pressed at a time.

0:08:32.602,0:08:36.250
However, ASL is more like a chord --

0:08:36.274,0:08:39.658
all 10 fingers need[br]to come down simultaneously

0:08:39.682,0:08:43.304
to express a clear concept or idea in ASL.

0:08:45.548,0:08:49.574
If just one of those keys[br]were to change the chord,

0:08:49.598,0:08:51.791
it would create a completely[br]different meaning.

0:08:52.152,0:08:56.426
The same applies to music[br]in regards to pitch, tone and volume.

0:09:00.518,0:09:04.096
In ASL, by playing around with these[br]different grammatical parameters,

0:09:04.120,0:09:05.813
you can express different ideas.

0:09:05.837,0:09:07.822
For example, take the sign TO-LOOK-AT.

0:09:08.240,0:09:09.948
This is the sign TO-LOOK-AT.

0:09:12.699,0:09:13.950
I'm looking at you.

0:09:16.056,0:09:17.356
Staring at you.

0:09:17.380,0:09:19.094
(Laughter)

0:09:21.103,0:09:22.400
(Laughter)

0:09:23.733,0:09:26.399
Oh -- busted.

0:09:26.423,0:09:27.573
(Laughter)

0:09:29.608,0:09:30.779
Uh-oh.

0:09:33.521,0:09:34.935
What are you looking at?

0:09:37.410,0:09:38.738
Aw, stop.

0:09:38.762,0:09:40.431
(Laughter)

0:09:40.455,0:09:41.639
I then started thinking,

0:09:41.663,0:09:44.580
"What if I was to look at ASL[br]through a musical lens?"

0:09:45.011,0:09:48.218
If I was to create a sign[br]and repeat it over and over,

0:09:48.242,0:09:50.631
it could become[br]like a piece of visual music.

0:09:52.016,0:09:55.652
For example, this is the sign for "day,"

0:09:55.676,0:09:57.848
as the sun rises and sets.

0:09:59.789,0:10:02.129
This is "all day."

0:10:04.416,0:10:07.617
If I was to repeat it and slow it down,

0:10:07.641,0:10:09.806
visually it looks like a piece of music.

0:10:12.023,0:10:14.482
All ... day.

0:10:15.186,0:10:19.084
I feel the same holds true[br]for "all night."

0:10:21.776,0:10:22.930
"All night."

0:10:23.890,0:10:27.125
This is ALL-NIGHT,[br]represented in this drawing.

0:10:30.501,0:10:33.714
And this led me to thinking[br]about three different kinds of nights:

0:10:37.827,0:10:38.977
"last night,"

0:10:40.747,0:10:41.899
"overnight,"

0:10:45.549,0:10:48.303
(Sings) "all night long."

0:10:48.327,0:10:50.588
(Laughter)

0:10:55.861,0:10:59.206
I feel like the third one has[br]a lot more musicality than the other two.

0:10:59.230,0:11:00.381
(Laughter)

0:11:01.413,0:11:04.448
This represents how time[br]is expressed in ASL

0:11:04.472,0:11:08.931
and how the distance from your body[br]can express the changes in time.

0:11:08.955,0:11:10.594
For example,

0:11:10.618,0:11:13.757
1H is one hand, 2H is two hand,

0:11:13.781,0:11:17.011
present tense happens closest[br]and in front of the body,

0:11:17.035,0:11:20.472
future is in front of the body[br]and the past is to your back.

0:11:24.209,0:11:27.040
So, the first example[br]is "a long time ago."

0:11:28.209,0:11:29.370
Then "past,"

0:11:32.538,0:11:34.231
"used to"

0:11:34.255,0:11:36.290
and the last one, which is my favorite,

0:11:36.314,0:11:38.940
with the very romantic[br]and dramatic notion to it,

0:11:38.964,0:11:40.553
"once upon a time."

0:11:40.577,0:11:41.986
(Laughter)

0:11:45.962,0:11:48.679
"Common time"

0:11:48.703,0:11:50.471
is a musical term

0:11:50.495,0:11:54.478
with a specific time signature[br]of four beats per measure.

0:11:55.614,0:11:57.426
Yet when I see the word "common time,"

0:11:57.450,0:12:00.606
what automatically comes to mind for me[br]is "at the same time."

0:12:01.645,0:12:04.856
So notice RH: right hand, LH: left hand.

0:12:05.578,0:12:08.197
We have the staff[br]across the head and the chest.

0:12:08.221,0:12:09.403
[Head: RH, Flash claw]

0:12:09.427,0:12:10.677
[Common time]

0:12:10.701,0:12:12.234
[Chest: LH, Flash claw]

0:12:13.712,0:12:16.810
I'm now going to demonstrate[br]a hand shape called the "flash claw."

0:12:18.722,0:12:20.699
Can you please follow along with me?

0:12:21.723,0:12:23.067
Everybody, hands up.

0:12:26.776,0:12:29.474
Now we're going to do it[br]in both the head and the chest,

0:12:29.498,0:12:31.872
kind of like "common time"[br]or at the same time.

0:12:35.595,0:12:36.896
Yes, got it.

0:12:37.329,0:12:40.144
That means "to fall in love"[br]in International [Sign].

0:12:40.168,0:12:42.045
(Laughter)

0:12:42.069,0:12:43.972
International [Sign], as a note,

0:12:43.996,0:12:46.741
is a visual tool to help communicate

0:12:46.765,0:12:49.466
across cultures and sign languages[br]around the world.

0:12:49.997,0:12:52.283
The second one I'd like[br]to demonstrate is this --

0:12:52.307,0:12:54.043
please follow along with me again.

0:12:58.891,0:13:00.041
And now this.

0:13:05.358,0:13:08.058
This is "colonization" in ASL.

0:13:08.082,0:13:09.486
(Laughter)

0:13:11.407,0:13:12.678
Now the third --

0:13:12.702,0:13:14.096
please follow along again.

0:13:19.072,0:13:20.222
And again.

0:13:24.970,0:13:27.478
This is "enlightenment" in ASL.

0:13:27.502,0:13:29.063
So let's do all three together.

0:13:31.732,0:13:32.889
"Fall in love,"

0:13:33.897,0:13:35.066
"colonization"

0:13:35.845,0:13:36.995
and "enlightenment."

0:13:38.767,0:13:39.917
Good job, everyone.

0:13:39.941,0:13:41.159
(Laughter)

0:13:41.183,0:13:43.421
Notice how all three signs[br]are very similar,

0:13:43.445,0:13:45.542
they all happen at the head and the chest,

0:13:45.566,0:13:47.788
but they convey quite different meanings.

0:13:47.812,0:13:51.136
So it's amazing to see[br]how ASL is alive and thriving,

0:13:51.160,0:13:52.459
just like music is.

0:13:54.152,0:13:56.978
However, in this day and age,

0:13:57.002,0:13:59.604
we live in a very audio-centric world.

0:13:59.628,0:14:03.009
And just because ASL has no sound to it,

0:14:03.033,0:14:05.943
it automatically holds no social currency.

0:14:07.271,0:14:12.009
We need to start thinking harder[br]about what defines social currency

0:14:12.033,0:14:15.875
and allow ASL to develop[br]its own form of currency --

0:14:15.899,0:14:17.064
without sound.

0:14:18.262,0:14:22.950
And this could possibly be a step[br]to lead to a more inclusive society.

0:14:26.291,0:14:28.423
And maybe people will understand

0:14:28.447,0:14:31.983
that you don't need[br]to be deaf to learn ASL,

0:14:32.007,0:14:34.294
nor do you have to be hearing[br]to learn music.

0:14:36.891,0:14:39.586
ASL is such a rich treasure

0:14:39.610,0:14:42.395
that I'd like you[br]to have the same experience.

0:14:42.419,0:14:45.195
And I'd like to invite you[br]to open your ears,

0:14:45.219,0:14:47.110
to open your eyes,

0:14:47.134,0:14:48.845
take part in our culture

0:14:48.869,0:14:51.388
and experience our visual language.

0:14:51.412,0:14:52.847
And you never know,

0:14:52.871,0:14:54.611
you might just fall in love with us.

0:14:54.635,0:14:56.693
(Applause)

0:14:56.717,0:14:57.879
Thank you.

0:14:58.508,0:15:00.409
Denise Kahler-Braaten: Hey, that's me.

0:15:00.433,0:15:03.831
(Applause)