In another post, Jessica mentioned looking for an ASL Bible. Are any of you aware of a good interpretation? I read that Deaf Mission has recently completed their interpretation of the New Testament in ASL (http://store.deafmissionsstore.com/) - are any of you familiar with this version, or another version?

To my knowledge, Deaf Missions has the corner on this market. I think there might be some media that incorporates translations of passages, but DM is the only game in town as far as ASL translation of the OT and NT. I have a sample chapter buried in my videotape boxes somewhere; I should pull that out and look at it again.

Anecdotally (if I recall correctly) the ASL BoM team originally talked with the DM people about logistics and other requirements in putting together large-scale translations and applying them to media.

As an aside, I love DM "Daily Devotions for the Deaf." I could watch those for hours. Of couse, theologically I have some issues, but that aside, these are wonderful snippets for religious interpretation practice (they incorporate fingerspelling and number recognition, dialogue about abstract concepts, and typically a narrative comparison or two) or just personal enrichment.

As a missionary, I obtained the "Holy Bible for the Deaf," which, sadly, was just a watered-down English translation (based on the NIV, I think). It was intended to be written in simple English for Deaf parishoners and potential converts. I find it to be oversimplified and, again, it has some fundamental doctrinal conflicts with LDS theology, so much so that it really would be unacceptable for Deaf LDS people to use it.

It's here at Amazon.com; take a read inside. The customer responses are interesting.

Thanks for this post.

This looks interesting... it appears I can't access it here at work - too bad, since my connection at home is pretty pathetic! - but I'll try at home later. Thanks!

I have noted that many LDS Deaf people do not consider the ASL translation of either the Book of Mormon or the Bible to be sufficiently formal for their use.
Even many who do not read English at all have difficulty accepting ASL as an appropriate language for scripture literature.

It remains to be seen how or whether Deaf LDS accept the even more dynamic (emphasis on meaning rather than form) translation of the Bible produced by Deaf Missions.

I do think this is changing, however, because of the accessibility of the DVD version. There is probably a difference in perception between what is in the ASL translation and Deaf people's everyday use of signed language; I submit that Deaf members/investigators of the Church need to understand the difference between the two.

It is culturally appropriate for English speakers to classify scriptural, King-Jamesian language as highly formalized speech (frozen register) and perceive it as such. Frozen register texts are rare (or non-existant, choose your favorite ASL scholar's philosophy...) in ASL and everyday Deaf discourse, so there is a tendency to label it as "not language I associate with" or HEARING POSS++.