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@gracie-j. @elishavet-pidyon. @koshka. @queen_of_alvastia. @godlyfantasy12. @ava-blue. @joy-caroline.
Hey y’all! Me again. XD I know I’ve asked a LOT of questions, but I have another! So…something for one of my characters (a minor side character) has changed. So…Riker’s youngest son…is now…
Mute and Deaf.
They’ve had to learn how to use hand signals to communicate with him, and he uses them as well, but I’m still kinda lost on how to write him. 😅 I mean, naturally, he wouldn’t talk much anyhow, being only 4 and very shy, but now that he’s mute and deaf…it adds a whole other layer. (Not to mention the Historical context…disability…Nazi Germany…they don’t mix. 😬😖) But do y’all have any advice on writing him without readers feeling like Eli is incapable or stupid or anything like that? Because he’s a very smart young boy, he just can’t speak and hear.
And any advice on writing his interactions with his Mom, Dad, Siblings, Aunt, Grandparents, and others? 🙂
Thanks y’all! 😀
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Btw, he was born Mute and Deaf. Nothing happened.
@freedomwriter76
Oh Eli…*sniff*
I’ve never written a character that was deaf or mute, but I have read some, and I am learning ASL ( or rather relearning what I knew a long time ago).
For the mute side: at such a young age he wouldn’t be talking much anyway if he was deaf. All his communication would be via sign language, which as a language in itself he would be pretty fluent by 4. (Have you ever read Sir. Gibby by George MacDonald? The main character is mute, and is very well portrayed.)
However, can he make sound at all?
In sign language expressions are half the meaning. Make his look have meaning. (Maybe focus on his eyes?)
You could put all his signs in italics, eg. “Where’s Oma?”
I’m not sure if any of that was helpful, and I may be back once I’ve done some research. Thank you!
First Grand Historian of Arreth and the Lesser Realms (aka Kitty)
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@koshka. Yeah…*sniff*
I have not. 😅
I’m not really sure yet! XD I’m thinking yes, maybe a few sounds, but otherwise he can’t. 😅
Thank you so, so much! 😀
Honestly, when I read a character both mute and deaf, he\she automatically seems smart instead of dumb. Mostly because they know sign language, I guess, because I don’t. 😛
As for relationships with family members. If he’s in danger (Nazi) because of his disability, then perhaps his family acts more protective\like nothing’s wrong\warn him a lot. You know, act differently than they would with someone not in that danger. I suppose that’s a given, 😅 but I just wanted to throw that out there.
Eli might feel different himself, and those feelings could manifest in lots of ways, depending on his personality.
“Everything is a mountain”
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@whalekeeper. I feel the same way, lol. 😂
Ooh, thank you! (now, naturally, Riker is very protective anyhow, but it would be interesting to see how much MORE protective he is about Eli…💖)
True! 😀 He’s only 4, but he still realizes how like, his older siblings can talk (just because he sees their lips move) and he can’t and sometimes he might feel left out. 😢🥺🤧
Thank you for some thoughts and ideas! 💖
@freedomwriter76 Pretty much every site I looked at said “sign language” for the way deaf/mutes communicate….
I think I’d pretty much just echo what everyone else on here has already said
sorry I don’t have any new input XDAnd when you write a scene w/ Riker & Eli oh man….. I’m gonna love reading it, I bet!! 😉😥😎
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@queen_of_alvastia. You’re good girl! 😀
Oh my goodness, YES! I’m gonna love WRITING it! 🥰🥰🥰
@freedomwriter76 just went and looked up Eli’s picture on his moodboard….. *hugs him* 😥😊💖🥰 (You knew I was going to do that right?)
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@queen_of_alvastia. (Yep. 😂💖🥰)
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