Auslan Anthem n n n These are instructions

Auslan Anthem n n n These are instructions on how to ‘sing’ the National Anthem in sign language, or Auslan. Your class could learn this piece, and perform it at a school or community event for the Commonwealth Games in March 2006. The signs being used are not literal translations of the Australian Anthem, word by word, but are chosen to express the meaning of the lines. As it is a song, signs have been extended or amplified, to allow them to become poetic. Auslan descriptions usually refer to a ‘dominant’ hand. For ease and clarity, these instructions refer to the right hand as the dominant hand.

Australian Anthem part 1 Australians all let us rejoice For we are young and free

A key to the instructions We have described the signs using 5 points: n 1: Hand details: these photos give a close up view of the particular hand shape needed. n 2: Orientation – this describes the direction the hands should face, by referencing your palms. n 3: Location – these photos explain where the signs sit in relation to your whole body. n 4: Movement – this describes any actions. n 5: Nature of movement – this describes the feeling with which the actions are performed.

Australia Orientation: Palms down Movement: Flick middle finger out from thumb while moving hand up and forward in an arc. Quality Of Movement: Once open, the hands float gently downwards, wriggling fingers slightly, as if allowing a “blessing” to rain down. Notes On Translation: This sign originates from the idea of picking people up (in Britain) and dropping them down in Australia. Obviously, this notion does not acknowledge Indigenous Australians.

all Orientation: Palm outwards from the body Movement: The arm sweeps from right to left across the front of the body, (starting on the outside and finishing in front of the opposite shoulder). Quality Of Movement: It is as if you are using the palm of your hand to identify and ‘touch’ the hands of a semi-circle of people in front of you.

celebrate Orientation: The palms face towards each other. Movement: hands move outwards at the same time, making small circles – the right hand in a clockwise direction and the left in an anti-clockwise. Forearms move but the shape remains still below the elbows. Quality Of Movement: Smile and perform this sign with joy – as if celebrating!

We Orientation: Palms down Movement: the arms reach outwards and move away from each other marking two halves of a circle (see video). Quality of Movement: As the arms move through the space, the fingers ‘point’ to people in the area, including them in the word ‘we’.

young Orientation: palm faces the other side of your body Movement: The first two fingers touch the thumb twice, while the hand makes small circles in front of the face. Quality of Movement: The torso can contract or curl downwards to make the body smaller like that of a young person.

free Orientation: Palms face down Movement: Begin with thumbs touching the chest. The hands move out and away from body, with the fingers wiggling slightly as they travel. Quality of Movement: finish the movement with your arms outstretched, as if flying…. . free