One day, the woman has an idea to solve her problem. She takes her backpack and wears it on her front, under her shirt or jacket, to mimic the appearance of being heavily pregnant.
The story often concludes with a humorous or ironic twist. In some versions, after the school term ends and she eventually has her baby (a boy), she no longer needs the backpack trick—either because the school year is over or because she was actually pregnant later on, allowing her to never be late again.
The story ends with the teacher happily walking across the street with ease, having learned that being visibly pregnant forces the traffic to stop. Story Translation (ASL Gloss/Concept) asl stop the traffic story translation
The signer looks up (as if at a traffic light), squints, then tilts their head with a “confused” mouth morpheme (open, slack jaw).
The signer must clearly establish the location of the school, the home, and the busy road in between to make the narrative followable. Final Thoughts One day, the woman has an idea to solve her problem
ASL is not simply a translation of spoken language; it is a unique and expressive language with its own grammar, vocabulary, and syntax. When used in storytelling, ASL offers a distinctive perspective on the world, one that is rooted in visual and kinesthetic experiences.
A Deaf driver approaches a four-way intersection. The traffic lights are malfunctioning. Using only visual gestures, facial expressions, and body shifting, the Deaf driver must communicate with hearing drivers, police, and pedestrians to “stop the traffic” and avoid a catastrophic accident. In some versions, after the school term ends
When translating "Stop the Traffic," the translation team faced several challenges. They needed to convey the nuances of ASL, such as the use of non-manual markers (NMMs) like facial expressions and body language, which are essential to the narrative. The team employed a range of techniques, including:
Sometimes, I stand corner, wait, wait, wait. Traffic-lessened? No. Finally, I run, go across fast.