: How does one include sign language in a dialogue? If one character is using sign language and lip reading while the other is speaking normally, how do you represent the lines of the former?

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When it comes to actually writing the signer's line, I tend to write them between apostrophes. I find it easier and a little more visually appealing than italics, but still allows the reader to differentiate the two languages. I more commonly save the italicization for internal thoughts.

'I wish I could go to the park.' vs. I wish I could go to the park.

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I think it would make the most sense to use the primary language in quotations, because as the previous answer stated, using too many italics would end up making the literature seem cluttered.

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Italics make sense when sign is not the language most of the dialogue is in (I think this is a common tactic for "secondary" languages). But if sign is the main language in your piece, I would just put it in quotes like any other dialogue.

I guess the only question I would have for you is what is the main language of the dialogue? If it's sign language, I wouldn't give it second class treatment in italics.

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Yes, italics is exactly how I'd do it. Dean Koontz did that in Watchers, as I recall.

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