: Referring to sign language in conversations I am writing a story in which one of the main characters is Deaf, and therefore communicates with other leads using sign language. Not being a native

I am writing a story in which one of the main characters is Deaf, and therefore communicates with other leads using sign language. Not being a native speaker of English, I am having trouble with coming up the appropriate way to remind the reader that the characters are communicating using sign language. Here are a few examples I have thought of:

"How was your school today?" Anna signed to Emily. "What did you learn?"

"I can draw a butterfly now." Emily signed back with enthusiasm.

"We will go to the park tomorrow and chase a lot of butterflies." Anna signed Emily.

Is it correct to use Anna signed to Emily, Emily signed back and Anna signed Emily? Are there better ways to phrase this?

Also, once the plot is set and the readers made aware that these two characters always use sign language to communicate, I am thinking of dropping the reference to sign language, and maybe mention it once in a while to remind the reader.

I would like to hear what native speakers think about this approach. Any tips/suggestions are very much welcome.

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@Michele605

Not a signed language user or expert, though I had once to learn a bit
about it. I think replacing "to say" by "to sign" is probably OK. But
some other verbs can be used as usual.

For example, why write "Emily signed back" rather than "Emily
replied", which is independent of the communication medium, unless
insisting on the medium, or on a change of medium, is important.
You would probably not write "Emily said back".

For example also: "Â« why don't you draw a flower too Â» suggested
Anna" does not need to insist in the medium. (independently of the use
of Â« Â»).

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@Debbie451

Use guillemets Â« Â» for signed speech, as discussed in this question:

How does one present spoken dialogue as a secondary language to signed speech?

Then your reader will always know when someone is signing or speaking aloud, and you can use the tag "signed" as often as you'd use "said."

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: Referring to sign language in conversations I am writing a story in which one of the main characters is Deaf, and therefore communicates with other leads using sign language. Not being a native

More posts by @Odierno164

: Are there any "quantitative" (computer) programs that measure plagiarism? An example might be the following: "Romeo, wherefore art thou Romo?" from the classic Shakespeare play. Suppose I changed

: Why do writers use "said" instead of "asked" when someone asks a question? I often see writers use "said" instead of "asked" when their character asks a question. e.g. From The Hobbit:

: How can we have foreshadowing in a story that takes place in a universe where the future can't be known beforehand? In a (non-comedic) story where the philosophical implications of the existence

: How to describe a scene involving a shift in the environment due to forbidden magic? Background/scene for question: A character witnesses his wife killed before him. While holding her, he begins

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