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It occurred to me that as writers we tend to think in terms of satisfying a reader, but what of blind people (blind from birth) who rely on audio for entertainment? Now this got me thinking. Yes we can describe a characters appearance, for most blind people have great sense of touch and will identify character shape/figure even facial properties from descriptive prose: florid face = heat flushed cheeks, the latter better because easily related to. But, how can they identify the difference between, say a red or green dress? They can’t, they have no concept of colour but they do have concept of touch: heat, cold etc., and sound.
Example of entailing the three senses can bring something alive that would otherwise be a dead point in audio text:
As she swept down the staircase her gown rustled like autumn leaves tumbling on a light breeze, its colour that of flame red. A little daring maybe, but why not? This was her last chance to make her mark. If Paul could walk away from her tonight, then it would be a failed mission. For that’s what it was, a mission, nothing more nothing less. Though an affair with Paul would please her no end, if . . . if she were not who she was.
She paused by the hall mirror just to be sure the diamond necklace and matching earrings didn’t appear too alluring. After all, he was what he was too, and would see the diamonds long before registering the fact she happened to be wearing them. Strange how they always felt so cool against one’s skin, no matter the temperature inside or out, as if originally hewn from the walls of an ice palace. . .
See how easily a blind person can relate to the sound of "tumbling autumn leaves", can feel the "heat" of her "flame" gown, and sense the "coldness" of the precious stones around her neck. That’s why as writers we have to think beyond colour of words to that of rending sound into the mix, and thereby provide more depth for those who cannot see the written word. ;)
I love the way you use the other senses. Your writing really brought me into the scene.
ReplyDeleteI love this, Francine. You are so right!
ReplyDeleteA very interesting point, Francine, and a good example of including different senses in a description.
ReplyDeleteWow! Nice post Francine. Definitely something to think about. If a person has never seen color, just mentioning the name of a color isn't enough.
ReplyDeleteFabulous excerpt!
Hi,
ReplyDeleteYeah, tough thinking: how does one describe the ocean to a blind person? Bar for the fact that its wet, it's deep, it's salty and one can feel and hear the difference between calm, roll of surf and that of storm force waves.
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It occurred to me that it's probably even harder to describe sounds to someone who has always been deaf.
ReplyDeleteIn Analysis Of Love, I have the heroine, a fiery Hispanic woman who lives life on her own terms, falling in love despite herself with a blind-from-birth, extremely sexy-but-unaware-of-it man who is a psychologist. They go through the stages of Maslow's theories of self-actualization, and while she gets to know him and why he felt that this was a career he could do very well as a blind man, he falls madly in love with her also. I had to figure out how to have her seduce a man who couldn't see her "attributes", and how to have him use cabs when he needs to get around, since obviously, he can't drive. The in the next book in the series, Love Therapy, he gets hit by an electric car, because I had read that the organizations for the blind are concerned that electric cars don't make the traditional noises that gas engines do, and they fear blind folks won't know what to listen for.
ReplyDeletePaula-I think you can "feel" music in your body, especially if it is turned up loud enough, and is the heavy metal stuff that I like! Anything with a beat can be felt...but symphonies/classical/opera? That is probably harder to imagine.
Agree that a deaf person can probably feel the sound waves from loud music (and other loud noises), but I wonder what the concept of (e.g)'birds singing' would have to a deaf person? Would the words chirp, tweet, trill or coo have any meaning for them?
ReplyDeleteHi Paula,
ReplyDeleteMute point re deaf people! ;)
Seriously, so long as they're not blind too, they have the advantage of sight. But as to whether chirp, tweet, trill or coo could be related to is another mute point. :o
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