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Whether you’re a sign language expert or discovering it for the first time, Sign Fictionary gives you the ability to use your hands and eyes to craft words, broadening the way you play!

[For Players New To Sign Language]

 

Welcome to the Sign Language Research Lab!

The research lab is here to input sign language which has been passed down for generations on this earth.

This is a place where you can learn the signs used in this world, memorize them with your eyes, and express them with your body.

Here, you are a researcher learning sign language.

These are words from the Sign Language Researcher:

“Imagination is a vital key to unlocking the mysteries of sign language. Look at lots of pictures and imagine how humans came up with a particular sign as you express them.”

Let’s look at this rich language with its vast history, take the opportunity to see them, input them, and talk about them.

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Instructions for the Game Master!

Before beginning “Sign Language Input!” or “Speed Output!”, please press the button below. A list of sign language videos are provided, so feel free to refer to them as you progress through the games.

Before Playing

If the game master is not a native signer (a person whose first language is sign language), the criteria for judging correct answers can vary from person to person.

Players are encouraged to view the original sign language videos as much as possible. Movements of the hands, wrists, placement, and use of space are different between D/deaf and hearing individuals. We recommend you to repeatedly watch and memorize the signs provided by Deaf signers!

The etymologies and histories of words are vast! Sign language and Japanese are no exception, so be sure to respect each person’s imagination and conclusion as to how a sign came to be. (Including the game master, please be mindful to not impose your own viewpoint onto others.)

Also, the games let players guess signs that already exist in Japanese Sign Language.

The words have accompanying illustrations, but signs can vary depending on the country and region.

The game is based on Japanese Sign Language widely used in Tokyo.

Watch the sign language videos to learn and communicate.

Unlike spoken languages which use voice to communicate like Japanese and English, sign language is a visual language which utilizes the hands, face and other upper body movements. Grammar and expressions also differ from country to country and region to region.

sIgNLanguAge INPUT!

Guess the Sign!

What You Need: Image Cards (x32), Point Chips (1 Point, 5 Points), Smartphone

Number of Players: 2-6

Recommended Play Time: 30 minutes (for 5 rounds)

  1. Decide who will begin first.

  2. The game master draws one Image Card from the deck and shows the side with the word on it to all players.

  3. Players will think of the sign attributed to the word. 

(Allow 1 minute for players to think.)

(During this time, the game master may check the corresponding sign language video.)

  1. After 1 minute, each player presents the sign they think goes with the word.

  2. Each player who guesses the sign correctly earns 5 points!

  3. If none of the players are able to guess the sign, flip the Image Card over and look at the illustration.

  4. Players think of the sign based on the illustration.

(Allow 1 minute for players to think.)

  1. After 1 minute, each player presents the sign they think goes with the picture.

  2. Each player who guesses the sign correctly earns 2 points!

  3. The player with the most points at the end of the game is the winner!

SpeedOuTPUT!

Sign as Fast as You Can!

What You Need: Image Cards (x32), Smartphone

Number of Players: 2-4

Recommended Play Time: 5 minutes

*Please memorize the 32 signs either by playing “sIgNLanguAge INPUT!” or watching the sign language videos on the official website.

  1. The game master draws one Image Card from the deck and shows the side with the word on it to all players.

  2. Players think of the sign attributed to the word. 

  3. The player who signs the correct answer the fastest keeps the card!

If all players have a different guess, the card is put to the side and another card is drawn.

  1. The player with the most cards wins!

Sign Factory

Signs Brought to Life From Within Your World

What You Need: Image Cards (x32), Point Chips (1 Point, 5 Points)

Number of Players: 3-6

Recommended Play Time: 30 minutes (for 5 rounds)

  1. Decide who will begin first.

  2. The game master draws one Image Card from the deck and shows the side with the word on it to all players.

  3. Players use the word on the card to draw from their memories and experiences to create a new sign that is neither sign language nor a gesture.

(Allow 1 minute for players to think.)

  1. After 1 minute, each player will present their sign.

  2. If a player uses sign language, they are out. 

(Players and the game master will decide whether sign language was used or not.)

  1. Once all the players have presented their signs, on the count of three, each player decides which sign they thought was the most interesting and give the corresponding player 1 point. (Players are allowed to give themselves the point.)

  2. Repeat steps 2 to 6.

  3. The player with the most points will be crowned the Sign Language Master.

MORE PLAY

Themed card editions

What You Need: Image Cards (x32), Point Chips (1 Point, 5 Points), Theme Cards (x6)　Number of Players: 3-6

Recommended Play Time: 30 minutes (for 5 rounds)

  1. The game master chooses 1 of the 6 Theme Cards and places it in front of the players.

  2. Follow steps 1 and 2 from “Sign Factory.”

(Place the Image Card next to the Theme Card.)

  1. Create a new sign combining the Image Card and Theme Card.

(Allow 1 minute for players to think.)

  1. Follow steps 4 to 8 from “Sign Factory.”

Sign Doubt

Read Minds and Fool Them All!

What You Need: Doubt Cards, Whiteboard Marker, Word List Cards,

Point Chips (1 Point, 5 Points), Smartphone　　Number of Players: 3-6

Recommended Play Time: 30 minutes (for 5 rounds)

  1. Give each player a Word List Card.

  2. The game master will prepare enough Doubt Cards for the number of players. One of the cards is left blank. Write one number you have chosen from the Word List Card onto the remaining cards without showing the players. 

  3. Give each player a Doubt Card.

  4. Players must hide their Doubt Cards from the other players and find the corresponding number from the Word List Card. Using this word, create a new sign that is neither sign language nor a gesture.

(Allow 1 minute for players to think.)

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The player holding the blank card must observe the other players and create their sign based on what they think the word is.

*You cannot have the same answer as another player.

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  1. After 1 minute, the game master will present their sign first. Afterwards, each player will show theirs.

  2. Once all players have presented their signs, on the count of three, choose who you think has the blank card.

  3. Players who guess correctly gain 1 point!

  4. If all players are unable to guess correctly, the player holding the Doubt Card gains 2 points.

  5. The player with the most points wins the game!

CREDITS

Sales, Planning, Production: IGENGOLab.

 

IGENGOLab. is a laboratory that explores the trials and errors produced by those who communicate using different languages, discovering the appeal of each language, and proposing new forms of communication. We develop “Interlingual Escape Games”　combining sign language with mystery solving, workshops using visual language, and production of merchandise.

 

Art Direction: Natsumi Wada

Illustration, Graphic Design: Sachi Miyakawa

Sign Language Presentations (Actors): Hideya Terazawa, Mai Nagumo

Sign Language Supervisor: Nobue Kobayashi

Japanese to English Translation: Kai R Bell

 

●Product Inquiries

info@igengo.com (IGENGOLab.)

Official Website: https://www.igengo.com/

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