colbysmalls

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Currently working on my first ever Transformers print - I don't have an online shop just yet, but I'd like to change that if people are intrested enough. I don't primarily do Transformers artwork but I can't lie, making art like this has been a dream of mine since I was a kid.

So in the meantime, please enjoy this WIP of the Pin Up trend with IDW Megatron ✨️

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Gripping the sink and looking at myself in the mirror like

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Goofy fellas

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Cybertronian Culture and Society: Chirolinguistics and Cybertronian Sign Language

OK, so I finally have a minute to write this up! 

Disclaimer: I am a sign language user!  

But while I am HOH (hard of hearing; I have APD, Auditory Processing Disorder) and I am currently fundraising for the hearing aids I need, I am not a BSL (British Sign Language) user. 

Instead, I use Sign Supported English, which is typically used by HOH or deaf people who learned spoken English before learning sign language. 

The type of SSE I use utilises BSL signs, and I do mix in some BSL grammar/structure where I know it and when it’s appropriate, but my signing tends to follow spoken English grammar as I am usually talking to hearing people and use sign to supplement my communication. With my fellow Deaf/deaf/HOH squad, I do my best to use correct BSL grammar and so on.

While SSE is often but not always a stepping stone to BSL, I lack the funds and resources to learn BSL fully, so I have learned all of my sign from books and websites, most of which I have compiled into an info post here. 

Cybertronian Sign Language: Chirolinguistics! 

In MTMTE/Lost Light, we see that Drift knows how to “speak hand”, which is depicted as a tactile sign language: 

The concept appears to be similar to Deafblind Manual or other tactile sign languages, using touch as a key mode of communication.

We don’t see their faces while they sign, so I can’t say if facial features are as important with Chirolinguistics as they are in real world sign languages. 

Due to the similarities to tactile sign, I would say Chirolinguistics is closer to tactile sign than BSL/other sign languages for that reason.

For example, with BSL and other forms of sign language, facial expression is essentially tone of voice, among other things. “What?” (question) can become “What!” (angry) dependent entirely on facial expression, as the sign remains the same, for example. 

Chirolinguistics, from what we see in the IDW comics, seems dependent on what may be significant or particularly sensitive sensor receptors on the servos being manipulated in addition to digit placements and patterns to utilise a type of tactile code for communication. 

It also seems to be fairly commonly used, as Drift, Megatron, Ravage, Riptide, Getaway, and to some degree Tailgate are all familiar at least moderately with Chirolinguistics. (It should be noted that Tailgate learned from Getaway.) 

Cybertronian Sign Language is depicted as a completely different communication method from Chirolinguistics. 

Cybertronian Sign Language is depicted in RiD; It is stated to be based on American Sign Language, although I am far more familiar with BSL so I can’t say how accurate or how offensive it might be.

You can see the sign language scene here, starting at 0:04. 

While Blastwave uses some good body movement (shoulders, torso) and seems to be doing nice, clean signing, his helm/faceplate design don’t seem to allow for a lot of expression. 

He does move his helm to nod in the affirmative though, so while helm movement seems to be important in Cybertronian Sign Language, it may be the case that facial expression is not as significant as it is in most real world sign languages due to Cybertronian physiological/design differences. 

It may be that they use their EM fields or energy fluctuations instead of relying on facial expressions for that kind of mood/context/grammar/etc. information, although this is never stated and is just my conjecture. 

Comparing the Two! 

Cybertronian Sign Language seems to be much more similar to ASL etc. compared to Chirolinguistics, but both are fascinating because they seem to have different cultural context.

We see Cybertronian Sign Language used by a character who is mute, which is disability related. But we see Chirolinguistics utilised mostly by non-disabled characters, notably all of whom (with the exception of Tailgate) are Decepticon related in some way or villain characters. 

The ship trader Drift bought the Lost Light from also used Chirolinguistics, suggesting it is a mode of communication used primarily by those who are seedier, more underground characters as perhaps a “secret” communication method. 

I would like to see Chirolinguistics used by a disabled character to avoid the unfortunate and seemingly intentional implications one may draw from that difference between the two sign languages in use between Cybertronians. 

However, I’m always happy to see sign language concepts incorporated into fictional worlds/cultures, and it’s very cool to me that Cybertronian Sign Language and Chirolinguistics both exist as distinct communication options. 

Hopefully this was interesting for someone to read! 

If you liked this post, I am still fundraising for the hearing aids I need, as recommended to me by my audiologist. 

My Ko-Fi is here! 

My PayPal is here! 

If you are able to spare any change at the moment, please donate if you can. I would really appreciate it! <3

[colbysmalls]

My drawing tablet decided to act a fool tonight, so art is gonna be even slower (WHICH IS NOT GOOD FOR SCHOOL UHHHHHHHH)

But anyways,

One project is picking a story tgat already exists and changing the genre, so I picked Beowulf and I'm doing it in a Mexican Wild West theme (no, not the Indians and Cowboys crap - or in an ew ew ew racist way)

So here is one piece for the project since it's gonna take me 2 centuries to finish despite having 2 days to finish it 💀💀💀💀

Had to switch his swords out for something more on theme, so Hrunting is now a horse and Naegling is a whip :)

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sucks so bad when a character you love is heavily infantilized. that is a grown man he knows what a cigarette is. intimately

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Healing my dratchet heart ♥️♥️

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An old-ish color test/warm up :)

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AHHHHHHHHHHH 💖💖💖💖

More tf one designs ! Hot rod and Drift <3

I promise i consume other tf media that isnt tfone but making up new designs is easier than learning the preexisting ones LOLLL

Anyway theyre taking over my brain ^^

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I lied, I can't help it - How else am I gonna save all the amazing art I find 😭😭😭

What did Drift want to be when he was young?

To be happy.

This is heavily inspired by this audio (animatic belongs to elgarez on YT, audio is from the Siltverses horror podcast!) Full pages:

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Some work and progress while I revamp my TF OC :)

Their name is Cobalt (Star), he/they - he is a mini-con :D

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Hehehehe

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~ Transformers MTMTE Minibots ~

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GOLD By George Kambadais

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Howl’s Moving Castle - Fan art by Julia Tveritina

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marchosias, the beast