How would s Southern accent be expressed in American Sign Language? Sign a little slower? Would a Bostonian just clip the endings off? And New Yorker add a little bad language here and there?
Are you driving with your eyes open or are you using The Force? - A. Foley
Sign language is a completely structurally separate language from English and therefore the accents you mention are not translated at all. There may well be regional variations, but I don’t know about those.
Deaf people from NY sign pretty fast.
A distinctive attribute of Southern speech (aside from what broadcast communications schools derisively term “lazy vowel”) is the use of question marks at the end of declarative statements. An example from an old Mike Nichols/Elaine May routine; “She aquired such vile habits like drink, drugs, prostitiution, AND PUTTING ON AIRS?”
The Southern mind prides itself on being a cordial one, and so will couch an unsolicited opinion as an answer to a question. Jois's question is valid and, to me,intriging: do such regional characteristics hold true whether expressed with audible speech or by silent gesture?
Your deep sea diving suit is ready, me brave lad.