Basics
Verbal description is a way of using nonvisual language to convey the visual world. It can navigate a visitor through a museum, orient a listener to a work of art, as well as provide historical and cultural contexts for an exhibition. Dr. Margaret Pfanstiehl, founder and president of The Metropolitan Washington Ear Inc., and her husband, Cody, developed the art and technique of verbal description in 1981.
Verbal Description Programs
How to Use this Tool
Visual Description Programs
Museum Tours
Verbal description as part of a touch tour enhances the visitor’s tactile experience; it can also provide access to a museum’s collection when the works of art are not available to touch. When a group of visitors comprises blind, visually impaired, and sighted visitors, museum professionals or docents can incorporate in-depth verbal description into their regular tour. If a classroom teacher conducts the tour, it is advisable for educators to visit the museum or historical site first to prepare the verbal description.
Audio Guides
Some museums create an additional audio guide for blind and visually impaired visitors or include extensive verbal description of artworks in their standard audio guide. Sighted museum visitors are reported to benefit from this practice as well.
Classroom Lessons
Verbal description and discussion about the work of art can be a part of a class that precedes or follows a museum visit. Verbal description of art, architecture, and design objects can be incorporated in history, social science, math, and other classes.
Multisensory Books
Multisensory art books created for people who are blind or have limited sight integrate verbal description, high-resolution reproductions of the images, and a tactile component.
How to Use This Tool
In Museums
Verbal description may be used before, after, or during a gallery tour. A lecturer describes an artwork, responds to particular questions, and engages museum visitors in thought-provoking conversation. Additionally, descriptions may be provided in the form of an audio guide, enabling museums to develop an archive of narratives for specific works of art. In the best scenario, these two methods are used in a complementary manner.
In Classrooms
Verbal description and discussion about the work of art can be a part of the class that precedes or follows a museum visit, or any other class that focuses on studying objects of art or cultural monuments. Precise and organized description is one of the basic tools of effective communication. It can improve students’ awareness of their environment, enrich their vocabulary, and improve the accuracy and variety of their sensory description when they are encouraged to ask questions.
Individuals
Museum tours, audio guides, and multisensory books are accessible to the individual learner. The pace and level of detail of description can also be adapted to individuals.
How to Start
- Familiarize yourself with the guidelines on creating verbal description in this chapter.
- As you read through the samples of verbal descriptions, pay attention to how the style, length, and content of the descriptions differ depending on the objective.
Try It Yourself
The following group activities can provide useful insight.
- Ask a colleague to draw a picture as you verbally describe a painting; then compare it to the actual artwork.
- Write a verbal description of a work of art, read it to a person who has not seen the object, then ask that person to compare the mental image created by your description with the actual work of art.
