James.Womack@f14.n300.z1.fidonet.org (James Womack) (05/24/91)
Index Number: 15769
[This is from the Silent Talk Conference]
Wish I had more time on this, but. . . . Recent research is showing
that old notions of ASL as being primarily as conceptual language and
hence not given to expressing abstract ideas effectively are wrong.
Nope you did not say that this is what ASL is. I am mentioning it because
a lot of people get the implication that ASL is not "high order" enough
for "serious" communication. This is idea is mainly based on the old
concept that ASL is mainly pictorial, conceptual, or concrete. In general
terms; this is true. However, new findings show that ASL can be and
is used to express very abstract communication concepts in math, science,
and any other topic one wants to cover. In truth, ASL's high adaptability
allows it to convey some very complex concepts easier than spoken English
on the sheer basis of English's tendency to be ambigious in terminology.
I recently watched a fascinating debate on environmental issues done
in ASL. Some hearies present claimed that they understood the issues
better after watching the debate than they did from years of hearing
about the same ideas. Could be since humans are primarily visually-based
beings anyway. I am anxious to see where this new on-going research
will lead us.
--
Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!300!14!James.Womack
Internet: James.Womack@f14.n300.z1.fidonet.orgFran.O'Gorman@f94.n272.z1.fidonet.org (Fran O'Gorman) (05/24/91)
Index Number: 15777
[This is from the Silent Talk Conference]
Hi James,
I can see what your saying, and while as you say, ASL depends
on concrete things at times, so does spoken English, and thus we
have so many figures of speech, metaphors and the like. I don't
think that either prevent one from being able to express abstract
ideas.
I know that even when speaking when presenting a lesson where
I am trying to convey a difficult concept, the more visuals,
graphics, and even gestures I can get into it, the more the
students seem to 'get it'.
And you're right, there IS alot of ambiguity in English.
I recently got a book published by Gallaudet that has school
words and gets into ALOT of very specific terminology, scientific
and the other disciplines as well... the signs do exist.
--Fran
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Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!272!94!Fran.O'Gorman
Internet: Fran.O'Gorman@f94.n272.z1.fidonet.orgJames.Womack@f14.n300.z1.fidonet.org (James Womack) (05/30/91)
Index Number: 15827
[This is from the Silent Talk Conference]
Fran, that book you mentioned that has science terminology and other
such; kindly give me all the info you can on it. Not long ago, a lady
in Yuma, Arizona ( I don't know why anyone wants to live there either)
asked me to make a videotape of myself using science terms. She was
not proficient in signing but tried to do the best she could. She works
ina mainstreaming program there (I commend her on her heart and efforts-heck
of a lot better than some I see in bigger towns). I any case, all I
had was myself and my imagination to help her and some advice. But
you are talking about an actual book with this stuff. That will help
a lot. There was sucha book years back.it never really caught on.
Instructionales something, I think. At CSUN I came up with 800 new
signs for science and other technical terms. I just wonder if any of
them show up in the book. I did mine as part of a scholarship/workstudy
requirement.
--
Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!300!14!James.Womack
Internet: James.Womack@f14.n300.z1.fidonet.orgFran.O'Gorman@f94.n272.z1.fidonet.org (Fran O'Gorman) (05/30/91)
Index Number: 15830
[This is from the Silent Talk Conference]
JW> Fran, that book you mentioned that has science terminology and
JW> other such; kindly give me all the info you can on it.
The book is the Signed English School Book by Harry Bornstein and
Karen L. Saulnier (illustrated by Ralph R. Miller, Sr.) published
by Kendall Green Publications, Gallaudet University Press,
Washington, D.C. with a copyright of 1987. It appears designed to
help an interpreter in a school settings and has signs according
to disciplines, humanities, math, science, chemistry, social
science, it gets very specific at times...
JW> At CSUN I came up with 800 new
JW> signs for science and other technical terms. I just wonder if any
JW> of them show up in the book. I did mine as part of a
JW> scholarship/workstudy requirement.
Hmm, was it that if a specific sign didn't exist (except to
fingerspell it) that based on the logic and conventions of the
language you were asked to develop those signs? Interesting, if
so. I see they replaced the sign for computer (the old one made
reference to old-fashioned tape drives with 'c' hands) ...the only
sign I've 'made up' is for deodorant --just because I couldn't
find it and couldn't picture a chapter on hygiene without it.
What else, but lifting the arm and applying it... I'm sure if I
found it in a book, that's what it would be. :-)
--Fran
--
Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!272!94!Fran.O'Gorman
Internet: Fran.O'Gorman@f94.n272.z1.fidonet.orgJames.Womack@f14.n300.z1.fidonet.org (James Womack) (05/30/91)
Index Number: 15845
[This is from the Silent Talk Conference]
In making up signs while at CSUN, I simply looked at what was known
or assumed about the behavior or function of a concept and created
a sign that was descriptive of that function or behavior.
--
Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!300!14!James.Womack
Internet: James.Womack@f14.n300.z1.fidonet.org