allana@hpmwtd.hp.com (Allan Armstrong) (05/01/91)
Index Number: 15267 How hard is it to learn sign language? How much effort and time is typically involved for how much communication ability? I have a friend who is hearing impaired. Although her lip reading and speech is _very_ impressive, even inspiring, I'm dabbling with the idea of learning to sign. So I'd like a little information. Thanks, Allan
JIM@auvm.auvm.edu (Jim McIntosh) (05/04/91)
Index Number: 15345 In article <15267@handicap.news>, allana@hpmwtd.hp.com (Allan Armstrong) says: >Index Number: 15267 > >How hard is it to learn sign language? How much effort and time is >typically involved for how much communication ability? > >I have a friend who is hearing impaired. Although her lip reading and >speech is _very_ impressive, even inspiring, I'm dabbling with the idea >of learning to sign. So I'd like a little information. Hi Allan. I am taking ASL II now, and plan to take ASL III this summer at Gallaudet. That doesn't make me an authority, but I do know something about it. First, you should know there are a number of ways of signing in the United States which all use the same signs or variations of the same signs. On the English side there is Signed Exact English (SEE). This uses signs, but in English word order and using English grammar. Naturally, since it hard to sign things like tone of voice, some meaning will be lost. On the opposite side of the spectrum, there is American Sign Language (ASL). ASL is a completely different language from English (although some scholars say it is a pidgin or creole). The grammer and structure is different from English, and there is no direct word-for-word translation available from ASL to English. Learning ASL is as difficult as learning any foreign language. In the middle there is Pigin Sign Language (PSE) which is sort of a mixture of the two. Although originally described as a Pigin, the description of "Foreigner's Grammar" might be more accurate. On one side the deaf person is trying to make their signing as English-like as possible so the hearing person will understand them, and on the other side the hearing person is using as much ASL as he or she knows. --- Jim McIntosh (jim@auvm.auvm.edu) The American University Washington DC 20016-8019 USA
Stu.Turk@f26.n129.z1.fidonet.org (Stu Turk) (05/07/91)
Index Number: 15421
[This is from the Silent Talk Conference]
AA> From: allana@hpmwtd.hp.com (Allan Armstrong)
AA> I have a friend who is hearing impaired. Although her lip reading and
AA> speech is _very_ impressive, even inspiring, I'm dabbling with the idea
AA> of learning to sign. So I'd like a little information.
The thing is, does you're friend know (and use) sign language? Not
everyone who is good at lipreading is also good at signing.
As for how hard it is, its probably hard to say because it depends on your
learing skills and how old you are.
--
Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!129!26!Stu.Turk
Internet: Stu.Turk@f26.n129.z1.fidonet.orgJames.Womack@f14.n300.z1.fidonet.org (James Womack) (05/14/91)
Index Number: 15580
[This is from the Silent Talk Conference]
Allan, how long it takes to learn sign depends on several factors.
If you elect to learn an MCE-Manually Coded English such as SEE, Signed
English, or something similar and if you also have a good mastery of
English to begin with; you may find it relatively easy. Basically you
would to presenting English syntax in a physically mobile format. Your
hands would be making positions and movements designed to duplicate
English syntax and spellings. This is a pseudo-language not unlike
writing in that it presents what is normally a spoken language in an
unspoken form. It does not carry over the voice intonations and other
phonological characteristics.
If you elect to learn American Sign Language; also known as Ameslan
and ASL, that changes things. You would be learning a new language
that has its own syntax, grammar rules and unique properties as does
any true language. Your natural aptitude for learning languages, your
level of desire to learn it, the quality of instruction you receive
and the degree of opportunity you have to practice it in practical
situations will determine how well you learn it. Don't let all this
pedagogy intimidate you. I personally believe that for many people;
the bottomline is something called "desire." If you really want to
achieve something; whether you achieve it 100% , or close to it or
far below that, comes down to how much heart you have for it. Even
if you fall a bit short but still do well enough, you are head and
shoulders above the alternative. Believe me, it will be rather obvious.
Go for it. Whichever way you choose to go.
--
Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!300!14!James.Womack
Internet: James.Womack@f14.n300.z1.fidonet.orgJay.Croft@p0.f147.n109.z1.fidonet.org (Jay Croft) (05/14/91)
Index Number: 15590
[This is from the Silent Talk Conference]
No one ever died learning to sign. Go for it!
Perhaps the hardest part of learning American Sign Language (not signed
English) is the realization that it is a separate language with its own
grammar. Also, for some people it's difficult to communicate spatially.
But you will enjoy the experience!
--
Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!109!147.0!Jay.Croft
Internet: Jay.Croft@p0.f147.n109.z1.fidonet.orgAnn.Stalnaker@p0.f14.n385.z1.fidonet.org (Ann Stalnaker) (05/24/91)
Index Number: 15767 [This is from the Silent Talk Conference] > Classrooms are boring, and tend to leave out the body language, > puns, and yes, humor. She showed me some "deaf humor" > in signs like "understand" where the sign for stand is just > inverted so that the "stand" is beneath the left hand instead > of on top. Over the week (weak?) end was signed by taking > the stand sign and starting at the right shoulder, and > going over the head to the left shoulder. Also, in classes > you don't learn how to curse. Comes in handy when you > run into a fanny pincher. Would you believe the first signs I ever learned were cuss words? Sure made things interesting when you didn't want one to know what you thinking and didn't want to say it verbally - all you had to do was sign the explictive. -- Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!385!14.0!Ann.Stalnaker Internet: Ann.Stalnaker@p0.f14.n385.z1.fidonet.org