I'm such a dingbat!

[ms.read]

I'm bilingual and I didn't even know it!

Yes, well if you didn't know I am taking a class to be a Certified Nursing Assistant (Woohoo! $12.00 an hour here I come) and I have been working in healthcare as a caregiver for awhile now. well. getting to the point I took learned some American Sign language back when I was still in High School and used it on the job. I knew over 500 signs. (pretty cool, huh?) So, I'm in class today and my instructor(who is fluent in \American Sign Language), We got to talking about the deaf community and how a friend of hers asked what a P-R-O-S-T-I-T-U-T-E was (in sign) I gave my instructor a funny look like why would this person be asking this. It turns out ASL is it's own language Very different from SPOKEN ENGLISH...who knew??

 

[Equinoxe]

That is kind of neat in a way; how often does one just realise they are bilingual?

Yes, American Sign Language has its own grammar and syntax which are quite unlike the grammar and syntax of English. It really is a completely different language.

 

[mdb913]

If yer such a dingbat, why doncha STIFLE already!!??

 

[ms.read]

If yer such a dingbat, why doncha STIFLE already!!??

 

[mdb913]

I had to, Please understand that.

 

[ms.read]

That is kind of neat in a way; how often does one just realise they are bilingual?

Yes, American Sign Language has its own grammar and syntax which are quite unlike the grammar and syntax of English. It really is a completely different language.

Do you use ASL?

 

[meg1]

Do you use ASL?

I do everyday (no, not deaf)....i don't know if i'm fluent or not, since i still consider myself to be learning....but i've used it for over 10 years now

 

[Equinoxe]

Do you use ASL?

No, I just find sign languages interesting.

 

[ms.read]

No, I just find sign languages interesting.

Wow, I learn something new everyday. there's more than one.

The deaf community intrigues me.

 

[alyxen]

I used to know a bit way way back when (ex girlfriend-ish type thing was majoring in deaf studies). The most interesting thing to me is accents. I find it quite amazing seeing how differently that people will sign. Makes sense of course, but not the kind of thing I thought about before experiencing it.

 

[Equinoxe]

Wow, I learn something new everyday. there's more than one.

The deaf community intrigues me.

Most countries have their own sign language, which is distinct from their spoken language, and just like with spoken languages, sign languages form families with different sign languages being related to each other. American Sign Language, for instance, is actually closer to French Sign Language than to British Sign Language.

I find it an interesting community, as well.

 

[Stella_Omega]

The syntax is fascinating; "Want food, me."

My ex is very fluent. Sometimes she'd translate into sign before she said something out loud.

 

[ms.read]

Oh No!

very interesting!

well, this is just an update! I was invited to go to a signing class by my instructor!! I am so excited!

OH NO! What if I don't understand anyone? I haven't used ASL in almost 5- 6 years?!

The meeting is monday and its full of active (most likely) fluent signers... im so nervous. What can I do? It's not like I can relearn in 24 hours what I was practicing for a little over 3 1/2 years.

 

[meg1]

I can tell you that if you are kind to them, they will most likely be kind to you. I work with the deaf every day, and with a few exceptions, most people are very kind to people who, though new at it, are still trying their hardest to understand and be understood

 

[ms.read]

I wish I could wear a t- shirt that says 'Newbie' emblazoned across the front.

 

[alyxen]

I wish I could wear a t- shirt that says 'Newbie' emblazoned across the front.

You totally can...although getting by Monday might be an issue...
http://www.cafepress.com/noob1

And while looking for these, I found a shirt that actually has 'rumple foreskin' on it. Just thought it was worth linking

http://www.bustedtees.com/vulgarityposter

 

[ms.read]

Very cool. I think I shall get one of everything.

 

[gauchecritic]

It seems to me that signing (what little bit I know which is BSL) is syntactically different to spoken English only because spoken is actually invented and ignores the 'rules' of older languages. (for example La plume de ma'taunt (sp) versus 'My aunt's pen')

So I've come to the conclusion that everyone else's language is more natural and this may be why signing has different 'rules'.

dialects and meanings of individual signs can also differ between areas.

After showing the class the sign for 'pop' (soda) my teacher related this story.
On a visit to a conference in London the group he was with were discussing the phenomenon of southerners interspersing most sentences with the word 'pop'.

eg "I nearly missed the pop bus."

"Did you sleep through the pop alarm again?"

"No, my pop wife turned the pop off."

Guess what. The sign for 'pop' in the south is actually the sign for 'fuck'.

So Ms.Read, keep your popping fingers still til you know what the pop they're talking about.

 

[ms.read]

OH my gauche. I shall have to keep my hands still.

... but I hope they don't think that I am giving them the silent treatment?

Pop pity pop POP!