In the past couple of weeks, I have noticed that the most popular blog post here at Deaf Pagan Crossroads has been one titled “Thoughts On Pagan Sign Language – Part One” – the first entry in a series of posts in which I shared my views in regards to the use of sign language within the Pagan Community.
Although I first wrote this post in June of 2012, it seems that in the last few months it has seen a sudden increase in readership…going from an average of 10 views per day last June to an average of 43 views per day this past January.
That’s a significant increase, and I cannot help wondering what’s been contributing to it.
Granted, some of it could be the return of students to school, who are taking up ASL to meet their language requirement. Certainly there has been a surge of interest in sign language as we see it thrust into the national spotlight more and more often – consider all of the attention given to Lydia Callas, the sign language interpreter who became an overnight sensation after being seen on national television interpreting for NYC mayor Michael Bloomberg during the Hurricane Sandy event. Or the recent interpretation of the National Anthem at the Superbowl by Deaf entertainer John Maucere.
But I can’t help noticing that all of this interest in such a post seems to be coinciding with the airing of episodes of a certain family drama television show that has found a particularly popular following amongst the female adolescent population:
Switched At Birth, the ABC Family Channel’s show about the lives of two teenaged girls who discover that they were in fact switched at birth due to a hospital error, leading them to go home with the wrong families. One of these girls is Deaf, attends a school for the deaf, and has a best friend who is also Deaf…who ends up dating her hearing switched counterpart. (The fact that my posts related to this show have also received high viewer statistics since the latest season began earlier this year only reinforces such suspicions).
Don’t get me wrong…I’m thrilled to see that there is a strong interest in learning more about ASL, and hopefully developing one’s own skills in utilizing the language.
But I cannot help wondering if these fans – some of whom are undoubtedly in the swoons of a young Deaf male hottie by the name of Sean Berdy, who plays Emmett Bledsoe on the show – really understand what they are getting themselves into when they type “sign language phrases” into their search browser. (That seems to be the most popular search term that lands them at my blog and this particular above-mentioned post.)
Newsflash, readers – if you are hoping to develop your own skills in sign language by researching appropriate sites on the internet, you might want to reconsider such efforts. While certainly these sites can be a valuable resource in one’s study of ASL, don’t expect to achieve a level of competency that would allow for any meaningful conversations with your own Emmett Bledsoes.
Ask any Deaf person what the best way to learn ASL is, and the vast majority (including myself) will recommend that you take an actual real live class, with a flesh and blood instructor. Trying to learn the language from internet sites, books, and/or videos will only get you so far, and will likely not provide you with the kind of in-depth understanding of the language that you would get from taking an actual class.
To begin with, it is important to understand that American Sign Language IS a language…it’s not merely “learning how to talk with your hands.” It is more than just the hands alone – it incorporates facial expression, mouth movements, body language, etc. These components are not intended merely to make your signs look more “animated” and interesting…they are an important and integral part of the grammar and syntax of this manual-visual language. If you don’t understand how to utilize them properly, then you’re missing a significant part of what makes ASL what it is.
In addition, the grammar and syntax of ASL does NOT follow English. Don’t think that by taking an English sentence, looking up the signs for each word in a book or on-line, and then signing each word in the sentence, you are thus learning and using ASL. You’re not. You’re merely converting English into another medium, like when you convert it into Braille or Morse Code. And if you attempt to utilize such signing within the Deaf Community, we might smile politely and support such efforts…but it will be pretty darn obvious to us that you’re neither using nor studying ASL.
To give you an example…“Have you finished eating yet?” in ASL would actually be signed as “Eat finish you?” Using ASL grammar and syntax, the nursery rhyme “The cow jumped over the moon” becomes “moon cow jump-over” (with all the proper body language, directional movements, hand placements, and facial expressions!) And a Deaf person signing “sunrise wake-up see thrill” would actually be voiced as “It was a thrill to wake up this morning and see the sun rise.”
That’s the problem with trying to learn on your own – you might learns SIGNS…but you don’t learn HOW TO SIGN. You don’t learn the grammar, you don’t learn the syntax. You don’t learn all the important nuances that go into conveying your message in a manner that would be seen and understood as ASL. You don’t learn all the cultural aspects of the language and how they are incorporated into its use. You don’t pick up all the subtle body cues that can change what a sign means and its use within a sentence. You don’t learn how to express concepts utilizing signs in an appropriate way.
So yes…if someone comes to me and asks what’s the best way to learn sign language, I am going to encourage the individual to take a class. And by class, I mean signing up for an actual series of lessons with an established curriculum, taught by a competent instructor who knows what s/he is doing. I’m not talking about getting together over lunch with “a friend who knows some sign language.” Sure, you might pick up some phrases that way, but I highly doubt you’ll become proficient. Do yourself, the Deaf Community, and the language a favor. Yes, it might take more time, effort and money…but the results will be far more worth the investment. Check out your local community colleges, technical schools, or universities – oftentimes you will find they offer ASL courses.
There are many benefits to taking a class that far surpass any attempts to study and learn the language at home on your own. Even though there are some good on-line resources and/or videos available, oftentimes what happens is that an individual will start making the signs wrong, without even realizing they are doing so. It’s hard to be able to look at yourself and see if you’re actually doing the signs properly. In a class, you have the benefit of someone being able to observe you and provide necessary feedback to correct any mistakes and help you improve your clarity. In addition, a class provides the opportunity to actually practice using your signs with other individuals, and also develop your receptive skills – the ability to read and comprehend what other people are signing. This is a problem I frequently see amongst self-learners…they might be able to express themselves somewhat adequately, but often fail in being able to understand the signing of another individual.
Remember, a major reason for learning another language is to be able to communicate with others. You are not going to develop that skill if you’re not in fact making the effort to actually use what you’re learning with others. By taking a class, you are forced to have to use your signs with your instructor and fellow students in the class…and sometimes there will be additional opportunities as well – such as guest visitors or “field trips” to places or events where you get the opportunity to meet and converse with Deaf people and other ASL users.
This brings up another important aspect of learning sign language – socialization. Even if one doesn’t take classes, the best way to actually develop and improve your skills is to turn off your computer and get out there where there are Deaf people and start practicing what you’re learning. Many times Deaf people have “social gatherings” where they get together with others to chat. Oftentimes these take place in the food court of a local mall or at a Starbucks (for some reason, Starbucks is a popular Deaf meeting place!) Or if you enjoy playing sports, find out if there is a Deaf group that gets together to play basketball or volleyball or softball. While such gatherings can be intimidating at first, just start off by finding one or two people whom you can talk to. Most Deaf people are friendly and patient when they find that you are truly interested in trying to learn their language and get to know them better. Keep coming back – that will show that you’re really motivated and making the effort, and Deaf people will respond to such efforts.
Don’t give up! Where there is a will, there is a way. Remember that a “blended approach” is the best way to learn ASL – the combination of a class, on-line resources, and socialization. In this way, you get all of the benefits of each working together to provide the most ideal environment for developing your own skills and increasing your fluency. Remember that learning ASL is like learning any new subject…you get out of it what you put into it. If you’re only going to show up in class, open your book, learn a couple of signs, and then leave and never study or practice on your own, you won’t get very far. On the other hand, if you actively participate in learning the signs in class, practicing them often at home with on-line resources, and then go out to Deaf Bingo Nights to chat with others, it won’t be long before you will find yourself being able to hold your own in a sign conversation.
And you just might be able to attract that cute Deaf guy on the basketball team…
I agree that the interest in learning ASL has increased with SAB and those interpreting for high profile media events. The internet can be a good supplemental tool for study of the language for sure, but you are so right – not a substitute for really learning ASL. Aside from the SAB website having videos entitled “ASL Lessons” which teach longer phrases in English word order, I was rather surprised to see Marlee Matlin herself promoting her iPhone app with saying things like “Learn sign language with me” and that her app teaches ASL. But I’ve also seen some reviews on the app clarify its purpose with comments like this: “These videos display the basic movements just fine, but none of the close-ups or slowed-down images needed to really learn any of it is present. Again, it’s more of a companion piece for a real course than a pocket classroom.”
Hey, did you know that Switched At Birth will be airing an all signed episode? March 4th, I believe is when it will be on. I’d say be prepared for some increased traffic after that. 😉
My own interest visiting this is I was hoping to pick up a few more signs that I do not know. Paganism isn’t my niche, but as a Certified Reverend and Certified Deaf Interpreter, I always like to have my bag of knowledge bulging! Never know when I’m going to be asked to perform a ceremony for a Pagan couple.
Hi Lucky ~
Welcome to the Crossroads! Thanks for your comment.
I wish I could tell you we have a standardized vocabulary of Pagan signs, but unfortunately that doesn’t really exist. If you read the three posts I put up regarding my thoughts about Pagan Sign Language, I think they might help to explain the challenge of such (you will find the link for the first one in my post above).
I am always willing to share ideas on the signs I use, but I encourage people working with Deaf Pagans to consult with those individuals to find out what signs they use. Because Paganism is such an “individualistic experiential” form of spirituality, my concepts and my expression of such concepts may be different from someone else’s.
So you really do have to reach into all those different “bags” and incorporate them into developing a vocabulary that works for you, and for the people you are interacting with.
If you haven’t already, you might want to take a look at this post I wrote:
https://deafpagancrossroads.com/2012/06/15/translating-pagan-wordsphrases-into-asl/
~ Ocean
I used to take ASL classes where I live, but all of the instructors have moved away from here and it’s currently not an option for me unless I could drive to another city (and I have no car). Maybe that’s why other folks are resorting to the Internet? Better than nothing?
I am sure there is some truth to this, Jen…and I can appreciate that for some folks this might be the only option they have available. There are some good resources available on-line, and as you say – they could be “better than nothing.” However, I do feel it is important to remind people of the limitations often found with these resources, and that they need to be aware of such limitations if in fact that is the route they take in their studying of ASL.
I hope the opportunity does come up for you to continue your own studies.
Hi my name is marie and i am nearly 30, i am also a pagan with SSD or Single Sided Deafness, i am also a CODA as are both my sisters. My mom and i wear hearing aides but i need a cochlear implant to help me hear for the first time since my birth. I actually have been deaf since i was born. My friend U.A. and i mix our signing for example we sign one word in ASL and the other word in either SEE or Pidgen Signed English. She was born in india and i was born in the USA in 1983. She likes to cook very much. Sometimes people don’t get that a pagan is like everyone else, deaf or not!
I first learned ASL from my first boyfriend, who was Deaf. (long story how a HoH kid with no sign ended up with a deaf BF). He moved, I moved, and years passed because although I longed for a deaf community, I lived in small rural areas with no other deaf. Then I found classes and a deaf community in Anchorage. Then another move and no deaf contact.
Now I am on the final approach to being an official Deafie. I took ASL 1, 2, and 3 at Deaf Inc. in Boston – 1 and 2 was great. 3 was taught by an arrogant (insert pejorative) person who mostly said how great it was to be him. I quit spending 2 hours on the road to get there waste my time and money.
I go to ASL meetup, I learn through videos, I harass my Voc Rehab counselor to pay for local college classes for me (with little effect). I went to an immersion at Northeastern last summer that was hideously expensive and terrible. No more money for them! I go to interpreted 12 step meetings and everything I can with deaf participants. When I get there I’m finger-tied (rather than tongue tied) so today I made a decision to sign to everyone no matter if they are hearing or deaf.
I’m sure my syntax and grammar are lacking. I do the best I can with what I have and the Deaf I meet keep saying not to be afraid, to do the best I can with what I have and to dive in. I agree. Classes are good only if the teacher is good and if it is voices off. Some teachers are worse than online videos. Some meetups are excellent, some are the pits – look for a good one – there are meetups attended by deafies and HoH who are serious about communications.
Consider using Skype for continuing communications using ASL. Just a thought.
Hi Marsha ~
You raise an excellent point here – not only is finding a class important, but it is equally important to assure that this class is taught by a competent instructor. Just being Deaf or knowing sign language is not a guarantee that the individual is qualified to be teaching a class. They also need to know how to teach, and in particular how to teach language.
Trudy Suggs writes an excellent article about this at her blog:
http://www.trudysuggs.com/its-not-just-about-knowing-signs/
Well worth taking a look.
Using Skype, Tango, FB video chat, and other such methods for continuing communication utilizing ASL is also an excellent suggestion. Any and all methods that help to continue the goal of developing one’s skills in manual-visual language is always good!
~ Ocean
BTW, although I am a Druid in an organized Druid Community in Manchester, NH, and a Brehon in the group, I have no signs to use regarding our particular belief system.
I use “deity” or “god” for “gods” and pretty much sign to myself. We have a group with two folks in wheelchairs, one who is almost unable to communicate orally due to a severe speech problem (he’d be better off signing) and consider ourselves pretty open to the disabled. We are not one of the groups that meets in natural settings that are hard to get to since we have two in chairs and our Dean of the Grove sometimes needs a cane – we meet in handicap accessible places. If we ever had signers who wanted to come we could certainly provide printed materials and I’d be delighted to develop a signing option. 🙂
I’m learning in a combination of ways. When I started dating my BF–when we decided we were going to be a couple–he helped me pick out a book, and he helped me learn my fundamentals (mind you, what we use at home is PSE–he was raised in the hearing world.)
This helped me to get started, but I have also been learning by immersion. I have a very dear friend who is deaf, is not oral, and is ASL. She and I met online a LONG time ago, but we finally met in person last year or the year before, and we now see her and her husband fairly often. They know that I have had no classes in ASL. I am learning by communicating with them. They are VERY patient, and I am very grateful for that!
Another thing I do is I watch ASL videos. Some are captioned for the signing impaired, some are not. Some have transcripts, some don’t. I figure all exposure helps, and I DO find I’m able to understand just a tiny bit more each time.
I have been looking for ASL classes for years, but when they come around, they either end up not working with my schedule, or I can’t get my money together in time to take the classes. It’s frustrating, but I’ll make it eventually. One thing that helps me a little bit in reading sign is that I took French for many years, from junior high through college. It’s not EXACTLY the same, but simialar (the grammar/syntax are similar.) It helps give my brain some context for reading the phrases.
Marsha, I think you will really enjoy this blog!
Hi, Ocean! I remember your fire walking event in NC. Long time no see!
You have created such a valuable resource here. Thank you!
I took an ASL class in night school years ago and part of another one years ago for work but didn’t get very far. Now that I have the bare minimum basics (sentence structure, etc.) and now that the internet is a thing, I’m learning so much more. Pretty soon I’ll know enough of them to go to the silent dinners at the mall here and not have to look up every other sign or ask them to spell. 🙂
The Pagan emphasis is especially helpful here. There is almost nothing else I’ve found online about Pagan ASL, and there’s such a need for learning here. Keep up the good work!
Where is your course? My son is deaf and autistic. I have signs I know but no clue how to use them appropriately.