# Sign language

Category: Language and Culture

## Post 1 by Heavy Metal Girl 85 (Zone BBS is my Life) on Saturday, 07-May-2005 0:40:37

Hey just wanted to know if there are any people who know some sign language, I know some and I'm going to be enrolling in a sign language certificate program at the community college where I live in the fal. I have a part time job teaching kindergardeners and first and second graders sign language and I'm currently lookinf for a second job hopefully doing the same type of thing

## Post 2 by Grace (I've now got the ggold prolific poster award! wahoo! well done to me!) on Saturday, 07-May-2005 12:49:56

Yes, I have what is considered Basic Sign Language skills. Those persons deaf are able to understand my Signs for the most part though I have somewhat a difficulity from time to time in reading another's Signs. Oh by the way Heavy Metal Girl 85 I think this is a first meeting for us. "Hello" *smile* One thing I have learned is that in Sign Language many times depending on the age that one is attempting to communicate with may make a difference in whether or not the Signs are understood. For example I know a Lady who is in her 60's who is both deaf and blind. Her Signs were learned at a young age and what may mean one thing to a person of a particular age, well, I know I am having a bit of a difficult time expressing myself. Please bear with me. The point is as times change then too Signs may be given to change as well and some keep the Signs known in a past that may now in another time be presented differently. I sincerly wish you well in your endeavors. Please continue to share and keep us updated. Connie

## Post 3 by Star (Honorary Bitch of the Zone) on Monday, 09-May-2005 0:43:07

I know some ASL and some Dutch sign Language (NGT for nederlands gebaren taal). I also know fingerspelling in many different languages like: American (ASL), British/Canadian/Australian which is different from the ASL, German (Lorm), and Greek. I know these cbeause I have done a lot of volunteer work with deafblind people both in the US and in Europe. My name sign is a P 'curling' downwards on the side of my face. That is the first letter of my name and the sign represents the fact that I used to have long curly hair. Star

## Post 4 by chocolab (move over school!) on Sunday, 22-May-2005 18:15:25

You should ask fh field hockey because she knows sign

## Post 5 by Sweet_Mercedes (Account disabled) on Saturday, 02-Jul-2005 1:56:48

I know ver basic sign language because I took a sign course a few years back. However, I have difficulty reading others signs and making myself understood. I may learn more at one point though.
Mercedes

## Post 6 by alison (my ISP would be out of business if it wasn't for this haven I live at) on Saturday, 02-Jul-2005 5:54:22

um...well I barely know any. The only reason I know any sign language at all is 'cause I went up to Colorado School For The Deaf And Blind for a retreat thing and I had to sign to some of my friends...but other than that, nope. LOL.

## Post 7 by louiano (I'm going for the prolific poster awards!) on Tuesday, 05-Jul-2005 19:54:36

hmm, lets see.... i know just the alphabet and a few things... I am taking it this year.... opefully

## Post 8 by lights_rage (I just keep on posting!) on Tuesday, 08-Nov-2005 12:05:42

I tried to learn from a book i found in braille sad thing is they omited how to do the manual alphebet how useful is that? I just wonder if i can find a teacher here I wonder... I don't really know though.

## Post 9 by melodica (Account disabled) on Wednesday, 09-Nov-2005 15:12:46

I know how to finger spell the ASL alphabet. I'd love to learn German Sign Language too since I'm learning German speech. For the blinks out there, I found a nice big diagram of the ASL alphabet on http://www.mistupid.com that I printed out and have been practicing with. Hey, what do you do if there's double letters like in happy, do you just kind of jerk your hand to emphasize the double letter or what?

## Post 10 by dissonance (Help me, I'm stuck to my chair!) on Friday, 23-Dec-2005 18:45:24

No I don't know it, but I wish I did. I'm going to probably take that course sometime because I think it would be interesting, I have always wanted to, so I think it's awesome those of you who have.

## Post 11 by Chicken Scratch (Account disabled) on Sunday, 06-Jul-2008 18:41:23

I know some ASL - not a lot, but some. I went to CSDB for a while - a school for the deaf and the blind. So everybody had to know at least how to fingerspell. Then, near the end of the year, I learned some more because I lived in a deaf dorm.
Still, I don't know enough to be fluent.

## Post 12 by blindndangerous (the blind and dangerous one) on Sunday, 06-Jul-2008 23:21:04

I know my mom does, but I don't know any.

## Post 13 by Harmony (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Thursday, 30-Apr-2009 14:05:32

How is a blind person meant to be able to use sign language when they can't see it? Like if a deaf person was to try and communicate with them? I know there is a slightly different kind of sign language for the deaf blind, but never learned it. I do know some of the normal bsl and macaton signs though.

## Post 14 by Reyami (I've broken five thousand! any more awards going?) on Friday, 01-May-2009 16:12:25

I think if you feel the person's hands after you've learned the language, you can get an idea of what they're saying. I'd love to learn the manual alphabet. I think the letter A is a fist, so that's a start.

## Post 15 by Shadow_Cat (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Friday, 19-Jun-2009 8:28:54

The sign language that most deaf-blind people use is called tactile sign language, I believe. It involves a lot of contact with the other person's hands, arms, and body. I do know the manual alphabet, and have used it to communicate effectively with someone who is deaf-blind. I also know some basic signs, but not very many yet. I hope to learn more of them. The manual alphabet is not that hard to learn, if you can find someone who knows it. I learned it in about two hours, and then later taught it to a friend in even less time than that. For me, it's harder to read someone else's hands than it is for me to make the letters myself. Actual signing is faster, I'm sure, but finger-spelling is definitely effective.

## Post 16 by Reyami (I've broken five thousand! any more awards going?) on Tuesday, 18-Aug-2009 21:21:50

can someone direct me to a good online source for learning the manual alphabet when one is unable to see? Anywhere where formation of the letters is described well?

## Post 17 by Shadow_Cat (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Friday, 21-Aug-2009 7:13:52

Hi, Joanne. I couldn't find anything online, cuz I looked there too, when I wanted to learn the manual alphabet myself. I had to actually find a friend who knew it to teach it to me, so I could feel her hands. I could maybe try to write up the descriptions of how to make the letters for you, but I'm not sure how effective I'd be at it. That, and you'd have no way to know if you were actually doing it correctly, and learning it the wrong way, then having to unlearn it, would be more difficult. I'm just curious, what is making you want to learn it? In my case, it was because there was someone specific I wanted to communicate with using it. Also, you may want to post this question on the "Hear No Evil," board, as maybe those who are deaf-blind themselves would have better ideas how to direct you.

## Post 18 by Reyami (I've broken five thousand! any more awards going?) on Tuesday, 25-Aug-2009 0:01:52

I have a friend who is deaf and uses it to speak. When we run in to each other i usually have to rely on someone else to be an interpreter for both of us, going back and forth between verbal and signed communication. That's awkward.

## Post 19 by Lisa's Girl forever (Help me, I'm stuck to my chair!) on Monday, 14-Feb-2011 12:01:22

i know some. of the letters. smiles. but i need to learn more.

## Post 20 by Mlynwei (Last word? Gimmie the first!) on Monday, 14-Feb-2011 12:22:33

Currently learning. Also, Deaf cafes rock.