Do you remember a time when you visited a new place and didn’t speak the language? What was something you did to communicate with the locals? You must have communicated/spoken via actions/gestures, and showed a picture of the place you wanted to see – you try to communicate non-verbally.
How did you feel when people didn’t understand the language you spoke?
Frustrated?
Helpless?
Wished there were better means of communication?
Well, that is probably how people who use sign language as a primary means of communication feel.
Should you learn sign language?
Not understanding a language and choosing to be ignorant are two very different things. The harsh reality is that many don’t have the time and right resources to educate themselves on the matter.
Many choose to not learn the basics of sign language because they think, “What are the chances of bumping into someone who is deaf or hard of hearing (HOH)?” But what are the chances of you bumping into someone who speaks the foreign language you're learning?
Slim, right? It's all about learning a language to understand the culture and build your knowledge.
Sign language is one of the many beautiful languages humans created as a means of communication. It helps people learn more about deaf culture and what they offer.
Unfortunately, we don’t get the time to learn all languages and indulge in their culture. But unlike languages like French, Spanish, Italian, Hindi, Marathi, etc., sign language isn’t widely offered as an optional language to study.
The real question here is not — is it okay not to know sign language? It should be — is it okay to be ignorant about sign language? The obvious answer to this is no. But how many people take the time to learn a language not to add to their portfolio but to make communication easier for another person?
Not many.
Since there is no universal sign language and over 300 to choose from, you can start with American Sign Language (ASL) since it’s widely used.
Basic signs for beginners
Learning sign language has been challenging yet fun, and it is something I encourage everyone to try. Here are some basic ASL words that can help you get started.
Hello
My name is
How are you?
Nice to meet you
Can I help you?
Thank you
Welcome
I love you
I like you
Yes
No
Sorry
Please
I don’t know
Awesome
Bye
Alphabets
A-B
J-R
S-Z
Pointers
Facial expressions also play an important role when signing. They give the other person a clearer indication of how you are feeling.
Start with basic signs and work your way up. You will make mistakes and forget some words, but that is all a part of learning.
Practice them multiple times so you get used to the hand movements. You can do so in front of the mirror to learn the movements better.
Learn new words every day or every alternate day so you build your vocabulary. As a beginner, learn words you will use on a day-to-day basis.
You can improve your signing by reading content that piques your interest and translating those sentences into signs. This can build your foundation and strengthen it.
Another fun way to learn signs is through music. The song lyrics can help you learn new words and the more you do this, the better you get at signing. However, this may be a bit tougher.
Leave perfectionism behind and focus on learning more and singing better, not signing perfectly.
Here are a few apps, and sites that can help you learn ASL
Conclusion
My goal through this blog is to encourage people to learn and educate themselves on the deaf culture. It’s important we become more empathetic than sympathetic towards people with disabilities and communicate in the best and most clear way possible.
Not all deaf and hard-of-hearing people learn sign language, they will have their own communication means. We should respect that and communicate through means they are comfortable with. If you’re still unsure about learning to sign, I urge you to check this video and give this matter a thought.
So my food for thought question for you is — Why are we living in the 21st century where people choose to be ignorant about unknown cultures?
Positive and well written. Incredibly important for us to be aware of the needs of others as much as ourselves.