Sign Language - Blog Posts

Blind people must save a lot on electricity.

Have been tasked with coming up with my asl name and I should not have been handed this kind of power.

Knowing myself, I'll probably end up giving myself a name that could very well be tumblr username.

And yes, I am taking suggestions

i got my tongue pierced (go with me on this) and i can talk for about five minutes before it starts to get irritated and sore, so i stop talking. except i live a fairly busy life and cant just stop talking and multiple times, during the day (i am on day 1 of the piercing and not doing very well tbh) i have remarked - both to my family and myself - that if i knew sign language it would make my life easier.

Sign language could make everyones lives easier, deaf or not. Communicating across a room, keeping a secret, trying to plan a surprise, including deaf people in a large conversation where there's no time to repeat it to them (if they can lip read), hell even cheating on a test would be easier! as a language, it's possibly one of the only ones that would genuinly make everybodies life easier to know. It should at least be an option to learn in schools, if not mandatory.

reblog if you think sign language should be taught as a language in schools.

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pls pls pls if anybody has anything like this for bsl pls share i’ve meant to learn it for so long and i am learning (using an actually p decent app called ‘bright bsl’) but learning from a variety of sources is always best especially since there can be more than one sign for a certain word!!

I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again but it is absolutely an example of civilizational inadequacy that only deaf people know ASL

“oh we shouldn’t teach children this language, it will only come in handy if they [checks notes] ever have to talk in a situation where it’s noisy or they need to be quiet”

Learning sign language should be mandatory in all schools.

Why? Well I’m not really educated in this but like, communicating without making noise? Being more inclusive? Third language? Sounds dope to me

That’s a beautiful signs language right there. 🫶🏼🦻🏼 Good job! And this is so funny. 😂

i tried to animate the two learning asl

yeah i didnt feel like cleaning it lmao

i used this for reference (by AySpooky1 on twitter dot com)

reblog if you think sign language should be taught as a language in schools.

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does anybody have any good resources for learning sign language? i would love to deepen my vocab but dont know any free and/or reliable sites/apps.

CNN

The fight to save Hawaii Sign Language from extinction

With the arrival of American Sign Language, HSL has all but disappeared. Its last remaining users are fighting to preserve it

"Linda Yuen Lambrecht stands in front of a webcam, with her head to her hips -- her signing space -- perfectly centered in the frame; a white plumeria fastened above her left ear. On screen, three women look back at her.

"No American Sign Language [ASL]," Lambrecht reminds them with her hands, as the virtual class begins. "This is Hawaii Sign Language [HSL]."

More than 100 students have received the same reminder from Lambrecht. Since 2018, she's offered HSL classes to the public; first in-person and, since the Covid-19 pandemic began, on Zoom.

Lambrecht isn't just teaching. She's fighting erasure, globalization and the cruelty of time to keep an endangered sign language -- and with it, generations of history, heritage and wisdom -- alive.

But experts estimate that fluent HSL users number in the single digits. Time is running out."

i know hearing people on this website love to pass around those posts with links to free sign language lessons but you know you need to actually put effort into learning about Deaf culture, too, right?

As someone who has a tendency to go nonverbal when anxious, stressed, or scared, I would like to back this up. I remember learning some basics when I was much younger, but I never had the chance to use it so I forgot. I have an autistic friend who uses sign language when she talks sometimes, but I don't understand it.

idk man. i just think itd be really cool if sign language classes were mandatory throughout primary school. yeah because it would make communication with deaf kids and autistic/nonverbal kids much easier. and those kids would be accessible to the others so they cold make friends and have healthy relationships. yeah. and kids would eat that shit up man. like their own little secret language? they love that.

screaming and crying and hitting the wall

Do the blins count? DO THE BLINS COUNT?? Are they sentient enough creatures to know sign language?!?!

aaaaaAAAAAAAA

love it when half awake thoughts are actually pretty cool ideas

so in a lot of legend of zelda fanworks and aus i've found, the creator has link speaking in sign language which is pretty cool in my opinion

But that's got me thinking; what about the other denizens of Hyrule? Not all languages on earth use a universal sign language, so i imagine with such exaggerated diversity (completely different species) in Hyrule, they wouldn't either. Therefore I have come up with some vague-ish ideas of what the other peoples of Hyrule might use as a method of nonverbal communication. I'm using Breath of the Wild/Tears of the Kingdom as the base for this.

also note I'm not versed in sign language at all, so there will be mistakes.

I'll start simple, Gerudo.

The Gerudo people are most similar to Hylians in appearance, both are basically humans though they are treated as a different 'species' as far as I can tell. But it still makes sense to me that their sign would be most similar to Hylian sign, just some words might get a bit lost in translation.

Next up, Gorons.

Due to their bulkier appearance and larger hands, their sign might include their arms more prominently. Certain motions and swings might be dangerous for the other species, but other Gorons would be able to take an accidental hit. They do still use their hands and fingers, but less so than the more human-like species, and the motions would be more like a game of charades.

My favorite, Rito.

Due to their fingers also being feathers, Rito use their feet by tapping their claws, clenching toes, or stomping. For more complicated words they lower their wings so their feather-fingers are in view of the person already looking down and combine motions alongside their feet. Rito sign isn't very common however due to the difficulty of standing, signing, and focusing on what they're even trying to say without stumbling. It's even more difficult to understand while in the air. Only those with impeccable balance even bother unless necessary.

And finally, Zora.

If you look at the Zora's design, their gills are along/near the latissimus dorsi, an easy place to see both on land and in water. Due to this and how water can get extremely dark the further you dive, I imagine it would be pretty cool if the Zora could activate some sort of bioluminescence in their gills to flash in sequences similar to morse code. This would make it easy to see even underwater, and the ability to essentially shut the light off would keep them safe from underwater threats. This idea also comes from how I think it would be difficult to verbally communicate underwater and while swimming at fast speeds.

Like I said, I've limited this to botw/totk for simplicity's sake, but I know there's all sorts of different species in the other games, so it might be cool to explore their nonverbality one day.

Hi, I'm sorry if you aren't the best person to ask but i cant find anyone else but is it ablest of me to avoid verbally communicating even if I have the ability?

Like I can talk, and it's not particularly hard for me usually, but I feel more comfortable not doing it usually, especially during the times it does hurt. I'm autistic but I don't know if that's the reason why, and I worry it's inconsiderate to not do it by choice since some people don't have one.

Sorry again

It isn't ableist. I've said it before and I will say it again, everyone deserves a comfortable way to communicate. And for you, if using a way other than oral speech is more comfortable, do that!

You deserve to be comfortable, and if that means using AAC, sign, etc. to communicate even though you are speaking. Do it. Somebody who reblogged one of my posts said this, and I think it applies:

"Its called an aid for a reason. You don't NEED a jacket, but winter will be a lot easier if you have one.".

Also, the more people who use AAC the more normalized and available it'll become!

Is funny when doctors and other peeps act like my problem is that I’m obsessed w/ my disability. Um no. You have it backwards. The problem is I HAVE to be cuz it is a constant problem.

Because she was lonely.

So, today, a woman came into our shop. It was a woman I’ve only heard my parents refer to as ‘the Deaf Lady’. My mum had told her about me, explained that I was doing Sign Language, and come to find me on a day she knew I was working.

But today, she didn’t need her lawnmower repaired. In fact, she hadn’t touched it since it had been, and as far as she knew everything was fine.

She’d come in to sign to me.

She waved hello, and instantly explained that my mum had told her I would be in today. I asked her how she was, and the smile that she had on her face was the biggest I’ve ever seen.

And we spent about an hour in my family’s little shop, talking about everything. She told me about her life, about how she’d lived in the same house for 60 years.

She’d been born deaf, and been a Brownie, but never a Guide, because of the War… she’s now 86.

She had some amazing stories to tell, and twice she cried. One of those times was remembering her youth, and the other was when she was explaining to me that her husband had died around 20 years ago, and how he’d been the last person she’d known that could communicate with her.

She’s been alone for 20 years, living in a silent world, unable to communicate with anyone for the most part. The most interaction she has is when she writes things down for people, but she’s struggled to make any recent friends, and her family is long gone.

Now someone explain to me what’s wrong with every school teaching a certain amount of Sign Language, and for colleges to offer it more freely and frequently. People should be encouraged to learn BSL, because otherwise we’re cutting ourselves off from talking to around 8 million people or so (in the UK alone).

That’s millions of people who are no less important than you are, who have their own stories to tell, and the same need for communication as anyone else on this tiny little planet.

J. cried today because it was the first time for a long time that anyone has asked her for her name, or listened to her stories.

She’s also coming back into work tomorrow, to sign with me, and help me practice. But also - because we’re only human - for the company.

i still don’t get why asl isn’t a common language to learn in schools like it’s been way more useful then french ever has for me and i’m shit at both languages

@slashmultiverse Daily Pride Prompt Day 6: Voyage

@julybreakbingo Prompt: Pirate AU

Up Here

Clint was standing in the crow's nest, leaning into Bucky’s embrace and watching into the distance. He let his gaze wander over the open sea.

Up here, where he was alone and could see for miles and miles, surrounded only by water and wind, he felt truly free and truly like himself.

Under him, the crew was busy. People were cleaning the planks, working on the sails, or fixing the damage the last fight had caused. Men were running around, yelling, and working loudly.

But up here, everything was quiet.

Clint’s hearing had never been the best, but after years of cannon fire and taking a few too many hits, he was barely able to understand human speech anymore.

But that didn’t matter up here.

Up here, everything was quiet anyway.

Up here, everything that mattered was how far he could see and how early he could make out land or other ships.

There was a reason Clint was the one sitting in the crow’s nest. It was the same reason they called him Hawkeye.

Clint had always had phenomenal eyesight.

And that was everything that mattered up here.

Clint looked down for a moment. He saw the chaos and all the other sailors working.

Sometimes, he thought back to the days he spent running around, cleaning, or fixing stuff. It had been good days, full of excitement and other people.

Still, he preferred being up here.

Up here, he met few people.

Sometimes Bucky would join him when the chaos between the others got too much for him or when he felt lonely.

But most times, Clint was alone up here.

On long travels, Clint could spend days up here.

Only climbing down to fulfil basic human needs or when he saw a ship they wanted to fight.

Otherwise, he would stay up here, being visited by Bucky every once in a while but spending most of the time on his own.

Up here, everything he had was wind and weather, and the open sea.

That was everything he needed up here.

Up here, Clint felt safe.

And being up here meant to be free.

Being up here was what being a pirate meant to Clint.

Can also be found here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/47701165

favorite ASL signs at the moment:

information

brave

courage

too bad

the first and last ones are fun to throw a little on the delivery, and the middle two are just cool! though to be fair I like so many ASL signs, I kinda feel like I understand it better than English

Hey all. Here in Sweden some of our preschools teaches signlanguage. It’s a really good compliment and the kids rock it like they never did anything else. I know Swedsh signlanguage because of my sisters deaf kid. Its a wonderfful way to communicate. Love the bodylanguage that comes with it! Take care!  

Reblog if you think sign language should be taught as a language in schools.

Day 65/100

// 05/10/23// today we had a play at sign language class. It was grandpa's birthday and I was the granddaughter lol

Acted

Ate

Worked

Bought stuff to leave at work

Watched Fionna and cake

Hi, I’m Wynter, I’m Deaf and fluent in ASL (American Sign Language). I get a lot of people telling me they want to learn to sign, but not knowing exactly where to start. So, I am here to provide that!

Let’s start off with some basics, though. ASL does NOT follow English grammar (Signed Exact English/SEE does, but it is not ASL), it only uses English words and a lot of the communication with singing is done via facial expression and body language. Basically, it goes in the order of time > topic > comment. For example, “ I am going to pet dogs next week” would be “next week dogs me pet”, but there are quite a few variants and every person who signs will have a different way of doing this. Sort of how people who speak English in different parts of America have an accent and different ways to sign things. The most important thing to note about ASL is that *American* Sign Language is not universal. Most languages have their own form of SL and a lot of the word signs/alphabets are not at all the same. Another note, learning SEE may seem easier at first, but it can actually make the transition to ASL grammar that much more difficult. An example of differing signs is BSL (British Sign Language) vs ASL. 

This is the BSL finger alphabet:

And this is the American one:

So while there is a small bit of crossover, it is very, very different! Don’t get me wrong, a lot of times signers will understand each other at least a little bit, but it does need to be noted that signs can differ by language, country, region, and sometimes person. 

Now, onto what you came for…

Alphabet:

ASL Alphabet 

ASL ABC’S (NON-CC VIDEO)

The ASL Alphabet

Deaf Culture:

*Note: if you are going to be attending Deaf events, please make sure you familiarise yourself with our culture!

American Deaf Culture

What is Deaf Culture? 

The Importance of Deaf Culture 

Deaf Culture vs Hearing Culture (NON-CC VIDEO)

Finger spelling:

American Sign Language Finger Spelling 

Sign Word List for Finger Spelling 

Learn ASL: The Finger Spelling Alphabet for Beginners (CC VIDEO)

ASL Finger Spelling Word Printer (gives you the finger spelling equivalent to what you type)!

Finger Spelling Practice

Sign Language Translator

Grammar: 

ASL Grammar 

The Basic Structure 

Learn ASL Grammar (CC VIDEO)

Learn:

*Note: The best way to learn is through Deaf people/other signers!

Lifeprint 

SignLanguage101 

The ASL App 

100 First Signs (Lifeprint)

Misc:

A Day Through a Deaf Person’s Eyes (CC VIDEO)

Deaftube 

What Questions Annoy Deaf People? (CC VIDEO)

Things Not to Say to a Deaf Person (CC VIDEO)

Why I Don’t Sound Deaf (CC VIDEO)

13 Things my Hearing Friends Should Know (CC VIDEO)

National Association of the Deaf

If you want a safe place to learn sign language (including ASL), I have created a Discord called Sign Language Learners! Come join and learn with other learners, Deaf/HoH people, and those curious kids who just want to know how the Deaf communicate.

How would you indicate/punctuate a message/conversation in sign languague while making a difference between normal diologue?

So far I have been using

*BlaBlaBlaBlaBlaBlaBlaBla*: for the just sign languague transcription;

["BlaBlaBlaBlaBlaBlaBlaBla" Narration]: for when there's speaking interactions of which the non-hearing character is not aware of or there's just no translation for them;

"*BlaBlaBlaBlaBlaBlaBlaBla*": for when a character signs and speaks at the same time;

"BlaBlaBlaBlaBlaBlaBlaBla" Hey! Someone else is singning and the diologue it's just the translation: For when someone is translating to someone who doesn't know signs, but is clear they're just tranlators

*BlaBla,BlaBla,BlaBla,BlaBla*// *BlaBla;BlaBla;BlaBla;BlaBla*// *BlaBla.BlaBla.BlaBla.BlaBla*: To indicate the physical pause between signs for someone who's not used to signing

And the usual, *B-L-A-B-L-A-B-L-A*: for finger spelling, but If there's a diologue translation I'll just put the normal word.

I really want to integrate sign languague in my stories correctly, but remarking the difference between the communication methods in a graphical way. Any thoughts or suggestions?

reblog if you think sign language should be taught as a language in schools.

can you write a fic where reader is deaf and Emily learn sign language for them??

Enjoy!!

Prentiss Signs

Truthfully? You never expected her to try. You couldn't just expect something like that from someone, or at least you'd come to learn that.

Emily was already so busy, with jetting off to cases, working long nights, leading the team, carrying the weight of so many lives. You'd told her more than once, "It's okay... you don't have to."

And you meant it.

But Emily Prentiss has a stubborn streak, and she doesn't do anything halfway. So when she showed up one evening with a stack of notecards, her hair a mess and her jacket over one arm, you just stared.

She dropped her keys, and her bag, and signed (clumsily, but surprisingly clearly), "Hi. I want to learn." You blinked, then blinked again.

She smiled, nervous and unsure, and added aloud, slow enough for you to read her lips, "I know I got that wrong. But... I want to do this. For you."

And so it began.

At first, Emily struggled. Her slim fingers didn't want to cooperate, she'd blame it on her years of holding stiff guns, her brow would furrow constantly.

And more than once she muttered, "This shouldn't be harder than hostage negotiations," which you couldn't help but giggle at, though you'd quickly hide it under a cough when her arms would cross with a sigh.

But you were patient, as patient as she'd allow. You signed things slowly, sometimes repeating them two, three even four times till she got it.

When she fumbled through something as simple as "coffee" or "work", she'd huff and sign something vaguely chaotic that made you burst out with silent laughter.

Still, she persevered, kept going.

She even enrolled in ASL class on Thursday nights, juggling it between her BAU schedule and mountains of Chief worthy paperwork.

You'd catch her practicing in the mirror, mouthing the words while signing them slowly, her fingers dancing shakily until they learned the easing rhythm.

You'd fall asleep sometimes with her arm wrapped around your waist, her free hand unconsciously tracing the alphabet against your back. And slowly, oh so slowly, she got better.

You taught her curse words when she needed to vent, and jokes when she needed to smile. She learned "I love you" early, she practiced it more than once.

One night, without warning, she looked at you, no stumble or hesitation, and signed it. Perfectly. "I love you". You forgot how to breath for a second.

- - -

A few months later...

You, something you don't usually do, join the BAU team for dinner. Garcia picked the restaurant, somewhere trendy and loud, all laughter and clinking glasses.

The team has taken over a long table in the back. Emily rests her hand on your lower back as you slide into the seat beside her. And just like that, it starts.

Morgan is already in story mode, laughing at something Spencer had mistakenly done last week, talking a mile a minute. JJ is trying to keep up, and Garcia's hand gestures alone could tell a full story.

You lean back, a little overwhelmed, your brows furrowing as you slowly get left behind...

But then Emily taps your thigh gently, her fingers drawing your attention. She signs slowly, "Morgan said Reid spilled coffee on Hotch's files. Again."

You snort. Emily smiles.

Every few minutes, she checks in, translating certain bits of fast conversation, shortening some, skipping others, but making sure you're never left out of the loop.

She signs across your lap, under the table, casually but clearly, pausing sometimes to double check her signs. Once, when she fumbles over a complex phrase Garcia throws out, she huffs, rolls ger eyes and signs, "I'm trying, okay?"

You kiss her cheek. Knowing Garcia was one to make up her own words and phrases to emphasise her misfortune.

- - -

Later that night, when everyone was full and winding down, you notice the others looking at her a little differently. Not unkindly. Just... moved.

Emily, who once struggled to remember the difference between "want" and "need", is now translating full conversations without missing a beat or made up word.

And she learned it all, just for you.

You squeeze her hand under the table, signing a slow, heartfelt, "Thank you. I see you." She squeezes back, "Always, love."

Hey! Also, lots of libraries have resources for learning ANY language. Libraries are awesome.

You can sign up for a bunch of online resources for free with Transparent Language Online (transparent.com), through your local library.

I've used it for a while, and it seems that a lot of the ASL backend stuff is taken from signingsavvy.com (normally you'd have to pay).

I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again but it is absolutely an example of civilizational inadequacy that only deaf people know ASL

“oh we shouldn’t teach children this language, it will only come in handy if they [checks notes] ever have to talk in a situation where it’s noisy or they need to be quiet”

Do u know ASL if yes what the best way for a beginner to learn and is asl the first one should i start with even if im not an American, if no i wasn't here and ty anyway

I'd say I'm pretty proficient as I'm taking ASL college classes in the fall, but take this with a grain of salt because everyone is different!! It's completely up to you whether you want to learn American Sign or another country's sign language or even both!! Just start with one and take it slow :) What really got me started is learning how to fingerspell, count, and sign basic words and phrases. You can do this online or take an irl class (BE VERY CAREFUL IF YOU LEARN ONLINE AND MAKE SURE YOUR SOURCES ARE CREDIBLE. My favorite is Bill Vicars on youtube and handspeak.com cus we use him as examples in my irl classes!! Also note that if someone is signing a word and it's different from what you learned, signs are very regional so they might have small differences based on the state or area, dont worry too much about it though, the deaf community is SO understanding and kind when it comes to learning.) I also recommend investing in a book because I find it so engaging and fun to just read it and practice the signs regularly. LASTLY MAKE SURE YOURE CONSUMING ALOT OF MEDIA FROM THE DEAF COMMUNITY like movies, books, and other things!! because it's not just a language, it's a culture and it has its own norms and things like that so not only will it help you learn the language, but you'll know how to manage in the deaf world without being insensitive!! Hope this helps, and if you have any questions, feel free to ask, and I'll bring it up with my instructor if you'd like!! :)

some slightly inappropriate auslan lessons with kallamar!

Hard of hearing Steve Harrington is so real to me.

Eddie starts to realise how much Steve concentrates on watching people’s mouths when they talk. At first he doesn’t think much of it until Eddie is watching Steve as Mike and Dustin argue about something and his head is whipping between the two of them trying to read their lips to get an idea of what’s going on. Eddie puts his hand on Steve knee to see if he’s ok, thinking Steve’s just stressed seeing his ‘children’ argue but Steve says to Eddie, without taking his eyes off Dustin and Mike, “don’t distract me I’m trying to see what they’re saying”. It then clicks for Eddie that all that head trauma has had a bigger impact on Steve than he originally thought. He keeps a closer eye on Steve that night as he plans what to do.

When Steve next comes around to the trailer Eddie decides to try talk to him with his back turned to see if Steve understands him. He’s met with a lot of “huh?”, “can you repeat that?”, and “can you turn around?” Eddie finally decided to ask Steve about his hearing, and in true Steve fashion he denies all and claims he can hear perfectly fine. Eddie just stares at him and covers his own mouth and stays “no you can’t”. Steve throws his head back and just sits in silence for a while, thinking. After a few minutes he turns to Eddie and asks “so, you can understand people without having to read their lips?” Eddie nods, and Steve sighs as Eddie grabs his hand, rubbing his thumb. “You know we could learn ASL together?” Eddie suggests as he turns his head to fully face Steve. “You’d really do that for me?” “Of course I’d do that for you, you idiot. I want to talk to you and for you to actually understand what I’m saying.” Steve’s face lights up, and his eyes well up, realising he’s never had someone pay this much attention to the little things about him and actually want to help him. Steve leans in and gently kisses Eddie, and pulls away to show one of the few pieces of ASL Steve knows.

“I love you” 🤟