If you speak a different language, can you learn Sign Language?

Sign-language is as different as spoken languages.
Good luck :D

Just sign language in general? Or American Sign Language? As you’ll see when you read the article, ARL is often used in conjunction with the indigenous language.

@mangeons. This is a wonderful question.

Just sign language in general. Are there different kinds other than ASL?

Thanks, Gail. It flatters me that you would think so. You’re so picky. ;)

I have high standards; that is a GOOD thing. There are a number of different sign languages; French, Dutch, etc.

Here they all are. It is overwhelming.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_sign_languages

Yes, a lot of different countries have their own versions of sign language, since as in spoken language, syntax is different in every country, even between those who share a spoken language. For example, the sign language alphabet in the US is different than the alphabet in New Zealand.

Wow. That is confusing.

Yep, lots of different kinds. I’ve picked it up on and off over the years. It’s great fun, and the best part is, you will never forget the first time you’re able to communicate with a deaf person and you see the look of relief and appreciation they give you.

Usually, they have to text things out on their phones, write on cards, etc. It’s really an instant reward you get when you make the effort.

I have been watching or taping The Amazing Race only because one team is a mother and her young adult deaf son. They are managing in creative and thoughtful ways to do very well.
It is a joy to see them interact with each other and the world.

I have no experience in this, but I would imagine that you just need to find the correct form of sign language whose letters correspond with whatever alphabet you use.

Here is one example of creativity; Modern Simplified Chinese Sign Language

Wow a sign language question. woo hoo ;-)
First of all I should say that I am a ASL interpreter. So not just a hobby for me, but career. There have been a few things said that I would like to clear up and comment on.

First the question at hand (since usually I’m off topic)
Sign Languages don’t only differ country by country, but in some countries region by region. Also keep in mind that they are natural languages, not created languages. How they have evolved and spread also has no relation to the spoken language. As an example, ASL (USA, Canada, Guam, Puerto Rico) is related to Old French Sign Language. Modern French Sign Language and ASL actually share something like 60% of their vocabulary. However BSL (England) and ASL are mutually unintelligible. A Deaf person from England and a Deaf person from America would be better off texting to each other.

Also keep in mind that Signed Languages have their own syntax independent of the spoken language of what ever country they are in. ASL shares more grammatically with Mandarin Chinese than it does with English.

@Follaholic
As for finger spelling (ie. Hand shapes that represent a letter of some alphabet, or syllable of a syllabary) that is actually less a part of a signed languages than one may think. Although they are an important part, they are only used to borrow words from a spoken language. So they come into play when you need to specify a word that may have no equivalent in a signed language. For example someone’s name. So the point is, knowing a finger spelled alphabet helps less than one might think. (There are however times when the borrowing becomes an official “loan word” in which case it is modified to be incorporated into the language more naturally)

@gailcalled
I have been keeping up The Amazing Race too. Unfortunately, for a fluent signer of the language, it can actually be heart breaking to see how badly his mother interprets for him, and how badly she signs to him. Or even worse when she choses not to sign to him at all. This however is usually the case for most Deaf people with hearing parents. Rarely do the parents ever learn the Language fluently, and the gaps are left for the Deaf person to do the work to fill.

@asmonet
I really don’t want to burst your bubble. But Deaf people usually have something to say about people who find ASL “fun” to use, and see Deaf people as an opportunity to practice their signs with. Often times better communication would be had writing on a pad of paper or texting back and forth. As an interpreter I’ve had to correct many a mistake made by the nurse who “knew a little sign”, or the coworker who “took a sign language class”.

Ok sorry for anyone who actually read the whole post. I got carried away ;-)

@Noon; Well said and interesting. I read every word.

@Noon: I’m sorry if that’s the impression you got from my post. I speak from working in jobs with fast moving lines where others were pushing the customers aside selfishly. Knowing enough to help them quickly and efficiently quite literally made their day, I know this because they told me. In sign language. Sometimes, it is not easier to write things the long way.

I find learning any new language fun as I have a small passion for them, I was not just signing for the novelty. And I really don’t like the implication. If I learned Arabic, which I plan to start doing in a few months I expect I’ll find speaking it as well as I can fun too. I don’t see the deaf as a practice worksheet in class, but human beings I may be able to communicate with in a different way and possibly a more natural way.

I’m actually a bit annoyed you grouped me in with people who yell broken Spanish at immigrants when they speak English because they know a bit from a trip to Mexico ten years ago or something just as condescending.

I grew up with my mother, who knew it and tapes, and books all over the house waiting for me to crack them open. I did take classes. And had a deaf friend in high school. As with any language however, you use it or lose it. And picking it up on an off was what I used to describe that process.

Maybe I took your post the wrong way, and if that’s the case I apologize. I might be taking it too personally, but I really didn’t appreciate it.

@asmonet
Actually I really hadn’t meant my post quite in that way. I was simply pointing out that Deaf people are people too. In all honesty I found your post slightly condescending. It makes it out like communicating with a Deaf person is some unforgettable rewarding life altering experience. I’m sorry if you took my post more harsh than it was meant to be.

Oh no, I see. I really didn’t mean to imply any of that. And if anyone got that from my post it’s really not what I had intended and I sincerely apologize for that. I simply meant that as with all moments when you can help someone out it sticks with you. Not necessarily deaf people but any act that allows you to connect with another human being. Looking back on my post I can understand how it might have been understood that way. I really should have phrased it better or at least elaborated on my own experiences that made it so rewarding in that moment for me.

Through my friend a few years ago, and those I met through her I came to understand how often they are looked down on because of limited verbal communication through our conversations and I’m very upset that that’s how I came across.

Anyway, that’s all. If I offended anyone, again, I apologize. I’ll take this as a reminder to always go over your words once or twice before shoving them out into the light of day.

I’ve asked a mod to remove the quip to avoid offending others unnecessarily.