Silent World — A discussion group discussion

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Talking Hands: What Sign Language Reveals about the Mind

Chantal wrote: "It took me almost 3 years to learn sing language, working in a Deaf environment, using a consultant, and taking ASL classes. Proficient but not a natural signer."

Wow, that's quite a commitment.

Lance wrote: "Talking Hands: What Sign Language Reveals about the Mind

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Grabbing. Thank you!

I'm forced to sign every day due to being mute, and I've been doing it for a few years. I'm still not fluent. It's like learning any other language it's going to take forever.

Paula wrote: "Lance wrote: "Talking Hands: What Sign Language Reveals about the Mind

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Grabbing. Thank you!"

You welcome.

I wonder whether communicating in sign language forms different types of brains...or unique neural pathways in the brain...The profoundly Deaf people I have known were all very unique, dynamic thinkers, and I wonder if that is a coincidence.

I think so. The physical forms of sign language probably do give unique neural pathways that aren't the same for spoken language. And people who know sign language + a spoken language are bilingual. People who know 2 or more languages are better at music, math, science and probably creativity.

I used SEE/PSE until I was in middle school, so there were not available for interpreters in my mainstream school. My D/HH teacher recommended my parents that they should visit the deaf school and see if they can send me there. Of course, they wanted to do what the best for me; I attended to the deaf school, and teachers always picked on my sign language. They finally referred me for ASL club and one-on-one sessions. The ASL teacher was the 7th generation of deaf families, and he is an alumni from Gallaudet for his deaf studies and ASL linguistics. At first, I struggled use my facial expressions or CL (classifiers), and they made me feel awkward. About a month later, my ASL teacher noticed that I love drawing and coordinate it with story (sort of like an illustration book). He asked me why not use your imagination like your drawings with ASL. Indeed, he has an excellent point, so my sign skills rapidly improving. Aftermath, many deaf enjoy my ASL storytelling.

What about military hand signals? Are there any similarities, or is there any cross-over between military hand signs (which they use in combat when they need to remain silent) and sign language?

If so, would a person from the Army be able to learn sign language quicker?

In my case it's taken years to be able to communicate in sign on a basic level and I'm only now getting ready to fully study ASL.

I'm deaf with nominal hearing in one ear and was raised in a strict non signing family during a time when deaf education was still largely "Learn to fit in to a hearing world". So spotty sign language and lack of local deaf community means I have a lot of catching up to do.

Derpinatrix wrote: "In my case it's taken years to be able to communicate in sign on a basic level and I'm only now getting ready to fully study ASL.

I'm deaf with nominal hearing in one ear and was raised in a stric..."

Congrats! That shows real commitment. Best wishes going forward.

25 Basic ASL Signs For Beginners | Learn ASL American Sign Language https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Raa0v...

“Really enjoying the discussions here. It's always inspiring to see how different books touch people in such personal ways.