American Sign Language (ASL)

Hello Heroes! I've always wanted to put on an AWESOME ASL immersion. Now, this won't be for all of you because circumstances and finances may not permit it. But if you've had a couple of semesters of ASL instruction and are ready to take it to the next level you might just want to consider what it would be like to take a dive and go no voice for a couple of weeks. Nothing like a "boot camp"-style experience to improve your signing skills in a hurry!

In a message dated 8/10/2004 2:52:46 PM Pacific Daylight Time, gallagher.family@erols.com writes:
I have a question. Which ASL dictionary do you usually find yourself recommend others or the students to have or to use? Vicki

Vicki,
For the beginner I recommend:
The Perigee Visual Dictionary of Signing: An A-To-Z Guide to over 1,350 Signs of American Sign Language by Rod R. Butterworth, Mickey Flodin

For advanced students I recommend:
Random House Webster's American Sign Language Dictionary
by E. Costello -- But only if you get the "unabridged" version that has 1067 pages and over 5,600 signs (hardcover ISBN: 0394585801 ).The larger version is tough to find, but it is much better than the version that has "only" 4,500 signs and 539 pages. If you can get a hold of the large version you'll have a real treasure on your hands.
Bill

Perhaps you may recall that several months ago I was trying to find the sign for the country Slovakia... I JUST returned from there after a 6-week stay, and I learned the sign that is used in the capital city for the country. I'll attempt to explain... begin with both hands, "1" shape, palms in, at approx. forehead level, heels of palms together in front of face... hands form a semi-circle around the front of the head (like drawing the brim of a hat), and palm orientation changes to continually be palm-in towards the head. The capital city, Bratislava, is done with the exact same movement and orientation, but with "B" hands (their "b" and our "b" are the same). The group of people I met in Bratislava were incredibly nice, and explained to me much of the Deaf culture there. About 20% of the signs they use are the same or very similar, but the other 80% was way over my head. It was definitely a good challenge for myself as well as the group I was with, and we ended up "chatting" in one of the loudest bars in Bratislava for over 5 hours. BTW- they must really dislike fingerspelling because not one of them would fingerspell, and when I attempted to fingerspell with their letter system, they would patiently stop my hand and encourage me to try to mime what I was trying to fingerspell. One other interesting fact I learned was that there is no sign language dictionary for Slovak- that it is all passed person-to-person. That explains why I had so much trouble finding anything more than their alphabet on my own! They do have a rather large Deaf-club in the newer part of the city, and interpreters and Deaf individuals hang out there most of the time. They also have daily news broadcasts with simultaneous interpreting, which fascinated me to no end! I actually broke down and tried to record a partial broadcast with our camcorder so that I could show it off to my classmates and instructors here :)

Sincerely,

Lacee Burch
ITP student
WCC Aurora, IL

Neat! Thanks for the information!
Yah...it is a fact--Deaf communities in Europe tend to fingerspell MUCH less than the American Deaf Community.

The sign for "crime"

In a message dated 8/10/2004 11:37:19 AM Pacific Daylight Time, kormsby@Lee.Edu writes:
Hi Bill hope life is good J Question: What do you sign for crime? In speech class a speaker said, “Many crimes are committed everyday”.
I signed: many people do wrong; steal, kill, cheat everyday.
If I knew a sign for crime I could sign; crime happen many many everyday… right?
I did look else where in search of this sign and came up with nada.
Help please please!

My way isn't necessarily any better but you asked my opinion and there it is.
There isn't one exact sign for "crime." The closest I can think of is the sign FORBIDDEN / "against the law." There are two versions of this sign. I'm thinking of the version that smacks an L-shaped dominant-hand against a flat base-hand (palm to palm) and the dominant hand bounces a few inches off the base hand.

If you were my interpreter and you were interpreting a long speech where the speaker uses the word "crime" repeatedly the way I'd like you to handle it would be to fingerspell "C-R-I-M-E" and then sign, (bodyshift)-"ME SIGN"-(yes/no facial expression, pause), "FORBIDDEN"-(mouth movement = "crime"). This would be a parenthetical way of saying that you are going to sign crime by using the sign forbidden. Then you and I would understand for the rest of the session that when you sign "FORBIDDEN" it means "crime." Each time you did you would mouth the word "crime" and your meaning would be clear to me.

But then you need to understand that I'm a Ph.D.-level hard-of-hearing client. If you are interpreting for a client who has limited English skills and doesn't already know the meaning of the word "crime," -- you are going to want to interpret it the way you described above.

Also, ask yourself, will this client be seeing this "word or terminology" on a written test eventually? If so then you are certainly going to want to introduce the actual English word used by the speaker either via fingerspelling or using an unambiguous (clear) sign for the word.

Hi Bill,
I sat in on Byron's class today and had a few minutes to chat with the students about their thoughts/feelings regarding online ASL courses. They raised some interesting points and since I know that you have done quite a bit of research and are intimately familiar with the new program, I was hoping that you could respond to some of their concerns.
These are questions/assumptions that the article readers might have too so I'd like to be equipped to provide the answers.

Allison
The first thing to understand here is that if an interviewer goes into a class and starts asking questions--the students who respond are extroverts. The fact that these extroverts are sitting in class on a Thursday morning indicates that they are not working a 9 to 5, Monday through Friday job. Nor are they breast feeding a baby. Nor do they have a physical disability that prevents sitting for an extended period of time.

The students in class who don’t respond and slip out the door unheard from are introverts. It is a fact that online learning appeals much more to introverts than extroverts. So if you ask a bunch of extroverts how they feel about spending a night home alone in front of a computer vs. going to a classroom full of people you can predict the type of answers you will get. If you were to email the introverts in class an anonymous response form that they can fill out in the privacy of their home you would get a completely different set of answers.

The second thing to keep in mind is that I’m not trying to convince anybody that online learning is “better” than in-person learning.

I am, however, convinced that online learning is better for some people, than in-person learning.
Such people include people who: live long distances from classrooms, work full-time, have to be home to watch small children, have physical disabilities that make classroom attendance difficult, have physical appearances or conditions which cause them to feel uncomfortable with public environments.

Additionally, while I agree that online classrooms seem less effective at developing expressive signing abilities, it has been my observation that such classrooms are at least as effective and likely more so at developing receptive ASL skills.

Response: Of course you can ask questions. You can do so via email or via instant messaging. Some students might even choose to ask questions via webcam. Within a few years videomail will be as easy and commonplace as email is today. An online course isn’t just visiting a website, it is a technology enhanced relationship between students and an instructor. The great thing too is that after you ask your question in an email you can say, “Please keep this question private.” That permits you to ask dumb questions without feeling embarrassed about asking in front of the other students. Or you can say, “Please keep this question anonymous.” This lets the instructor to remove your name but forward your question and his answer to ALL of the students. (Many of whom had the same “dumb” question but were afraid to ask and wouldn’t have asked in a traditional classroom.

Response: Online ASL instruction may be in its infancy now, but eventually it will include an amazing amount of detail. More so than even in-person instruction. How you may ask? Well, in a traditional ASL class you have one “correct” model—the teacher. In an online class using streaming video or recorded video on DVD you can see dozens of models. You can even see child models and very old models which you are unlikely to see in a traditional college class. A fully developed online curriculum is able to show signs from multiple angles, including extreme close-ups. All at the touch of a button. Think about it--when watching a football game on TV and people want to see what “really happened” what do you do? You use the video playback and you zoom in on the action. Then you view it from several angles. This lets people sitting far away see exactly what went on.

Response: Online is much more adapted to the speed of students than traditional in-person classes. Students can progress at their own pace in an online course. They can take as long as they need viewing a certain sign. They can ask their computer to “repeat” a sign 20 times and the computer will not lose its patience or roll its eyes. Try that with a live instructor. Instructors can “gauge” the level of their class by testing them receptively and expressively. Expressive testing can be done by video submissions: online-via webcam, CD, DVD, mini-DV, VHS, etc.

Response: Yes you can. Much more so than a live instructor. Let’s consider your word “tell.” Do you really “tell” an instructor to slow down? Or do you “ask” him to slow down and hope that he slows down enough for you to see clearly what he is doing?
On the other hand, a shy ASL student is much more likely to “tell” her computer to slow down than she is to “tell” her instructor to slow down. As DVD technology becomes more and more popular it is unusual to find a new computer these days that doesn’t have at least one video player program capable of slowing down video images, pausing completely, and advancing frame by frame. Using this technology you can slow down ASL movements until you can see precisely what is going on. You can do this at the click of a button and you can do it without fear of your instructor getting exasperated with you.

Response: You can “really offend people” eh? Sorry. You are not giving us Deaf people enough credit. When you sign a concept incorrectly what you do is “amuse” us. Sort of like a small child saying a dirty word, when she doesn’t know what it means. Are you offended by her? What offends us is a callous disrespect for our culture. Talking in front of us as if we weren’t around. Taking ASL because you thought it would be an easy way to fill your graduation requirements and then acting indignant when you get a “D” grade. Taking a few classes and then deciding you are skilled enough to start teaching ASL. Hiring a hearing person when a qualified deaf applicant is available. Asking our children to interpret to save you the expense of paying for an interpreter. Closing our schools and mainstreaming us so you can feel like you’ve “included” us when all you’ve done is placed us in glass bubbles—now that offends us. You are absolutely right though—in a traditional class the instructor can physically move your hands to make sure you have it right. The equivalent of this in an online class is for the instructor to watch a videoclip of a student and then email back instructions for improvement. Not as immediately effective perhaps, but then again, the instructor moving the hands of one student benefits one student. An instructor emailing clarification of a sign to one student can easily carbon copy the email to the rest of his students (again, at the press of a button) thus benefiting many students. He can then post that clarification to a website and index it for future students. Online instruction can thereby benefit not only one student or class, but rather hundreds of classes and thousands of students. (As of this writing my website averages more than 20,000 unique visitors every month).

Response: Why not? When you watch an actor on TV do you get any expressiveness from their facial expressions? Can you see their eyebrows go up and down? Their lips purse? Their head tilt? Facial expressions can be shown via video.

Response: And this is a bad thing? Some students don’t like doing group projects. They don’t like their grade depending on other students. Some are shy. Some students who are highly skilled actually resent having to do “group projects” with slower students. They would much prefer to learn individually at their own pace.

Response: Many, many deaf people have already recorded their experiences at great length in books and on video. The Deaf people who wrote the books and made the videos likely have as much experience being Deaf as your “in-person” teacher. And, quite honestly, I’d be willing to bet that the Deaf book writers and video-makers can tell their stories more clearly and more entertainingly than most people—including your in-person teacher. That’s why they get paid the big bucks.

So, if you want to get information about the cultural experiences of Deaf people you can do so very effectively by reading or watching videos about those cultural experiences.

Response: What, there are no background sounds in an ASL classroom? Must be a really deep carpet.

A silent ASL class doesn’t give you a taste of our world. Actually it gives you a mistaken understanding. Anyone who has ever been in the Deaf Community knows that our many of our gatherings are anything but silent. For example, one night I went to a party at Rod Jex's place. He had a second floor apartment. There were about 25 of us Deaf milling about, frequently stomping on the floor or slapping tables. (Stomping and slapping surfaces are common methods of getting attention of someone you want to say something to in the Deaf world – sort of like saying “Hey Bill!”) Oh, and don’t forget the “cranked” music. (Don’t believe we Deaf listen to music? Heh, try visiting a “prom” night at a residential deaf school. They used to aim the speakers at the floor and crank the bass. Or try visiting the student dorms at Gallaudet. You’ll see speaker systems that would make [______ pick some famous rock star] jealous.) The people downstairs got mad, came up and asked us to, "Stop making all that noise!" The whole rest of the evening we had to really suck it up and try to be quiet. Attention getting behavior is very, very culturally ingrained. We spent our time shushing each other from stomping, and wondering when the cops would show up.

Attending an in-person no-voice ASL class for a couple hours a week doesn’t qualify as an “immersion” experience. ASL class isn’t immersion, it is slow drip.

Yes, when you attend a “silent” class you certainly do get an “impact.” But unfortunately it is often the wrong impact. You think, “Oh gosh this is so hard but I can make it for an hour, no big deal. Thank God I’ll be able to hear again. Those poor Deaf people are really amazing to have to go through this all their lives. I admire their bravery.” So you end up pitying us or amazed at us, or wanting to “help us,” or being impressed by the speed at which we sign.

I don’t pity myself. I am not amazed at myself, and I am not impressed by the speed at which I sign. My deaf colleagues don’t seem to think that way about themselves either. Why should you think that way? Why did you think our world is “quiet” and free from background noise? Did you get the wrong impression in your silent class from your deaf teacher?

Response: Online instructors can also assign students to watch videos and read books. A social event with Deaf people is what’s called a “field experience.” Online instructors can assign “field experiences.” I once took an online Deaf Culture class taught by Dr. Barbara Kannapel, a deaf sociologist at Gallaudet University. As part of the class I had to find and interview a number of deaf people from various walks of life then write reports on my findings. The fact that a class is conducted online doesn’t mean that the instructor can’t require students to watch videos, read books, or do field work.

As students study their online lesson plan they often “come up with” questions about things they’ve seen or read. They email or videomail these questions to their instructor who then responds to the whole class via email, a listserv, or an online bulletin board.

Whereas the discussion that takes place in a traditional classroom dissipates into thin air—the discussion that takes place in an online classroom can be captured, edited, improved with video or graphic examples, and posted for future generations of classes to learn from and enjoy.

Grapefruit

In a message dated 8/10/2004 9:01:06 AM Pacific Daylight Time, HartAlexander writes:

Hi Bill,

What is the sign for grapefruit? Is it 'grape' and 'fruit' or do you fingerspell it each time?

Thanks

SuZuKi 31 : Hi Bill, My name is Lindsay and I am 14 years old, I was wondering if you had time to answer a few of my questions?
BillVicars: go ahead
SuZuKi 31 : Ok great, my first questions are, How old do you have to be to become a qualified interpreter for the deaf? and about how long does it take?
BillVicars: You need to be 18 years old.
SuZuKi 31 : so I have plenty of time to study and become one huh?
BillVicars: It takes approximately 480 hours of organized study combined with approximately 960 hours of interactive practice.
SuZuKi 31 : ok thats great
SuZuKi 31 : Do you think you can help me out in finding a school or center somewhere around the New Braunfels, TX area to learn more and start training?
BillVicars: Is New Braunfels near Houston?
SuZuKi 31 : sorta, about 2 and half hours away
BillVicars: Are you near any large colleges?
SuZuKi 31 : I'm about 30 mins. from San Antonio
SuZuKi 31 : and about an hour from Austin
BillVicars: You have a big library in N.B.?
SuZuKi 31 : its not that big, its the N.B. Public Library
BillVicars: Have you checked the Library for any ASL videos or books yet?
SuZuKi 31 : I've checked out all the videos, they don't have that many though.
SuZuKi 31 : I've gone through them all a few times
BillVicars: Okay...here's my advice....
SuZuKi 31 : ok
BillVicars: Ask your librarian about "inter-library loan."
BillVicars: See if they have it.
BillVicars: Then if they do, seek out all the ASL videos you can get your hands on.
BillVicars: Next ask your high school counselor about "early college enrollment." See if your school has such a program
SuZuKi 31 : I'm homeschooled...
BillVicars: ...fine...you can work with your mom or dad
BillVicars: check out San Antonio colleges and find out how young they accept students.
SuZuKi 31 : ok
BillVicars: Next, check around to see if there are any "deaf students" or education programs for the deaf in your area.
SuZuKi 31 : ok
BillVicars: Ask the teacher if you can volunteer as a peer tutor.
BillVicars: Seek out opportunities to develop friendships with deaf youth.
SuZuKi 31 : ok
BillVicars: After you meet a deaf friend and are relatively sure he or she is fluent in ASL...discuss the idea of setting up an ASL club.
SuZuKi 31 : ok that’s a great idea
BillVicars: In your ASL club you can then have the deaf person help you team teach a basic sign language course to new members.
SuZuKi 31 : alright
BillVicars: You can use my website's curriculum for free. The website and your deaf friend will help provide quality assurance that the signs you teach are reasonably accurate.
SuZuKi 31 : ok cool
BillVicars: Then as more and more people join the club you can start going on "outings."
BillVicars: “Outings” are excursions to deaf events. You can find deaf events in your area by joining any large deaf clubs that have a newsletter.
SuZuKi 31 : ok
SuZuKi 31 : Well thank you so much!
SuZuKi 31 : You've helped me alot and givin me some good ideas! I hope I'm able to become an interpreter when I turn 18!
BillVicars: If you work at it you can.
BillVicars: Also, you might consider getting the CDs from my website bookstore. That way you can test yourself and monitor your progress.
SuZuKi 31 : ok
SuZuKi 31 : thats a great idea too
BillVicars: Also, are you religious?
SuZuKi 31 : yes
BillVicars: You might consider asking your church leader if your church has an outreach program for deaf people. Your church might have access to ASL materials and videos.
SuZuKi 31 : alright
BillVicars: Well, good luck.
SuZuKi 31 : thank you so much!
BillVicars: You are welcome. Have a nice day.
SuZuKi 31 : you too
SuZuKi 31 : bye bye
BillVicars: bye

Simplified Signing

In a message dated 7/30/2004 4:50:21 PM Pacific Daylight Time, sunday@islc.net writes:

Dr.Bill

I discovered your very helpful website, and was hoping you could advise me.

I am a volunteer with a therapy dog at a Nursing Home. I visit a young
resident whom I have trouble communicating with because a stroke left him
without use of his right side. He also lost his speech and gets very
frustrated when he try's to communicate with me. He can't write much
either, so its not like he can write what he's trying to say. I know you
need two hands to sign, so I don't know if that would help.

Can you be of any assistance to me, his family hasn't been of any help,
since he's been in a Nursing Home for years with no help. Any idea would be
helpful.

Thanks
Sunday

Possessive "ITS"

In a message dated 8/23/2004 11:50:29 AM Pacific Daylight Time, smdaniluk@yahoo.com writes:

Dear Dr. Vicars,

Could you please explain when to use the possessive "its", as in the following example- talking about buying French wine: "...French wine ITS buy I". Our teacher explained this as, "that specific wine and no other" ie, not wine from California or Australia. But I don't understand why the adjective "French" is not sufficient to describe which wine you buy. Also, what is it that's possessing-- what or who does "its" refer back to? (does that make any sense?) Thank you!

Suzanne Daniluk
Houston, Texas

If I want to indicate that Bob considers the wearing of a trench coat to be part of his persona and/or a signature style of dressing then I will use the same signs "IT" and "HIS" but I will do add a second movement when signing "HIS." That additional movement changes the meaning of the possessive pronoun "his" to instead mean "his way of doing things." For discussion purposes can indicate this additional movement by adding a "plus sign." For example "ITS+." The plus after the word means to use duplicate the movement.

Now, quite honestly, I wasn't there in your class and there might have been additional information influencing his explanation. So please don't be quick to dismiss your instructor's expertise. But since you asked my opinion I'll share it with you.

Signing2Kewl [11:07 AM]: Hello Dr. Vicars....
BillVicars [11:07 AM]: hi
Signing2Kewl [11:07 AM]: My name is theresa chang
BillVicars [11:07 AM]: Nice to meet you.
BillVicars [11:08 AM]: What can I do for you?
Signing2Kewl [11:08 AM]: I'm a sign language interpreter terping for a performance measuring class
Signing2Kewl [11:08 AM]: I am stuck with signing "paradigm" and "metric"...are u able to help me?
BillVicars [11:09 AM]: I'll do what I can.
BillVicars [11:09 AM]: "Paradigm"
Signing2Kewl [11:10 AM]: TY so much
BillVicars [11:10 AM]: A good sign match would be: "point of view"
BillVicars [11:10 AM]: hold up your left index finger ("one" handshape" Then use your right "V" hand to look at the left index finger. Move your right "V" hand so that it looks at different sides of the left index finger.
BillVicars [11:11 AM]: The left finger is pointing up.'
Signing2Kewl [11:11 AM]: Ok...what do u think about "mind set"
BillVicars [11:12 AM]: I reckon that would depend on the deaf person.
BillVicars [11:12 AM]: "mind set"
Signing2Kewl [11:12 AM]: Oic
BillVicars [11:12 AM]: would be signed with the signs
Signing2Kewl [11:12 AM]: Ok
BillVicars [11:12 AM]: THINK ESTABLISH
BillVicars [11:12 AM]: right?
Signing2Kewl [11:12 AM]: Yes
BillVicars [11:13 AM]: So perhaps THINK and then a series of small "set" movements in a short sweep.
Signing2Kewl [11:13 AM]: Ok...
BillVicars [11:13 AM]: because a paradigm is a "set" of established thoughts.
Signing2Kewl [11:13 AM]: Yes
Signing2Kewl [11:13 AM]: Cool
BillVicars [11:13 AM]: Another good interpretation would be MIND "vision"
Signing2Kewl [11:14 AM]: I like that one too
BillVicars [11:14 AM]: meaning a sign that is done in front of your face, a little up.
Signing2Kewl [11:14 AM]: Ty so much u r great
BillVicars [11:14 AM]: starts with "S" hands and flutters into loose "c" hands.
Signing2Kewl [11:14 AM]: Ok
BillVicars [11:14 AM]: The other sign METRIC
Signing2Kewl [11:14 AM]: Yes
BillVicars [11:15 AM]: are you signing "metrics" or metric? which?
Signing2Kewl [11:15 AM]: Metric
Signing2Kewl [11:16 AM]: Like a measuring tool
Signing2Kewl [11:16 AM]: Like what kind of metric would u use for the value of customer satisfaction?
BillVicars [11:16 AM]: Spell it out on first reference. If the teacher explains it then you don't need to. Just spell it out and then sign "measure." If the teacher doesn't explain it then
Signing2Kewl [11:18 AM]: Ok
Signing2Kewl [11:18 AM]: Sorry
BillVicars [11:18 AM]: sign "WHAT KIND M-E-T-R-I-C (head tilt) MEASURE (head normal) CAN YOU USE FOR DECIDE CUSTOMER
BillVicars [11:19 AM]: SATISFY
BillVicars [11:19 AM]: or
BillVicars [11:19 AM]: HOW CAN YOU MEASURE CUSTOMER SATISFY?
Signing2Kewl [11:20 AM]: Ok
BillVicars [11:20 AM]: Depends on if the person needs to understand the English word "metric" or if it is just part of a passing comment that won't show up on a test.
Signing2Kewl [11:20 AM]: Ok
BillVicars [11:20 AM]: Anything else?
Signing2Kewl [11:20 AM]: Nope
Signing2Kewl [11:21 AM]: But ty so much
Signing2Kewl [11:21 AM]: I love ur newsletter
BillVicars [11:21 AM]: ur welcome
Signing2Kewl [11:21 AM]: Letter
BillVicars [11:21 AM]: thanks, you have a nice day
Signing2Kewl [11:21 AM]: U 2
BillVicars [11:21 AM]: bye ga to sk
Signing2Kewl [11:21 AM]: Bye sk
BillVicars [11:21 AM]: sksk

Can an online program prep you for an interpreter program?

In a message dated 8/5/2004 6:41:20 AM Pacific Daylight Time, hucklbelle@ftc-i.net writes:

Dr. Vicars,

My name is Kendra Winegar and I have been looking at your ASL program on your web site. I am interested in receiving an associates degree in interpreting. I have been using a personal communicator and SignLink( a self paced program) on my computer to learn ASL, however, I need to become more proficient before I can begin the classes for my degree. Do you think that through your program I will learn enough to elevate me to the level that I need to be at? I am also hoping that you will be able to tell me what job opportunities may be available to me if I have an associates in interpreting. I am interested in being a private interpreter for high school age children.

Thank you for you time,

Kendra Winegar