ASLPAH.com
An ezine for students and teachers of
American Sign Language.
Sept, 2005
Hello ASL Heroes!
From the Desk of:
If you haven't checked out "http://asl.ms yet you might want to
give it a try.
Enjoy!
Dr. Bill
In a message dated 7/13/2005 2:28:03 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
snb_1513@lycos.com writes:
Hello,
There's a new phenomena applied in my sign language, Kuwaiti sign language, and I'm wondering whether it is applied in ASL as well: Kuwaiti deaf used to sign the States as shooting guns (similar to FAST sign but with L-hnadshapes) refering to cowboys. As they discovered that deaf Americans are using a different one, kuwaitis had borrowed the American sign. Now we have changed our previous country signs, and replaced it with the signs the poeple of a given country practice.
My questions:
1. Is the same kind of borrowing applied in ASL?!
2. if so, do you have a tendency to borrow signs for presidents or amirs as well???
Thank you...
Safa'a
Safa'a,
Yes, ASL users engage in lexical borrowing from other
countries--particularly for the names of those countries. For
example, we used to sign "Japan" by using a "J" near our eyes in
reference to the shape of the eyes of Japanese people. We now
sign Japan by showing the shape of the country of Japan since that
is the way people who are Deaf in Japan do it.
We used to sign China by twisting an index finger at the corner of
the eye. (Again, referring to the shape of the eyes.) Now we
tend to sign China by pointing to our upper left chest, moving to
the upper right chest area, and then down. Sort of like drawing a
reverse (to the onlooker) "7" an inch or two in front of our chest.
If I saw a sign used by the people of a country to refer to the amir
of that country I would certainly use it in preference to whatever
sign is currently being used in ASL.
Cordially,
Bill
In a message dated 7/14/2005 9:03:32 AM Pacific Daylight
Time, elliott@globalinnes.com writes:
What exactly are you a doctor of?
Ph.D. Doctor of Philosophy in Human Services -- from Pacific Western University.
Ed.D. Doctor of Education in Deaf Education / Deaf Studies --
from Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas.
One of them is even real. ;-)
--Dr. Bill
One of them is even real. ;-)
--Dr. Bill
Question: Do you think that ASL is the best sign language for
developmentally delayed children?
Answer: This is a hot topic and one not easily answered. In
general my answer is yes for the following reasons:
- ASL is a natural language that has developed over time to meet the
needs of people who are Deaf.
- ASL has wide support from the Deaf community.
- ASL is gaining in acceptance from the academic community.
- ASL fulfills foreign language requirements at many high schools and
colleges.
- ASL is more efficient for visual-gestural communication than
artificial codes that attempt to make English visible.
- ASL is cool (popular).
So, if I were teaching and working with a developmentally delayed child
I would indeed use ASL.
Now, there are some factors to consider.
Each child's environment is different. For discussion sake, let's suppose a child were born into an extended family wherein every family member was already fluent in Signed English? Which is to say, the grandparents, brothers, sisters, and cousins all knew Signed English. I know that scenario is far fetched, but it serves my point that due to the situation it would make sense to teach the child Signed English.
Each child's environment is different. For discussion sake, let's suppose a child were born into an extended family wherein every family member was already fluent in Signed English? Which is to say, the grandparents, brothers, sisters, and cousins all knew Signed English. I know that scenario is far fetched, but it serves my point that due to the situation it would make sense to teach the child Signed English.
I think the more important issue is to surround the child with massive
amounts of stimulating visual input and conversation. Deaf
children will actually make up their own signed language (this has been
documented but is outside the scope of this response).
A child who is constantly learning and communicating about the world
using a less efficient communication system is still much better
off than a child who receives only minimal stimulation using a
more efficient language.
Cordially,
Dr. Bill
In a message dated 9/6/2005 9:22:16 AM Pacific Daylight Time,
Kolbe.Elizabeth@epamail.epa.gov writes:
Dr. Vicars, I am learning a lot from your site. I want to respond to the mother who wrote about her hearing child not
communicating orally.
[In a message dated 6/24/2005 7:16:12 AM Pacific Daylight Time, lorisamson@_____.com writes: Hi!! My daughter just turned 2 last week. She is not speaking at all. She can hear. Her pediatrician recommended teaching her "sign language" as a way of communicating. I do not know anything about the topic and am going to see a specialist, in the meantime, I have been doing some research. Your site continues to popup. Is your site an adequate source for me to learn from? Is it enough to begin helping my baby communicate? Thank you!!]
My son did not start to talk until he turned two. He would say a word or two occasionally but not use those words again. He understood and had a large listening vocabulary when tested for speech at age three. He learned to use body language and point and pull you to his needs. His pediatrician did not recognize that my son had both small and large motor delays. Though he made advances late (crawling, walking), it was usually still within the outer bounds for 'normal'. The muscle development delays though made it difficult for him to form words correctly, to make his tongue and mouth do want was needed to get the correct sounds out, so for him, it was easier to point and pull. He was my first born, so I did not recognize the motor delays either, other than to know that he was a bit uncoordinated.
Please pass on the advice to the mother that she should request motor development testing. And I think sign language will help her child communicate.
-- Betty Kolbe
Betty,
Thanks for sharing your experience and advice.
I'll post this to my newsletter.
I'll post this to my newsletter.
Best wishes.
--Bill
In a message dated 7/30/2005 10:41:17 P.M. Pacific Daylight
Time, @yahoo.com writes:
Dr. Vicars,Thank You for the update about your new website. I will be using it in my first ASL I class! I hope you received payment for the curriculum package that we will be using in our high school starting in the fall.i just wanted to tell you how inspiring you are and how you encourage hearing people like me to believe in ourselves, our abilities and using them to advance awareness to the deaf and the hearing!When we are told that we don't have the right, or we're not skilled enough, you prove all those things to be wrong! thank You for allow God to use you to speak life into our lives!I recommend you r website to all of my friends whoi express interest and recently i have decided to start an online class (which is now on hold, finishing my masters dsegree) which will be up and running next spring/summer, I hope!Is getting ASL cert difficult? Are they tougher on hearing people than Deaf? Sometimes we don't want to see things this way buit this is life and if we read some of your responses, this is true....Do you do workshoips? if so, what is your fee. Excluding air fare?Keep up he hard work...did i forget good? Keep up the good hard work may the Lord continue to bless you for having such compassion and an open mind!Rene Brown
Rene,
Getting ASLTA certified is not "overly difficult." Especially
considering the fact that you can rehearse your video submission.
See http://www.aslta.org for
details.
Now...you ask if they (evaluators?) are harder on Hearing people
than they are on Deaf people. Quite honestly, based on 20 years of
professional experience in the field of ASL testing and instruction,
I'd have to say that a person's status as a hearing person has an
impact on an interviewer's perception of that person's signing
skills. This impact may be subconscious, but I reckon it is still
there.
This should not be the case...but it is. To test it...you could
video a deaf person signing a monolog. Then you could go to a
different area of the country and do a survey. You'd show the video
to 50 ASL evaluators and tell them that the signer is Deaf. You'd
ask the evaluators to rate the signer's skill in using ASL on a
scale of 1 to 100. Then you'd find 50 other ASL evaluators and tell
them that the signer is Hearing and ask them to rate the signer's
skill in using ASL on a scale of 1 to 100. Then you'd tally up the
scores from the two groups to see if those that were told the signer
was deaf gave higher scores than the group that were told the signer
was hearing. I'd bet money you'd get a statistically relevant
difference in the two ratings. You mentioned you are pursuing a
masters degree. Suppose you go on for a doctorate you could do the above study
as part of your dissertation
(grin).
BUT don't let a little "cultural-bias" get in the way of an
otherwise terrific career. If you love the language and the people
then by all means...plow ahead passionately. Just be humble and
supportive of the Deaf community and eventually you will find your
place.
Yes, I do workshops. My fee is $500 per day plus air, hotel, and
car.
(So, I arrive and you give me a bottle of compressed air, title to a hotel, and a new car.)
Take care.
(So, I arrive and you give me a bottle of compressed air, title to a hotel, and a new car.)
Take care.
Cordially,
Bill
______________________
William Vicars, Ed.D.
Director CCE Online and Immersion ASL Programs
Asst. Professor, ASL Program (on-campus)
CSUS Sacramento
Department of Special Education, Rehabilitation, and School Psychology
6000 J St. - Eureka Hall, Room 308
Sacramento, CA 95819-6079
(916) 278-4121 BillVicars@aol.com www.Lifeprint.com
William Vicars, Ed.D.
Director CCE Online and Immersion ASL Programs
Asst. Professor, ASL Program (on-campus)
CSUS Sacramento
Department of Special Education, Rehabilitation, and School Psychology
6000 J St. - Eureka Hall, Room 308
Sacramento, CA 95819-6079
(916) 278-4121 BillVicars@aol.com www.Lifeprint.com
In a message dated 7/21/2005 12:31:34 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
turnerd0850@.net writes:
Is the correct email address for Dr. Bill Vicars?
Donna F. Turner
Donna,
If you are sending a "thank you," an ASL question, or an electronic payment, yes this is my address. If you are sending a bill, a summons, or a complaint--then no...I don't have an address. (heh)
If you are sending a "thank you," an ASL question, or an electronic payment, yes this is my address. If you are sending a bill, a summons, or a complaint--then no...I don't have an address. (heh)
Bill
In a message dated 7/21/2005 8:43:02 AM Pacific Daylight Time, @yahoo.com
writes:
Hi Dr. Vicars,Thanks for your site!! I don't have time or money to go to a college class to learn ASL right now because I just had a baby! But I just feel drawn to learn more about the Deaf Community and the language. So - anyway - I was wondering if the sign for "our" -- as in, who is our teacher? -- is the same sign as "we/us" or if it's the sign for "you and me?" Or... is it a completely different sign?Thanks,Summer
Summer,
It is a bit different. Do the sign "WE" but use a curved hand.
(A curved hand is like a "b" hand but the thumb is along the side and
the hand is curved as if scooping up water to take a drink from your
hand.) Touch the thumb side of the curved hand to your upper right
chest area (if you are right handed) and then arch the hand in front of
you over to your upper left chest area so that the pinkie side touches
your chest.
Now, let me point out something very important. If you were sitting in a room with other signers waiting for the class to begin and you wanted to know the name of your teacher you would sign: "WHO TEACHER?" This would be understood as: "Who is the teacher?" Notice how we don't need the sign OUR? You would only need the sign OUR if you had to distinguish between your group's teacher and some other group's teacher.
Now, let me point out something very important. If you were sitting in a room with other signers waiting for the class to begin and you wanted to know the name of your teacher you would sign: "WHO TEACHER?" This would be understood as: "Who is the teacher?" Notice how we don't need the sign OUR? You would only need the sign OUR if you had to distinguish between your group's teacher and some other group's teacher.
Bill
-----------------
Forwarded Message:
Dr. Vicars,
I am a hearing individual who has recently been blessed to encounter a
handful of Deaf friends via the Internet. Over the past few months, they
have been gracious enough to teach me many things about Deaf
culture/history.
But I am increasingly bothered by their cruelty to other hearies, even me
at times, if we don't instantly understand one of the many cultural
differences or don't agree with their actions once we do understand.
Bluntness is one thing-- some of the things they say or ways they react
border on cruel. And they want me to treat the offending "hearie" the same way--accusing me of all sorts of things if I don't.
I'm just really at a loss and am not sure where to go from here. I could
use some insight as to the best way to approach these situations. Any help
you could give would be greatly appreciated! :)
- (name on file)
Dear (Name on File),
Allow me to share with you Vicars' Parable of the Camel:
A camel and a horse both arrived at a watering hole. They both started drinking at the same time. After a minute or two the horse was full and rode off thinking that the Camel was a strange fellow to be drinking so much water. The Camel continued to drink, thinking the horse was a strange fellow for drinking so little.
Due to the nature of the desert, camels often go for relatively long
periods of time between opportunities to drink. Then when they do have
the opportunity to drink, they drink long and deep. This behavior has
developed as a response to a challenge presented by the environment.
Deaf people traditionally have had to go for long periods of time
between opportunities to communicate. Prior to the advent of
electronic communication and text messaging devices it was not uncommon
for many Deaf to spend much of their week in a communication
void--surrounded by Hearing people at their jobs and in the
community--yet unable to participate in meaningful conversations. For
us, life was often a dry and barren "communication desert." Deaf clubs
and events provided a language oasis where we could drink deeply of
human interaction...slurping up knowledge of old friends and
acquaintances.
Have you ever seen or been with a thirsty person? I have. When presented with a glass of water they waste no time in gulping it down. They hold the glass upside down pressed to their lips and tap the bottom in an effort to get every drop.
Have you ever seen or been with a thirsty person? I have. When presented with a glass of water they waste no time in gulping it down. They hold the glass upside down pressed to their lips and tap the bottom in an effort to get every drop.
Deaf culture is a "high context" culture. When we communicate we
tend to include a great deal of contextual information or "related
details." We want to know all the details because it has been a
long while since we've heard from or about our acquaintances. We stay
late and extend our good-byes. We chat at the door. We chat at the
car. We chat through the window as we drive away.
We drink deeply from the well.
Hearing American culture is a "low context" culture. Hearing people sip often throughout the day. There is no need to drink deeply because they rarely get thirsty for communication. They are surrounded by it. Their clock radio wakes them with news and information. They get dressed with the TV on. They make a few phone calls on their cell phone on the way to work. They chit chat with the guard at the gate or the receptionist. And so it goes throughout the day--a glut of communication. They can afford to be picky regarding their communication partners.
Hearing American culture is a "low context" culture. Hearing people sip often throughout the day. There is no need to drink deeply because they rarely get thirsty for communication. They are surrounded by it. Their clock radio wakes them with news and information. They get dressed with the TV on. They make a few phone calls on their cell phone on the way to work. They chit chat with the guard at the gate or the receptionist. And so it goes throughout the day--a glut of communication. They can afford to be picky regarding their communication partners.
Imagine if a truly thirsty person showed up at your door and asked for a
drink? Someone who hadn't drank for three days. Suppose you said,
"Sure, let me filter and chill it for you."
Chances are he would say, "Don't bother! Tap water is fine!"
Chances are he would say, "Don't bother! Tap water is fine!"
In the Hearing world there are many types of people. The same is true of the Deaf world. There are nice camels and mean ones that will bite you.
There are nice Deaf people and there are mean Deaf people.
My suggestion for you is to seek out nice Deaf friends.
Avoid those who are insecure and who go out of their way to hurt other's
feelings. Seek out Deaf people who are polite to everybody, not just to
others like themselves.
Cordially,
Bill
Lifeprint.com
Dr. Vicars,
Thank you for answering my question. Your advice was very timely, and I am taking steps to find some nicer camels :)
Thanks :)
- (name on file)
In a message dated 7/27/2005 12:31:45 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
.@gmail.com writes:
Dear Bill Vicars~
Hello. I applaud your website it is very informative and helpful. The
fingerspelling site especially.
My name is Amanda and I am a Masters of Social Work Student whom is
interested in working with the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. My interests
are family therapy, community building, and ASL. I have two ASL
classes under my belt and hope to finish more so that I will be fluent
when I interact with my Deaf friends.
One day I hope to operate my own private practice that serves the Deaf
and Hard of Hearing Community. I may not be Deaf but as a minority I
do share some understanding of how challenging family and societal
dynamics can be. I have a firm vision about reconnecting people and
enhancing communication. Which is why ASL seems to be a natural fit
for what I want to accomplish with helping others.
As far as employment goes do you have any advice about specific
clinical jobs/ job titles that I could apply for that would assist me
in becoming more culturally immersed and conversationally fluent? I am
still in school but if I could see what to look for I can plan what
courses to take and go after certain employment experiences.
I look forward to hearing from you and practicing on your website.
Cheers~
Amanda
Amanda,
Google the following search terms and you will see in the results
quite a number of specific clinical jobs / job titles that you can
pursue or at least familiarize yourself:
"social worker" +deaf +qualifications +"american sign language"
When you do your search, include the quotes and the plus marks exactly the way I have them.
Good luck.
Cordially,
"social worker" +deaf +qualifications +"american sign language"
When you do your search, include the quotes and the plus marks exactly the way I have them.
Good luck.
Cordially,
Dr. Vicars
In a message dated 7/20/2005 11:42:40 AM Pacific Daylight
Time, sara.dalton@______com writes:
Hi Bill,
I have really been considering learning sign language, or taking sign language courses so that I can use the knowledge for a career. I have a huge interest in working with the deaf and feel that it would be an incredibly rewarding career. I would also like to use the sign language I learn for a deaf ministry. My question is.....if I take your course and learn everything I possibly can....will that get me anywhere as far as a career goes, or will I need to have a degree of some sort. I'm asking this because my husband and I are getting ready to move and where we are moving I can't seem to find anywhere in the area that offers this. I'm pretty sure I would need some sort of certification, but will I need a degree to actually have a career working with the deaf? Any information you can give me would be greatly appreciated.
Have a great day!
Sara J. Dalton
Customer Care Advocate
Sara,
You should not register for my course. Only do so if you
need documentation.
You might want to get the CDs so you can self-study.
Whether you can find a job working with Deaf people without
certification or a degree depends on where you live.
Places like Southern California have many, many Deaf people and
thus have more jobs and a wider variety of jobs not requiring
degrees.
The fact that you can't seem to find an ASL, Deaf Studies, or
Interpreting program at any of the colleges in the area to which
you are moving indicates that there are not many Deaf in your
area and thus it is unlikely that there are many jobs.
Start with the end in mind. Reverse the process. Look for
Deaf-related jobs in the area. Then check out the
qualifications for those jobs and that will answer your
question. If you can't find any jobs, then it wouldn't
have mattered what your qualifications were unless you are
willing to move someplace else where they do have jobs.
Sometimes Deaf Schools hire "developmentalists" to do basic
skills development work with deaf students. Many of these jobs
do not require certification. Some states still do not
require interpreters to be certified to intepret for pay.
Deaf organizations occasionally hire hearing people to be
secretaries and receptionists.
Be careful about two things:
1. Don't develop a patronizing attitude. Hearing people
wanting to "save" Deaf people is a cliche in the Deaf Community.
Give it a rest. Don't minister to Deaf people, minister
WITH Deaf people. Feel free to fellowship, support, and
contribute, but for heaven's sake, don't patronize.
2. Don't go out of your way to train for and take a job
that could have been filled by a Deaf person. There are so
many wonderful things you can do with your life...why take a job
that could be wonderfully filled by a member of the Deaf
community? I used to teach computer networking classes.
(I'm hard of hearing and use hearing aids.) But it got to
the point where I couldn't hear my students well enough. It was
very frustrating. I was constantly running around the
classroom trying to get within a few feet of each student that
had a question because I couldn't stand at the front of the room
and hear what they were saying. I decided to get a full-time
job teaching ASL so I could teach in an environment that didn't
depend on being able to hear. I went back to school and
earned a doctorate in Deaf Studies / Deaf Education. Now I
very much enjoy my career. I earn much less teaching ASL
than I did teaching computer networking, but my hearing loss is
no longer a detriment.
Good luck in your efforts.
Cordially,
Dr. Bill
In a message dated 7/20/2005 1:37:40 PM Pacific Daylight
Time, sara.dalton@acterna.com writes:
Thank you so much for the advice. I will be moving up near the Chicago area, and while there may not be many schools in the area that I am moving that offer sign language courses, it is possible that I could find work in Chicago. I simply will not be able to drive that far for school as I will also have to work full time while taking classes.
I am actually more interested in either teaching sign language, and maybe starting with interpreting to gain more experience...or working with hearing impaired children in some way. When I said that I wanted to be involved in a deaf ministry, I meant for my church, there is a deaf ministry that works with the deaf within the church. Not necessarily a deaf outreach program or anything like that.
I spoke to a woman recently that is also a sign language instructor in the Tennessee area and she said it is the most rewarding and fulfilling thing she has ever done and she has made so many wonderful friends in the deaf community because she can communicate, whereas I do not know the first thing about sign language and have been approached by a deaf person and was unable to communicate with them. Anyhow, I thank you again for your input. I will definitely take it into consideration.
Have a great day!
Sara J. Dalton
Customer Care Advocate
Sara,
If you wish to become an ASL teacher then certainly
you should go for it.
Don't let anything I said in my recent email dissuade
you.
In truth I'm of the opinion that the more people that
learn ASL...the more will want to learn it...thus
creating a snowball effect where everyone will want to
know it--which will create even more jobs. Not all
Deaf see it that way. But I do.
Bill
In a message dated 7/20/2005 10:51:51 P.M. Pacific Daylight
Time, enadale@yahoo.com writes:
Dear Dr how are you?I hope you remember me and my MSc thesis which was about a Hypermedia Learning Tool for Ethiopian Sign Language. It was basically aimed at teaching ESL in Amharic structure (Signed Amharic). Amharic is our national Language.By now I have finished my work with Excellent grade and started to prepare a synopsis for my PhD, hoping to get the chance of continuing my research in abroad universities. I said this because there is no PhD program of study in the area in our country.I am planning to work on a translation system for Ethiopian Sign Language with the basic aim of translating Ethiopian Sign Language into Amharic language and/or vice versa. Before going to the core work I may need to study the grammatical structure of Ethiopian Sign Language, since no work has been done in this regard.Regarding my thesis output , my advisor Dr Lynette Van Zijl from Stellenbosch University has promised me to upload it on the web so that any one (including you ) may see it.Now to the aim of this email: I thank you for all your cooperation you did for me during my thesis. I also have acknowledged you on my paper.Kind regards,Enadale Asefa
Endale,
That is terrific! When you get your thesis output uploaded to
the web let me know so I can post a link to it and help you
publicize it to the global signing community.
Keep up the great work!
Cordially,
Bill
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