The method of communication common among Deaf people is the language of sign or talking with the hands. Just like the spoken word, other regions and countries all over the world have a different method of sign language.
American Sign Language (ASL) is a language that utilizes the hands to make signs that result in a language all its own. It is a way of communicating that people with severe hearing loss use to interact with others. It is the fourth most used language in the US.
It is not really known how American Sign Language was developed, however it is known that a French man named Laurent Clerc opened the very first school for the Deaf in the United States. So, it only stands to reason that knowing ASL would help you with FSL or French Sign Language. However, this is not the case, although they are quite similar.
Sign language is based on sight. A person who is deaf uses the most important tool he has to communicate, which is his sight. Through sight, the deaf person can receive information and connect with others by use of the hands with hand shapes and other visual cues such as facial expression and body movements to communicate. To be fluent in sign language takes quite a bit of time and study.
American Sign Language is different from the English language. It has grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, how it is used in different regions as well as common colloquialisms. Each region has different expressions for sign language. Just as we express tone in speech to convey an emotion, deaf people utilize body language and facial expressions to do the same.
Why do deaf people choose sign language first?
Parents or caretakers are always a child's first introduction to language. A deaf child who is born to parents who are deaf uses sign language early because that is the language spoken in the home, but language is learned differently by the deaf child whose parents are not hearing impaired. Hearing parents who learn sign language often learn it along with their child who is deaf.
Development of language skills is crucial during the first six months of a child's life. Therefore, it is imperative that a new born be tested for hearing loss before leaving the hospital. If a hearing loss diagnosis is positive, the parents have the opportunity to research which methods of communication are best for the child to learn.
The earliest a child is taught sign language, especially before starting school, the more competent they will be in communicating.
American Sign Language (ASL) is a language that utilizes the hands to make signs that result in a language all its own. It is a way of communicating that people with severe hearing loss use to interact with others. It is the fourth most used language in the US.
It is not really known how American Sign Language was developed, however it is known that a French man named Laurent Clerc opened the very first school for the Deaf in the United States. So, it only stands to reason that knowing ASL would help you with FSL or French Sign Language. However, this is not the case, although they are quite similar.
Sign language is based on sight. A person who is deaf uses the most important tool he has to communicate, which is his sight. Through sight, the deaf person can receive information and connect with others by use of the hands with hand shapes and other visual cues such as facial expression and body movements to communicate. To be fluent in sign language takes quite a bit of time and study.
American Sign Language is different from the English language. It has grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, how it is used in different regions as well as common colloquialisms. Each region has different expressions for sign language. Just as we express tone in speech to convey an emotion, deaf people utilize body language and facial expressions to do the same.
Why do deaf people choose sign language first?
Parents or caretakers are always a child's first introduction to language. A deaf child who is born to parents who are deaf uses sign language early because that is the language spoken in the home, but language is learned differently by the deaf child whose parents are not hearing impaired. Hearing parents who learn sign language often learn it along with their child who is deaf.
Development of language skills is crucial during the first six months of a child's life. Therefore, it is imperative that a new born be tested for hearing loss before leaving the hospital. If a hearing loss diagnosis is positive, the parents have the opportunity to research which methods of communication are best for the child to learn.
The earliest a child is taught sign language, especially before starting school, the more competent they will be in communicating.
About the Author:
A licensed registered nurse and reputable writer, Barb Hicks loves to share her knowledge with others. You can find her articles about Symptoms Of Hearing Loss and Hearing Impairment Definition on Clivir.com.