General Chat

I did French at school but can't remember much of it.

With that little grounding I can kind of get the gist of what is being said in some European languages and pick the bones out of Latin.

I have not really tried understand any kind of language from further afield apart from a coupe of words of Ovambo.

I have, however, spent time watching the signing in front of television programmes and I can't tie it together at all.

Mr Tumble on CBBC uses a lot of basic sign language if you want to start :-D

I was at a birthday party where several of the family were deaf, some were hearing.
I found it amusing(and confusing) when some one on one side of the room was having a conversation by signing to a person on the otherside of the room, and at times a hearing person was talking to me, and signing to someone else at the same time..
very clever......but if you've grown up with it..........its natural.......
Bob

But could you make any sense of the signing?

I just can't tie what they are signing with what I am seeing on the television.

I have probably watched 'Give Us A Clue' too much.

I know some Makaton but no expert.
Our youngest daughter went to a school where some of the children were deaf and used to feel awful not knowing what they were saying to me, so me and hubby went on a basic Makaton course.
I think it should be taught in schools

I think you must have to be taught because you can't just pick it up by observation.

I know the old-fashioned method, one letter at a time, using two hands.

When I was a child, our neighbours were deaf, my mother learned to sign. I was fascinated, so I learned too. I didn't use it again until my mid-twenties, I was very rusty!

I can remember the letters, but have forgotten most of the "short forms". If I tried to communicate with a deaf person they'd probably lose patience with me very quickly.

no Sharron, I didn't really have a clue.......

although a combination of "miming" and signing helps get a message across...to me
Bob

A dignitary was visiting an old folks home and was shown around, and most things were quite routine, until they came to the retiring room where there was a gathering of a dozen or so all with big smiles on their faces and much waving of hands.
the VIP says they all seem happy in here? thats nice to see

Happy? the Matron says,they are,they're all deaf in here.......

but(under her breath,)

I'll give em Happy, they are telling dirty jokes......AGAIN

When I was working, I did some work with deaf students at our local deaf people centre where I had the assistance of a British Sign Language interpreter. After one term I decided to take the BSL course. You use the fingers of the left hand for vowels, starting with the thumb as "A" the rest of the alphabet is made up of signs using your hands, there are signs for almost every conceivable word. I loved the course and was very proud when I received my certificate in BSL, The students were so encouraging and loved helping me. It was hilarious when I got things wrong, I was once signing something and the class just dissolved into fits of laughter, it transpired I had just used an extremely rude and very naughty swear word. I have to admit it is rather funny watching deaf people communicate as it is so easy to pick up what they are saying from the other side of the room, a bit like eavesdropping.

My little five year old grandson uses some BSL that he is learning at school, I think it is such a good idea to integrate this into schools, who knows when it may become useful.

We have a little boy who is deaf in a year one class, his SNA communicates with him in Makaton. The children in his class have been taught a little bit so he can "talk" to them.

I learned the one finger at a time method when I was a Girl Guide........... I seem to remember practicing on my great gran but I don't remember if she was actually deaf or just humouring me !

M

I was bridesmaid at a wedding (many years ago), one of the groomsmen was deaf. A message was passed along that he wanted to talk to me........ we signed to each other down the table..........

He asked if I knew the lady in the blue dress across the room

Yes, she is my mother.

Is she deaf?

No............. but she can sign........ why?

Groomsman shot out of his chair, madly signing to someone........ he and another man raced over to my mum......... they had been telling jokes, rather rude ones, and mum was "eavesdropping". I've never seen her face so red.

The story quickly got around the room, mum was mortified!


:-D