Anij

See, and I personally see one sign as connected to others - they're individual yes, but they "share" aspects with other signs - it's more than initialization , it's spacial, it's shared movement. When I learn a new sign, I make a number of connections - it's all subconscious at this point, but it wasn't always (umm I have THINK-DEAF though?) I make sense of the sign within ASL ... what does it share with other related signs ? why ? is it important that it does? does that allow me to manipulate it's meaning ? (the sign for DATE and DOUBLE DATE, FRIEND or FRIEND meaning a very close friend)

I'm hoping some others give their experience with how the connect, or separate learning signs


At this point - I'd focus on reading about Deaf culture (which I can't stress enough - it might not seem like the "right thing" to focus on ... but it will help you form a new mindset about Deaf as a "seeing people" and THAT will help you understand ASL better!

Ask us questions about social norms

Continue to learn signs - but not at lightening speed - don't think of it as a memory race - because honestly you might be learning them incorrectly because that's just what happens when you take a living spacial language and put it in a still picture.

Hopefully you're attending a Gathering soon ?? or at least getting a webcam so you can practice with "live people" even if it's via cyber space?

Deafness

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AquaBlue

What you say Anij tickles my interest to learn more. That's why it is so very frustrating for me (now) to grasp what you mean, exactly. I catch your drift but not completely. It seems more like a lesson learned via experience. If that is the case, then there is nothing I can about it now. I figure that once I associate with the Deaf on a regular basis can I finally grasp your meaning Anij. At this point- this concept- is consuming my thinking ever since it was first mentioned on this thread.

I hate to not know something I should...it bothers me to the core.

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Reba

If your goal is to become an interpreter (especially a community terp), you'll have to develop a flexible and adaptable attitude. That is, being serious about your studies and conscientious about meeting your goals is commendable but if you don't also learn to "go with the flow" you'll experience a lot of frustration and stress.

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AquaBlue

So then, I have decided to change my study agency this way: learn groups of signs in themes, handshapes and initialized movements. Does that lesson structure bring me closer toward what you all are saying- to learn to think in ASL?

If so, then back to the drawing board. But memory methods will still be applied but not so heavily. Do I move on with this new type of study?

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AquaBlue

Oh I am learning about that flow now.

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Anij

AB,
One of the best pieces of advice that I ever received was a very simple reminder about life ... cherish the past, look forward to the future - but remember to embrace the present. It sounds a bit saccharin - but it's true. Starting to see a culture, to see a language for the first time "falling in love with it" as it were is a special time ... learn about it - but savour what you learn. Think of it more like a Fine Wine, and less like a bottle of gatorade
I think one part that you might be missing out on is the joy of learning to learn something in a new way. It's a time that you should be looking at things like " woow, I never thought of looking at it that way, how can I apply this new understanding to other aspects of my life" ...

just a thought ... try not to be frustrated - try to enjoy this time ... enjoy dialouging with people about it, learning new resources ...but don't feel you have to memorise everything (you'll learn it naturally along the way). Alot of it is just being open to seeing in a new way ... ASL, Culture, human interaction, pre-conceived ideas, what you thought of linguistics before...

Enjoy this time AB !!!

AquaBlue

Anij, do you think that, apart from association with the Deaf, I should look into this publication? Maybe it can help me see a little more clearly what I need to understand.



It has fantastic reviews and it sounds perfect for me right now. This is one review:

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AquaBlue

These are the books I requested from my library:

• The Joy of Signing: The Illustrated Guide for Mastering Sign Language and the Manual Alphabet by Lottie L. Riekehof
• Random House Webster's American sign language computer dictionary by Elaine Costello
• Talking with your hands, listening with your eyes : a complete photographic guide to American Sign Language by Gabriel Grayson

Any comment on these publications?

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Anij

Is your library online ??? then maybe we could look around and make some additional recommendations ??

I still recommend Learning to See, & Journey into the DEAF-WORLD

AquaBlue

I am also (the busy boy that I am ) trying to establish a network of local Terps via e-mail. Right now I only have contact with one. But I am hoping that through that Terp I can be introduced to others. In that way I can familiarize myself with who's who in my area. Also, I can find out, through that network, what is happening in my local Deaf community: I would be notified of gatherings and maybe get some sound advice like I do here on this thread.

It's all about networking.

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AquaBlue

Okay. I will login to the library website now. Let's see if they have that one.

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AquaBlue

They do not have that title. The closest one to that title is, Learning to see : American sign language as a second language by Sherman Wilcox.

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Anij

Remember we also created a thread of recommended books as well ... so check that out too !
HERE

One thing that I'd recommend is when you get a book - talk with us about it ... ask questions, tell us things you've learned. Talking about things while you're learning them will help cement ideas, while at the same time preventing incorrect interpretations of an idea or point an author might state.

(might be best to start a new thread for that)

Reba

AB, is this program accessible for you?

https://www.mdc.edu/north/english/signlanguage.asp

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AquaBlue

So far the basics are pretty straight forward. I am certain that such will change as I progress. When I have questions on my study I'll create a new thread...good idea!

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AquaBlue

My plans are to enter that college in time. I will need to save up for a few months in order to enroll.

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AquaBlue

Lately I've been battling insomnia. Tonight is no different except for the fact that early tomorrow morning I have a four-hour drive north to central Florida: It’s a family thing.

Oh goodness...how am I going to fall asleep if my body refuses to do so?

Looks like tomorrow I'll be walking about like a zombie and yawning all day long.

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Anij

Ditto - but I'm also battling a migraine
Wouldn't be so bad, except I'm doing two Services tomorrow .... and thus, the alarm clock goes off at 5am ....

AquaBlue

We're in dire straits Anij. I had to (just now) take a tranquilizer. It'll kick in soon.

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jillio

Kind of late getting back to you, AB. Apologies. Others have come up with great ideas, though. The best thing I can tell you is to paint a picture with your signs. If you are painting a picture, you don't stop and think, "Now I am painting a tree, now I am painting a house." You simply paint the concept of the tree or the house on the canvas. Its the same way with sign. It takes time, but you will eventually get the hang of it.

And having conversations without trying to interpret everything will help, too. I can have an entire conversation in sign and never once think in an English word, but I've been signing for 20 years. Likewise, I can feel myself slip into a visual part of my brain when I'm signing. I'm not an intepreter, nor would I make a very good interpreter, because it takes me too long to switch between languages. I have to consciously make myself put English words to ASL signs. You just reach a point where you think differerntly when communicating in sign that when communicating in spoken English. But having conversations with signers without voice will help you practice understanding without having to assign words to everything. You just have to learn to think in concept.

AquaBlue

Very good jillio. I see things much better now. Thank you!

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jillio

YW.

Etoile

No, MUCH too advanced for you right now. That's my current textbook in my Linguistics of ASL class, which is for already-fluent signers...it won't make much sense at your level. It would be a good thing to look at eventually, but you should learn more about ASL and deaf culture first.

jillio

I agree. I own this book, as well, as part of my reference library. But without fluency in ASL, and a strong general foudation in linguistics and linguistic psychology, it wouldn't have been very useful.

AquaBlue

IMPORTANT: I might not be able to be a Terp in the future!! Why??

Click here. Thanks!

Please give me your words (solution).

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Etoile

I'm not sure if we're supposed to answer there or here, but I can repeat myself. It's called health insurance, my dear. If you are a working interpreter, you will have it...either through your agency/employer or by buying it yourself.

Schermy

I'm not seeing the problem here AB. You get a job with health insurance and you can get your meds. It's not like you are person who is a Terp and is diagnosed with Carpal Tunnel or Fybromyalgia. That would be a serious problem. I can't find any sypmathy for you on that. There are plenty of people who are Bi-Polar and work and get health insurance.

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Reba

AB, you're going to have to face the health insurance issue no matter what career field you enter. You might have to "shop around" a bit more to find an interpreting job that provides you with the level of insurance coverage that you need but it's not impossible.

If there are other reasons that you decide that interpreting is not for you, that's OK. But the clash between disability aid and a career choice is not one of them.

Either you want to become an interpreter or you don't. If you don't, there's no shame in that. Not everyone is suited for every occupation. Just be honest with yourself.

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AquaBlue

Reba, all I want is to be, not just a Terp, but a darn good one. I am just mentioning a wall that stands between me and that goal; not that I do not want to be a Terp.

Actually I do not think that I in terms of that I want to be a Terp, but instead I think in terms that I am going to be a Terp. There is no question about it Reba. I get what I want- it is just that this health issue might derail my hopes. I am concened that's all.

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Reba

Then all I can suggest is that you get your personal life squared away before you enter the world of professional interpreting.

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