Does anyone ever consider learning sign language not because they can't speak, but just because sometimes they don't want to? Or don't feel up to it? #ActuallyAutistic@actuallyautistic
We have a sound board we like for that purpose more, but we've learned a few signs [Yes/No, Please/Thank You, Can You Repeat That] for when we just want to react quick without having to pull it out.
@JeremyMallin I did back in my early teens. I've forgotten about it though, it's hard if you don't have anyone to communicate with, but should be easy to have a crash course.
Also, there are different sign languages too. 😀 I learned FSL (Filipino Sign Language). While it was primarily based on ASL (American), it branched off, incorporating more local signs. Then there is KSL, which is vastly different from FSL and ASL.
The alphabet sign we use in ASL and FSL don't exist in KSL. Their sign alphabet is based on Hangeul as well, and that's just the start. 😃 I'm thinking of taking KSL in the future, once I have a good grasp of Korean language.
@JeremyMallin@actuallyautistic yeah, we do a bit of sign language, and some made up by us hand gestures for communicating when non-verbal, or across a busy room. We did it more when our kids were babies and they could sign before they could talk.
I wanted to study it at one time because I was intrigued by how powerful it is. It has a pretty different grammar, so for deaf people who grew up signing, ours is in fact a foreign language.
Spoken language is linear. Everything you describe can only be lined up one after the other.
Sign language can describe several things at once. In space and time, so it’s four-dimensional. Not an easy thing to learn.
Up till recently my husband taught at a school for the Deaf. He learned sign language. It's quite challenging to learn as an adult, but also fascinating.
I'd be more inclined to use text to communicate if I can't speak. Mostly because almost no one I know understands sign language so it won't help me communicate