Re: Confused about ASL

>>>>> "Steven" == Steven Jones <sjones@xxxxxxxxxx> writes:

Steven> A literate deaf-mute person who communicates by means of
Steven> ASL, speaks (in an extended sense) ASL, but reads and
Steven> writes English (I don't think the ASL is written, right)?

And what's wrong with that?


Steven> So, how does it work for ASL speakers?

Like speakers of multiple spoken languages, I suppose.


Steven> Do they think in English and then translate into ASL when
Steven> communicating with each other?

What makes you assume that they can't think in ASL? Why do they have
to think in English?


Steven> What about when writing?

What's wrong with thinking in ASL when signing, and thinking in
English when reading and writing? I can talk in English and
read/write in Chinese. Is that hard to imagine?


Steven> I am aware that, when learning a foreign language,
Steven> perhaps the major difficulty is to be able to think in the
Steven> foreign language - at least, that has been my
Steven> experience.

And once you've got through that barrier, you can easily think in the
language that you're using, without going through any kinds of
translations. Why should that be very different for signed languages?


Steven> Now if they do think in ASL, what does that mean? Do they
Steven> visualize the different ASL signs and gesticulations in
Steven> their minds?

Do you suppose that they think in terms of speech sounds? I'd find
that harder to believe, esp. for those who are born deaf.

I myself think in terms of meanings. The meanings doesn't have to be
tied to any specific language, nor images, nor sounds.


Steven> Another issue is, are there ASL speakers who write in
Steven> different languages - being therefore in principle unable
Steven> to communicate by writing?

Is writing English the only way to communicate by writing? Why would
you count someone who can read and write Chinese (for instance) as
being "in principle unable communicate by writing"?


Steven> This sounds like a situation inverse to that of Mandarin
Steven> and Cantonese speakers, I believe. I guess this would be
Steven> possible, since ASL is a language per se, and not just
Steven> English in gestures. This also makes me think that
Steven> learning ASL will present the same difficulties to persons
Steven> who can read and write languages as different as English
Steven> and Chinese. Is this correct?

Why not? And you should now appreciate those deaf people who can sign
ASL and also read/write English. They have to overcome more
difficulties -- other than their physical handicap -- than you to
learn to read/write English!



--
Lee Sau Dan 李守敦 ~{@nJX6X~}

E-mail: danlee@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Home page: http://www.informatik.uni-freiburg.de/~danlee
.

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