Re: Sign language questions

Robert Jenkins wrote:
[...]
I understand that, in signing, proper names are spelled out. I
have a few questions about this.

1. Do they have to be spelled out every time, or is there some
shorthand reference system (like the words "the former" and
"the latter" in writing)?

2. Do *all* names have to be spelled out, or do the more
common ones have a short form?

3. What about place names like London and The West End? Do
these have their own signs (in British sign language, and in
London, at least)?

4. If someone lives in Chelsea, would he likely have a sign
for that area?

5. Is there a web page where these details are explained
properly? (The ones I've looked at are too general to be of
much use to me.)

I know German sign language (DGS), but generalizations are also
valid for other sign languages, including the British one (BSL).

The answer to questions one and two is that constant spelling is
a hindrance to rapid communication in signs; therefore, spelling
of a person's name that comes up again and again is dropped as
soon as possible, and the person is assigned a sign for his
name, often according to some noticeable physical feature. If a
person named Robert has a big drooping moustache, then people
may start referring to him in sign language as "Moustache." If a
person has the habit of rubbing his nose from time to time when
talking, then people may name him "Nose-Rubber." And so forth. A
person is free, of course, to give himself a sign for his name,
and there's nothing to stop Robert from telling people that his
name is "Handsome." Deaf people then use the sign for handsome
to address him personally and to refer to him when signing to
others.

The answer to questions three and four is similar to the one
about names. Anything that is used often gets a sign. All the
major cities of Europe have a sign in European sign languages,
and people have signs for the various districts of the cities
they live in. Some of the signs for districts are known far
beyond the limits of the city itself because a certain district,
say, in London may be internationally famous.

I'm reminded of the strong urge to convert everything to signs
when recalling the spread of the sign for "mad cow disease" in
Germany. I saw some deaf kids from a German deaf school talking
about it when it was just being reported in the news. I thought
the sign they were using was funny but apt. Not even a week had
passed, and deaf people all over Germany were using that sign.
One wonders how something like that, without access to TV, can
spread so fast.

If you want to find out exact details about BSL, you should
contact your local organization for the deaf in person. There
are many such organizations in Britain, and it would surprise me
if not every single one of them was helpful.

Regards, ----- WB.

.

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