For Hearing People Only CH 8-10

The books states that the best way to learn ASL is by interaction, and I would have to agree. The only way to learn it and it be beneficial is to put yourself in the environment. The first day of class I was terrified. I didn't understand how in the world I was going to learn sign language without the teacher talking. As i read the book it all started to make more sense. Deaf children obviously learn ASL, and they cannot hear. They learn ASL the same way I learned English. One thing I thought was really interesting was that deaf parents 90% of the time have hearing kids. One of the main things I got out of reading chapter eight was that in order to be successful in ASL a good attitude is required. I have always been a optimistic person even though sometimes the odds have been against me. A good attitude is the key to success in most cases. I took ASL because I am a communication disorders major and I want to go on to grad school to be a speech language pathologist. Even though sign language was not required I thought it would be beneficial later on own the road, and I found it interesting.My eyes I realized my eye sight was going to be a problem for me learning ASL. It was honestly the first time in a long long time that I could not compensate for, and it bothered me more than anything. I realized by talking to the teacher and keeping calm, I could learn it even if the odds were against me. A good attitude is key.
ASL humor is a little different from our sense of humor. In some ways it is the same and in other ways it is very different.  Most of my sense of humor consists if vocally witty and sarcastic comments toward another person. In the deaf community humor is visual. The deaf community I'm sure are full of funny people, just because they can't vocalize humor. The game the deaf community plays called "ninning" ((87) in a way is similar to some of the games we play. The game we sometimes play where one person holds up a circle with his fingers and if someone looks into it, the person holding the circle gets to hit them. The joke in the deaf community about the American throwing a translator out the window (87) is kind of like our humor in a way. If someone ask another person "huh, what, or can you repeat that" they usually hear the response, "Are you deaf?" In a way the humor can be the same, yet it is different.
When I went to CiCis Pizza for my deaf culture event I learned quickly that some people signed differently, or had their own unique style of signing. In English some people have accents, a certain tone, a weird dialect, and so on. ASL is the same way. Not everyone who signs can sign the same exact way. Some people sign large, some small, some are stiff, and others can be flowing. In English not everyone can pronounce, articulate, or say every single word the same way. ASL is a language also and people can make it unique.

For Hearing People Only Ch 4-7

I learned that French sign language was created by the deaf not by Abbe de l'epee. He did not create FSL but he was the first to recognize, acknowledge, and attempted to learn and communicate with the deaf. He also founded the first successful school for the deaf in Paris. He is considered the first friend to the deaf because he accepted that they could teach him more than he could teach them. In a way I can relate to this. The first day of class I was freaking out because there was no talking. When the teacher finally did talk, just to inform us that there would be no talking through out the remainder of the semester I about fell over dead. I left class mad, upset, and wanting an explanation. The more I thought about it the more it made sense. I really think that if there was talking I wouldn't have learned as much as I know right now.  Not talking in away has helped me to appreciate the language even more.
ASL and BSL are not very similar. Even though American English derives from British English, the same is not said when it comes to sign language.ASL is more influenced by FSL. BSL alphabet uses two hands, and looks far more complicated in my opinion. The grammar, classifiers, and facial expressions are similar to ASL.  I feel bad for the deaf in the British community. BSL has an oral approach to sign language which hurts them more than helping. BSL in its self shows the struggle and humor of Britain. Princess Diana was one of the first people of royalty to learn BSL. She learned it willingly because she wanted to communicate to the deaf in their language. In my opinion that makes her a good leader.
ASL sentence structure is still hard for me to grasp. When signing I often in my head think of a English sentence and try to say the exact words in order when signing, which is incorrect. It takes awhile to get the feel of it, and I am still trying to grasp the concept. When trying to write ASL I also try to put my English spin on it. ASL really is a language of its own and trying to combine the two results are very bad. In this chapter Manually Coded English is discussed (MCD). I can see how there would be controversy. In a way it can be seen as a short cut. In English texting lingo or short hand is one of our short cuts. Most people in the deaf community think it teaches bad signing and grammar. Some also believe it could have its advantages. 
ASL is a visual language, not a written language. ASL can be translate or glossed, but not written exactly. There are several ASL dictionaries, but they can only really show so much. For a personally example: the ASL workbook. There are illustrations of the signs, but they can only help so much. Most signs involve motion of some sort, and a picture can't move. Visually learning the signs is the most effective way to learn ASL.

For Hearing People Only CH 1-3

 My great mamaw slowly became deaf the older she got. She died on my sixteenth birthday and by that time she was almost completely deaf. I will probably be referring to her a lot through my blogs. I always admired her because she had a great sense of humor and attitude. If she had no idea what was being said she just sat there and smiled (which I know was frustrating). I have came in contact with a few deaf people in my lifetime and all of them have a great attitude that I admire. 
When I first signed up for the class I would type in "Sign Language" on my class search on Topnet. It took me forever to find it, but when I did it said American Sign Language.I did not know that sign language could be considered American, English, Japanese, and so on and so forth. At first it didn't really make sense to me, but the more I thought about it the more it did start to make sense. We have different language for different cultures, so it would make perfect sense to have various types of sign language. In the book it said that sign language was used way before 1817. In my mind I thought that sign language was some kind of subject, not a language. I realized that like any other language, sign language has been a process. New words are added in other languages, and the same goes for sign language, language is not necessarily set in stone.  I thought it was interesting that James Monroe was the president to actually communicate with a deaf person.
I'm not even going to lie, I felt really stupid when I read chapter three. Braille and ASL have nothing to do with each other. Braille is for a blind person and ASL is for a deaf person, they are obviously not even related. I guess I had never really comprehended that they are different. Both are disabilities, but that does not mean they should be thrown all in the same category and labeled as "disabled." I personally am not even a fan of the word disability. People are born the way they are and they learn to live, have fun, compensate for whatever they may need to. The book said that it can sometimes be difficult to know if someone is deaf. It's kind of easy to realize if a person is blind because they have a can, dark class, or a guide dog. Deaf people have their sight. Unless someone is looked for a hearing aid it can be difficult to realize someone is deaf.