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.
When I went to CiCi's I had the same experience. I just sat back in awe and watched them communicate. It was astonishing. I have learned so much about the deaf community since school started. I originally thought ASL would have been the same throughout the country, but learned as well, that it's not. Stacey explained to us how everyone signs different, and after going to CiCi's and seeing actual deaf people signing and communicating, I now see how each individual signs different. Chapter 8 really thouched me. It's so sad how we take for granted the ability to talk and hear.
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