Forums: Chat Room: Does anyone else speak with their hands?
5/16/2008 8:41:25 AMDoes anyone else speak with their hands? 

munky_gurl
Penns Grove, NJ
age: 25

It just hit me...

I've been here for a year and haven't met a single person who knows sign language.
Is anyone out there?

5/16/2008 8:45:40 AMDoes anyone else speak with their hands? 

metu
Mansfield, TX
age: 47 online now!

I know a little bit but I'm more often just gesticulating with my hands like an angry Italian!

5/16/2008 8:46:46 AMDoes anyone else speak with their hands? 

meh777
Midland, TX
age: 31

I have always wanted to learn but have never gotten around to it

5/16/2008 8:52:53 AMDoes anyone else speak with their hands? 

iamnumber5
Saint Augustine, FL
age: 48

Hello Munky I speak with my hands I have a voice too.

I have severe hearing loss, it runs in my family my son is deaf, and my 4 employees are all deaf.

Curious why do you want to know?
I am pretty fluent in signing however because different parts of the country have different dialects a lot of signs are different.

Isn't it funny how sign is not a universl language

5/16/2008 9:02:27 AMDoes anyone else speak with their hands? 

iamnumber5
Saint Augustine, FL
age: 48

I don't know what happened but it didn't post my reply


Ok again

Hello Munky I use sign to converse
I have severe hearing loss but I use my voice too.
My son is profoundly deaf.

It runs in my family my son is deaf we are the only 2 that use sign language.
My employees 4 are deaf and we all communicate using sign language.

It is not a universal language I know that is lousy but every language have there own, even in different parts of the country, signs are different due to dialects.

Im curious why did you ask.

If you want to know more there is a disabilities group and well you can check it out.

5/16/2008 9:04:45 AMDoes anyone else speak with their hands? 

sdcentaur
Sioux Falls, SD
age: 48

Sorry. I only know a few signs and people don't appreciate most of those

5/16/2008 9:07:39 AMDoes anyone else speak with their hands? 

munky_gurl
Penns Grove, NJ
age: 25

Yes Metu, Latinos use a lot of hand gestures when speaking also...
and so do Jersey drivers

Meh... it's never too late to start learning.
I've noticed it's been harder for me once I got older, but it's doable.

LOL @ SD... you sure you're not from Jersey?

#5...
My sister-in-law is a teacher for the deaf, and she taught me ASL when I was a little girl.
Since she was the only one I knew at the time who I could use it on,
I forgot A LOT of it as I grew older and she and my brother separated.
(They're now back together, years later and one very long story, LOL)
Yet when my man suffered SEVERE hearing loss in Iraq,
I got to thinking, he's partially deaf now, so am I...
If either one of us ever completely loses our hearing, how would we communicate?
So I figured it would be a good thing to step up my game, learn more,
and now I'm teaching him.
I'll go check out that group. Good idea.

5/16/2008 3:01:34 PMDoes anyone else speak with their hands? 

munky_gurl
Penns Grove, NJ
age: 25

where?

5/16/2008 3:07:31 PMDoes anyone else speak with their hands? 

iamnumber5
Saint Augustine, FL
age: 48

Hi Munky I was referring you to the
disabilities group here on DH because
there are more people there that
are deaf or use sign language
So what are you asking that you want
to learn more sign language?

5/16/2008 3:15:50 PMDoes anyone else speak with their hands? 

munky_gurl
Penns Grove, NJ
age: 25

Oh ok, I found it. Yes, I want to learn more sign language. It hasn't been as easy as it was to me when I was little, and I have to relearn so much before I reach the fluent level. I have a special love for the deaf community and I want to meet people who use it and are willing to give those of us who can still hear pointers.

5/16/2008 3:19:31 PMDoes anyone else speak with their hands? 

tfortexas
Big Sandy, TX
age: 56

Speaking of sign language I wonder if people from other countries all use the same signs as they do here.

5/16/2008 3:28:47 PMDoes anyone else speak with their hands? 

iamnumber5
Saint Augustine, FL
age: 48

tforTexas it is not a universal language
for the world, But American Sign Language
actually came from France it is the structure
of the language that came from France the
words or signs (phrases were invented from deaf
people themselves) I was teaching it at my work
and in doing more research I was able to
learn how alot of it got started it is rather
fasinating to learn not just the linguistics
but the overall language


Munky if there are colleges near you that teach
sign language sometimes you can take just the class

Down here in St. Augustine the Flagler College have
classes but I didn't need that but wanted info
so went and bought some of their books that they were
using for the classes.

Also Barnes and Noble or the library have cds or tapes
on signing and you can learn that way too.

5/16/2008 3:40:45 PMDoes anyone else speak with their hands? 

drumrman
Belmont, MA
age: 43

i can sign certain things. but....i don't think u wanna see them!

5/16/2008 3:47:44 PMDoes anyone else speak with their hands? 
gonesailingbabe
Des Moines, IA
age: 45

I have a student who signs. He is verbal and has fully functional hearing. His parents simply chose to teach him signing as an infant. Now, however - he REFUSES to do anything else.

So yes, I sign.