Signing For Dummies (14 page)

Fun & Games Answers

Part II: ASL in Action

In this part . . .

T
hese chapters get you going in basic conversation. You get a taste of the following: starting conversations, meeting people, going out, enjoying hobbies and sports, talking shop, and touring your home and office. After reading these chapters, you’ll be ready for a night on the town with Deaf friends.

Chapter 3: Introductions and Greetings

In This Chapter

Getting someone’s attention

Expressing how you feel

Signing other countries

Describing scenery

This chapter sets you off on the right foot (or hand!) to meet and greet fellow Signers by giving you tips on how to start a conversation with Deaf people. Telling Signers how you feel about the world around you is a great conversation starter. Describing where you live and where you would like to go will keep your conversation going until your hands fall off. You can acquaint yourself with ASL by watching Deaf people sign. Being included in a conversation is a great transition for conversing in ASL. Don’t worry about signing perfectly. Deaf people will know that you’re a novice Signer — just have fun with it.

Your initiation and a question about ASL, sports, or any popular restaurant can also start a conversation. This chapter gives you some great ideas on expressing yourself as you get acquainted with Deaf people.

Keep in mind that when someone asks you your name, sign your first and last name — it’s good manners.

Interacting with other Signers is an important part of getting the basics under your belt. You’ll find that all Signers, Deaf and hearing, have different styles; no two people sign the same. Like English, words are the same, but no two people talk alike. Setting a goal to be clear is a must. Your style will come naturally.

Getting the Conversational Ball Rolling

Most people who learn Sign look forward to signing with others. Attending functions with other Signers gives ample opportunity to practice Sign. At Deaf functions, signed conversation happens everywhere. If you’re invited by a Deaf person, allow him or her to introduce you to the others — great conversations start this way. If Deaf people correct your Signing, view this as a compliment and take no offense. They see you as a worthy investment.

Getting someone’s attention

Attracting someone’s attention is easy in English. A simple yell turns many heads. To get a Deaf person’s attention, tap him or her on the shoulder or the back of the arm between the elbow and the shoulder. Waving at someone is another good way. Having wooden floors is also a big help — stomping on the floor is an acceptable and popular attention-getter. Deaf people feel the vibration on the floor and turn to see its origination.

Another way to get someone’s attention is to make and maintain eye contact. You can tell someone across a crowded room that you have something on your mind by catching his or her eye. And then, after eye contact has been made and you’ve approached one another, you can proceed with a conversation. Non-signers may view this action as staring and think that it’s rude, but in the world of Sign, making and maintaining eye contact is a necessary common practice.

Never throw objects at a Deaf person to get his or her attention. Besides being just plain rude, it’s also dangerous. ASL is a visual language, so Deaf people really value their eyesight. Accidentally hitting someone in the eye could be devastating, and you could get hit back!

Conversation starters

Asking questions is probably the most popular way to start a conversation. You can ask a person’s name, sign yours, ask what school a person attended, and so on. Many Deaf people attended one of the residential schools for the Deaf that are located throughout the United States; you may have a city in common. You can also start a conversation with a simple
hi
or
hello,
followed by
nice to meet you.
These greetings work with Deaf people of all ages. Signing
What’s up?
is a simple, informal greeting that’s a great opener, too.

Shaking hands and giving hugs are also common additions to Deaf greetings. Hand shaking is more formal than hugging, just as is true in the hearing world.

You can join a conversation easily by using one of the following openings:

Raised eyebrows and head tilted forward show others that your sentence is a question and that you’re waiting for a response. Try these simple questions: