I don’t know sign but as a deaf person I am constantly using my hands to show what I mean. 😂

That's a really interesting thing to talk about, thank you for asking :) Putting aside sign language for accessibility reasons, as you said, technical language is a major reason. Speed in some cases eg if there is a certain complexity and lack in sign vocabulary speaking may save time. If there are more words to explain verbally, and a simpler sign, then sign could be better, eg pointing, shrugging, a finger to your lips, indicating direction, a flat palm to stop, a strange position or expression. To carry on from that point, when you can't see the person's face it can help, eg from behind people can sign their direction, as cyclists may, or in a group situation people can raise hands to get attention or answer questions or vote. Yes, I agree, signing is so perfect for events and situations involving visual elements. I think it's great for food, animals, activities, emotions. I find it useful to use to communicate from distance (eg across a supermarket, carpark, or signal for help or beckon) or from a place cut off from sound (such as through a window in a building/car/train. Additionally, I like to use it in noisy or quiet situations, eg when a child is sleeping, at the library, in a cinema. Also a fun thing to use if having a private or secret conversation, eg across a school classroom, across to a neighbour's house, across the dinner table, behind someones back to get across a secret message or plan. I also find it can help when the spoken vocabulary has the same word with two meanings, or when the sound of the word could have multiple meanings. It could also be of benefit if a country uses multiple spoken languages and a smaller number of sign languages. It can also help to use as a universal language, when you don't share the spoken language. For example book, home, eat, drink could all probably be signed much more quickly and easily than learning those words in different spoken languages. I'm not sure if this is a part of the question, but it can also be used together with spoken language to emphasize or highlight something.

@nellefindlay

Ай бұрын

I love this comment. There are so many creative ways to use language especially when you mix speech with sign language. I actually tend to think in a mixture of English and BSL now. I think it's pretty interesting that my 'mental language' now contains a lot of signs, but doesn't really use any Spanish which I also speak (unless I am actively choosing to think in Spanish). I guess it shows how flexible signs are.

@_origami

Ай бұрын

@@nellefindlay I love the question ♥That is interesting about the thinking