ASL, SEE, etc...

[MegsMom]

I am pretty new here, so forgive me if this has already been asked...

I have been reading books (and of course watching ST!) about sign language and some say it is better to use ASL exclusively, some say SEE, some say "Pidgen" (is that right?), etc. I read one book that was supposed to teach ASL in 24 hours (impossible, at least for me!). It was written by a deaf woman and she was very insistent on teaching deaf children ASL first and then English as a second language. The book kind of intimidated me because she had all these rules about how to approach a deaf person and not saying (signing) the wrong things. I was starting to think I would offend people by learning ASL and teaching my DD, since niether of us are deaf.

Anyway, I am just curious if there is a common view among deaf people, or parents of deaf children, about the ASL vs. SEE thing. I would love to here your opinions. -Katie

[aligreat]

This is a very big topic. For starters, read the thread titled "Deaf Culture Question." It is a current thread, and people have posted their experiences of being hearing and interacting with people who are deaf.

The whole ASL vs SEE debate is one that people feel very passionate about. My daughters currently attend a school which uses SEE sign, and that is the only complaint I have about the school. It is a wonderful, comprehensive program, but they use SEE. As soon as I can get my deaf daughter into an ASL program I will. The SEE program is probably a better fit for my hearing, speech delayed daughter because they use speech there as well. Don't get me wrong. Both girls are learning ASL, and after my hearing daughter leaves the SEE program she will not be using it at all. I have heard of children being teased for having a "SEE sign accent" by their deaf peers.

That being said, at this point with the girls only being 2 years-old I'm not sure that it really matters. In SEE sign they add in signs to use proper English grammar. Right now Alexandria, who is hearing, is working on saying "My name is Alexandria." She signs "MY NAME ALEXANDRIA," which is proper ASL. At school they will probably have her stick in the sign that the people who created SEE came up with for the word "is," but other than this sentence I doubt this will be an issue. Most 2 year-olds don't use articles or forms of be. They say "Hungwy" or "I hungwy" rather than "I am hugnwy" when they want food. At this age it is acceptable, and so I'm not too worried for now.

Come up with something that facillitates communication between you and your little one. Isn't that the goal here?

[c01dunlap]

In case you have trouble finding it, the thread Ali mentioned is http://www.signingtime.com/forums/showthread.php?t=933 .

[MegsMom]

Does ST use ASL or SEE? From the video I have seen I noticed that Rachael signs the songs in English word order (as far as I can tell). Are songs in ASL done in English order?

[aligreat]

Rachel uses ASL on Signing Time. Yes, she is talented enough to sign in one language while singing in another.

[Rachel]

Dear Katie-

Yep, we had to cross that road when we found out Leah was deaf. Would she be oral? would we use Cued Speech? Would we use sign language and if so what form of sign? ASL (American Sign Language) SEE (Signing EXACT English) or Pidgin ASL.

The cool thing is, Leah naturally code switches between ASL, Pidgin or SEE depending on how the person she is communicating with is communicating with her. It is a natural phenomenon and a complete phenomenon to me!!

These decisions are difficult and pretty crucial when you have a deaf child. There are very strong opinions on all sides. The bottom line is, if your child is deaf, you the parent really needs to understand and look at all of the options. Meet people who have chosen different paths, talk to deaf adults who have lived that life. Educate yourself and make the very best decision you can for your child.

If you do not have a deaf child and you are simply interested in the different mode of communication, you can follow the same steps and what you will find, is that there is no "right choice" for everyone. Every family is different just as every child is different.

For example, I am a Diet Wild Cherry Pepsi kind of girl Your response might be EEEWWW or hmmm, or me too! But, Diet Wild Cherry Pepsi is my choice and for all I know you may choose Barq's Rootbeer and that's Okay!

[MegsMom]

Thanks for all of the input on this subject. My daughter is hearing. But, since I have been learning more about sign language, I have noticed what a huge issue this seems to be. I have been trying to learn more so that, if I ever had to make that decision for a child, I would at least be educated on the subject.
Thanks again for the input. And, by the way, I love Barq's Root Beer! -Katie

[andrealynnj]

Originally Posted by ra-ron

For example, I am a Diet Wild Cherry Pepsi kind of girl Your response might be EEEWWW!

Yup. My response exactly. And only because I adore everything you do can I forgive you the slight on Barq's rootbeer. I mean have you tried it with ice cream?

But OT, I am learning ASL with my hearing daughter. Will someone who has only been instructed in SEE understand her signs? What about other forms of communication among/with deaf people? Of all the different forms SEE, ASL, cued, which would you say is the closest to universal among deaf, and by universal I mean either leaned by most people or understandable by most people?

My other question is, I have learned of a fair amount of hostility from some Deaf people towards SEE. IS there a similar hostility from SEE signers towards ASL?

I ask just to understand better. We are committed to ASL, but I am always looking to better understand the cultural context around sign language.