Since fingerspelling is how people communicate their names in conversation, the topic of introductions started in lesson two and continued into lesson three, which begins the subject of questions.
In this section of lesson 2, I learned the signs for “hello,” “me,” and “name.” The word “is” does not appear in ASL, so it is left out of the introduction. If I were to introduce myself, I would sign “Hello, me name Olivia,” using the signs for “hello,” “me,” and “name” and fingerspelling “Olivia.”
When introducing yourself to a Deaf person, you should include your name, your status as a hearing person, and that you are learning sign language. This module taught me the signs for “I,” “not,” “Deaf,” “hearing (person),” “sign,” “learn,” “student,” “nice,” “meet,” and “you.” Together, these words form the simple introduction that I would use when I meet a Deaf person:
“Hello, me name Olivia.
I not Deaf, I hearing.
I learn sign.
I student.
Nice meet you.”
The only Deaf person I have met was a woman handing out small pink fliers with some basic signs when I went to an A.C. Moore craft store with my mom. I was probably in first or second grade and had learned how to sign a few basic words and phrases like “hello” and “nice to meet you.” I can imagine that my signing was not so graceful, but I remember leaving the store feeling accomplished because I was able to communicate with someone that did not communicate like me.
1 comment
Love that story about the woman outside A.C. Moore. I, too, have a favorite memory of a brief connection enabled by rudimentary language skills. I was in college at the time, though! I’m impressed by your confidence to sign with a stranger as a 6-year-old!