May 15, 2012
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Sign language.
After an intense chat with a pit-bull, and a brief tango, I struck a conversation with a hard-of-hearing bloke. It’s been too many years since the last time I signed. My signing was very rusty. But I understood him and he understood me. He was surprised to learn that of all the people in the room, I knew sign language. With embarrassment, I quickly told him that I only knew how to sign few words. I explained that I learned signing back in college, as part of an elective, and haven’t been practicing since then. He smiled. Knowing that was all the conversation we will have, I too smiled back. And I woke up.
I haven’t touched “how to sign” instructional book that’s been sitting on my bookshelf for many years. Nor have I thought about it at all. I never did start looking into further my practice in signing by playing that CD-ROM I purchased ages ago. I have the resources, book and cd, yet life seems to always get in the way of our (previous) priorities.
I organized my bookshelf this past weekend. Sorted out books and whatnot to their categories. I organized my junk shelf by shelf.
Top: documents, statements, letters, receipts, knife-bag.
Upper-middle: fictions, travel books.
Middle: photography, pottery, language guides, misc. books.
Lower-middle: food novels, reference guides, textbooks, food comics.
Bottom: cookbooks.I realized I have way too many books than I have the time to go through them. I looked through some as I organized the shelves. Brought back many college memories. Memories of living abroad. Memories of another life I had. I kept thinking back about my ability to sign. The one more thing I have yet to accomplish. Along with Chinese and Japanese.
There sitting on the middle shelf, Chinese language exercise books I’ve done from taking classes in the past, next to Japanese language reference cards, next to “how to sign” book. I should set new priorities in life. Learn languages. Again.
Comments (15)
I am in the same shape - my American Sign Language needs renewed. I did have a visitor who used a different form of sign he called European. There were only 2 or 3 letters that were different. Good reminder thanks.
Here in Miami, a multiculture community, where there are several languages spoken, we've learned to communicate very well with sign languages. Especially where traffic jams are concerned. We learned that using the middle finger as a sign language, sort of keeps the traffic moving.
You keep a bag of knives in your bedroom?
Lucky you! I think it's still fantastic that you know how to sign!
=)
It's on my future to-do list but it's not a priority. Along with learning to read Braille, just in case I go blind. Then I'd be able to read.
Japanese is the language I want to become fluent in.
If I started writing in Japanese, would you practice with me?
=D
That's so cool. I would like to learn the sign language.
No picture of your shelves. ? Well than you have to show it to me when I visit (since we live so close)
One thing I regret about living in states is my English grammar never improved. I guess coz I work in retail, I use more speaking English more than written English.
Oh I'd love to re learn how to sign, I remember basic stuff from college but not much, as I recently discover while trying to help a lady at the ballet academy.
There are always a string of languages on my "to learn" or, more accurately, "to re-learn" list. Add to that "finish learning Thai" and I should be busy for the next few decades.
I have a long, long list of things I need to learn (and relearn). Kudos to you for organizing your bookshelf. I have books scattered all over my condo.
@Fatcat723 - so you know ASL too? nice. yeah, what they have in different countries would vary in signs. even the canadian one is slightly different from ASL.
@catstemplar2 - LOL... yeah, that sign ANYONE would be familiar with. haha...
@CurryPuffy - err... just pretend i said "candy" bag.
@Vitamin_D - Braille? now i haven't thought of that one. yeah, would come in very handy if we loose our sights. but how can one provide a signature when blind? or to recognize a signature? i take it they don't do a signature? yes, i'll be your japanese practice mate. though i need to start learning the language first.
@ZSA_MD - it's actually quite easy. since it's pretty much the same language as english, just using hands/fingers. and there is no difference between present and past tense either. it's all in the practice. but once you don't use it, you can easily forget the signs.
@vsan79 - it's all in the practice, vince. the more you devote your time for writing and learn the mistakes you've made, the better you get. and reading english books or other people's writings, regularly, really helps.
@xXxlovelylollipop - so you know sign language as well? nice! well then, it's never too late to re-learn
@christao408 - ah, i bet our thai is just as good as a local there. you're too humble, chris.
@ElusiveWords - when one gets real busy as you, it's understandable to get a bit messy sometimes. we all do the same. ah, a "lightbulb". you know, you can always get yourself busy with organizing your books whenever you can't sleep. maybe that'll help you get sleepy
@ZSA_MD - thank you for the recommendation, zakiah.
@rudyhou - Well, I wanted to learn Braille when I was younger because my vision was getting worse and worse. I was afraid I would end up blind one day. Reading is one of my favourite things.... my addiction if not my antidrug. I couldn't imagine being unable to read by myself. I don't want books on tape. I've tried listening to one and it doesn't go at the pace I want nor did it fit my imagination. If I make up voices for characters, it's all in my head. Stuff like that.
I don't know about the rest of the world if I ever become blind... like signatures. I only knew that I couldn't lose the ability to read and that was my biggest fear.
Thankfully, my vision plateaued about middle of high school. I have really bad eyesight but I can still see.... wear glasses. Wear contacts.
And I can still read. =)
Yay me.
@Vitamin_D - your reasoning got me thinking. lately i often get migraines. friends of mine who wear glasses/contact lens suggest that i should go for an eye test to see whether there is a possibility of me getting a "plus" or "minus" eye sight. hhmm... guess it's official that i'm getting old. i'll be making an appointment with an eye doctor come june. keep your fingers crossed for me. if things do get worse, then i should really consider learning braille.
The list of things to learn, to read, to do, never seems to end. It's good that you've taken the step to organize the bookshelf
Hopefully you'll get plenty of time soon to get working on some of that backlog! I used to know a few words of ASL from elementary school, but having never used it since, It's long gone from memory 
@paperblanks - ah! glad to know another fellow xangan familiar with ASL. yes, it's a simple language skill, yet just like another language it is one of those things that will disappear from your memory when not used over a long period of time.