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ABOUT SIGN
LANGUAGE |
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Contrary to popular
belief, there is no one singular universal sign
language. Signs vary from continents to |
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countries and even in
regions where one encounters different dialects |
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The main "English"
languages are the BSL (British Sign Language), ASL
(American Sign Language) and |
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SASL (South African
Sign Language). The differences are nominal and
even a German and Englishman |
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can understand one
another and sign a conversation within half an hour
of each other's company |
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Currently there are
efforts underway to establish a complete universal
sign language, but the completion |
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and implementation is
still far from finalised |
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Sign
Language is not the letters of the alphabet.
Sign Language is a Deaf Language that uses gestures |
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that has
developed and is conveyed through four basic
interactions : |
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hand form (sign)
formation i.e. position of fingers / palm /
hand posture etc. |
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use of
facial
expression |
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use of upper
torso
positioning |
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use of
movement
of the hand / wrist / arm etc. |
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So, what
it the ABC all about then? |
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That is
Finger Spelling and is used where Deaf persons have
been exposed to some written language |
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before
(English / Afrikaans / Zulu etc.) and there is a need
to "spell out" a name (e.g. John, Suzan) or a |
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place
(e.g. Durban, Victoria Street) and for concepts where
one may not have a sign for or have forgotten it |
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Any
hand form
has four elements that defines its meaning : |
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hand formation
- the different shapes that hand can be used in |
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location -
where the hand is placed in relation to the rest of
the body |
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motion - e.g.
the index finger may be used to indicate a "z" or
used in a circle |
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orientation -
mostly referring to the palm, i.e. facing up / down /
forward etc. |
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Facial
expressions are vitally important, as they express
the grammar and emotion of the conversation |
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For
example - there are distinct differences between YES
/ NO questions and WHO / WHAT / WHERE |
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type
questions - even in spoken languages. Using a
certain gesture with different facial movements can |
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have
varying and sometimes quite opposing meanings |
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Upper
torso positioning
emphasises emotion in the conversation and is used to
express the mood of the |
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sign in
relation to other signs e.g. shoulders back /
slumped, chest out, leaning forward / sideways etc. |
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Hand
movement can
completely alter the meaning of a hand form, e.g.
forward motion is different from a |
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sideways
or rocking or chopping or rubbing or circular motion |
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Certain
hand forms may have different meanings to different
groups, i.e. cultures / religions / ethnicity etc. |
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and from
one group to the next could have offensive or
unacceptable outcomes which may be quite |
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unintentional |
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Some
hand forms-movement-facial expression combinations
in two languages may be exactly the same |
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but could
have different meanings |
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Sign
Language is therefore regarded as a true "living
language" that evolves and develops every time there |
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is a need
for change or new additions to the language.
Because of its diversity along various groups, |
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SASL
(South African Sign Language) has been developed and
has been included in the Constitution as the |
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official
instruction medium for the education of Deaf learners |
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