Is ASL... a language?

I was doing my round of web sites. I like sites like DeafPulse, everything at a glance about the deaf community from several sources. This saves considerable time.

From there, I came to Kalalau's Korner. This a blog and vlog I like. I like his way of thinking.. and his way to make me thinking. :)

His latest entry: The American Sign Language Debate (part 2). I entirely agree with what he mentioned.

I'd like to share some tidbits...

-During the summer, Gallaudet University has announced, *officially* that they are bilingual, welcoming the English language onto their campuses. I relayed the news (along with some comments), to a friend who is interested by ASL and she's seeing my progress and everytime we see each other, I teach her a few signs. So her reaction was:

What bilingualism? They don't teach already in English? There's just one language there...

Ooooohhhh boy... So I have to remind her about the "L" in ASL, and this has to be accounted for, just like English, (hence bilingualism) and the whole shebang about "audism", etc...

But I'd bet her reaction is typical. ASL isn't considered as a real language, so words like "bilingualism" sound funny. What bilingualism?

Because ASL is taught in the United States, an English-speaking country, maybe the link between English and ASL is so strong... that it blurs some borders? Mhhh...

I'm a French-speaking native and I'm learning ASL. I know a dear friend who is a Spanish native speaker who had to learn ASL when she became deaf.

Conversely to some people, ASL *is* their native language, and they learn English as a second language.

So, I see no reasons why there aren't textbooks in French, in Spanish, or in any language about learning ASL. They probably exist, but I haven't looked for them.

To me, the "A" in ASL simply means the region which this Sign Language is used. In... America, period.

In England, they have BSL, British Sign Language, and to have seen some BSLs, they quite differ from ASL, and yet, this is two Sign Languages which are used... in dominant English-speaking countries.

In France, they have LSF, Langue Signée Française and back home, LSQ, Langue Signée du Québec. I have seen some LSQ (thanks to the Parliamentary Channel, the only channel which I can see LSQ! French is the dominant language here in Québec, and a lot of signs in LSQ... are also defined in ASL, either "verbatim" or with minor variations. So, Sign Language isn't subordinated to a spoken language, such as English. I'd say it is defined by the geographical region where this language is used. In America, in England, in France, in Québec, etc. That makes sense.

Also, if you have some relatives living in Europe (my case), you may chuckle a little bit. When Laurent Clerc came to America, he brought with him, some of the European culture.

When you count in ASL, say from one through 5, it is the same thing as hearing people do when they count on their fingers. Except for the number 3. Between hearing people all over Europe, if you want to show the number 3, you'll raise the index, the major... AND THE THUMB. We don't do that in America.

However, in ASL, this is the *proper* way to sign the number 3, with the thumb's up! Just like the Europeans do! So, if you don't pay attention, and you sign 3 the way you've been taught at school, you'll likely to sign the letter "W" or the number 6. Oopsie!

A language isn't static. It borrows words from other languages, and adapt them too.

Borrowing words in ASL... means signing spelled words. For instance, if you want to sign "pizza", you'll sign a "double z" with the major and index and then it is followed by the letter "a". The last 3 letters of "pizza". There isn't a genuine ASL sign for pizza. Shocking, I know!

If you want to sign an all-encompassing "all", there are several signs for that, but on one sign , you begin to sign the letter "L" (index and thumb at 90 degrees, visually looking like the letter L) and you make a wide lateral move with your hand. Hence, "all".

This is sometimes called "lexicalized signs"... and this has also been a rather hot debate. This is not pure ASL, and to some people this is another (bad) influence of the English language onto ASL.

I chuckle, because we Québecers, we often lecture our "cousins de France" of their use and abuse of English words... while conveniently forgetting that here too... we use English words. So this isn't only in ASL that there are such language debates... nor only in ASL that the English language is considered the big villain. :)

At some points, a language has to be practical. I'm well aware of that, as an ASL student. So many signs to remember, so many signs to associate with visual concepts!

So any visual clue will help.

A "double z and an a", because when I sign this, I *visualize* the word pizza, this is fine with me. The association between the two is obvious.

If I sign "T" (all fingers closed, except for the thumb that is placed between the index and the major) and I wiggle my hand.. it means toilet and mostly I or someone I know need to go there real... QUIIIICKK!

Therefore, the letter T for toilet, and the dance (wiggle) we all do when the bladder is full ! Then, you remember for the rest of your life the sign for toilet. The association is so easy to make.

Not all ASL signs are easy to remember... but my point is,.. there are thousands and thousands of signs to remember. So... why not making it easy to remember... when it's possible to do so. :)

Kalalau later went on with this vlog (sorry, only in ASL) about language decay. This is a problem all bilingual / multilingual people have to face. It also affects ASL and all Sign Languages as well.

I've felt that with my sign language when I took a few weeks off recently. My signs were rusty.

I feel the same with the English language, and even with my mother language, French. True, it's always easier to catch up with the mother language.

A tale: I've been on the go for 5 months, always in English-speaking countries... so, when I returned to Québec for good, it took me a little while to adjust. Because I was then thinking in English and no longer in French.

Anyway, just my little 2-cent of ramblings. :)

Cheers!

-E