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American Sign Language (ASL)
American Sign Language is NOT using signs on your hands to communicate English sentences. ASL is actually a foreign language.
It has it's own grammar and syntax, and follows all of the rules of language.
People who are learning sign language often make the mistake of learning some signs and thinking they know ASL, but it's definitely not that simple. Let me give you some examples of the types of sentences you might see in ASL. In English you would say: "I really don't like that car." In ASL, you might sign: "That car, me like." while shaking your head no to negate the statement. The words, "that car" would be signed with the head tilted slightly and eyebrows raised, to indicate it is the topic of the sentence. Here's another example. Let's use something from the Bible. English: "Jesus died on the cross a long time ago." ASL: "Long-time-ago, Jesus die. How? Crucify." Now in this case, the words "long-time-ago" are actually one sign. The word "how" is a rhetorical question (meaning you don't really expect an answer), and this is signified by tilting the head slightly forward and raising the eyebrows. "Crucify" is what is really meant by "on the cross". It is important to note that ASL is not "bad English". ASL doesn't have a written form, so when we try to write it using English words, it doesn't look right to native English speakers. The same would happen if I tried to write Spanish using English words. Just as anything you say could be said a different way in English, so too, with ASL, there are several other ways these phrases could be signed, so I am not saying this is the ONLY way they can be done in ASL. My point here is to show how different ASL is from English, so I am not including all the aspects of the ASL in my description. If you are interested in learning those details, then it's time for you to enroll in a formal ASL class! If you want to see ASL in action, take advantage of one of the events near you where people will be using ASL. Go to the Events page for a listing of events in your area.
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Pidgin Signed English (PSE)
Anytime speakers of two languages come together and try to communicate over time, a mode of communication
based on compromise is born. It contains aspects of both of the original languages, and it isn't a language at all.
It is referred to as contact language, and is more commonly known as Pidgeon. In the case of sign language, here in America, we often see the use of Pidgin Signed English (PSE) as a compromise between ASL and English. PSE will generally have the sentence structure of English, but will incorporate aspects of ASL. You may also see this spelled as Pidgeon Signed English, however, this spelling is not accurate. PSE is used quite often in the work environment.
When the Deaf work with non-Deaf, they tend to communicate with their peers using PSE. This makes it easier for the Deaf
person to keep up with the specific terminology that is being used in the workplace.
Of course, this doesn't mean that all Deaf people use PSE at work. Many choose to use only ASL. As an interpreter, I can never assume that my client will prefer that I use PSE or ASL. I always have to either talk to the Deaf person for a while to ascertain their mode of communication, or just ask. I should add that there is another mode of signed communication in the US. That mode is Signed English. Signed English does not incorporate ASL at all. It is simply taking the signs for words and signing them in English order. There are some variations on signed English...some sign all of the articles (a, an, the) and others do not, but the basic idea is the same. This is also the form of sign that most beginning signers use, unless they are learning sign in a well structured ASL class. Wherever you fit on the sign language continuum, there is always room for growth. Now you know what the differences are, and you have ideas on what you need to learn. That's definitely a step in the right direction!
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Copyright Signing His Praises 2007
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