Meeting with"deaf" persons while I don't know ASL- none! That includes bowling as well! Fingerspelling - was part of the ASL introductory course taken a few years ago- Toronto high school system-Danforth/Northern Secondary. I have mentioned before- considering the fact I couldn't practice ASL with anyone I knew. Thus the futility of continuing beyond the 3 separate classes which the teachers agreed. That was way before going deaf.
I am not a "self-defined authority" in ASL/ fingerspelling/ BSL/ QSL et al. Which it appears that "some" of this group seem to follow. I don't get excited if anyone here uses ASL/ fingerspelling- be my guest! Obvious reason: none of us will actual meet in person: pace "Jenny B". Yeah even seems speaking is now "optional". I guess the idea from Trappist monks is moving into "ASL cultural circles". Yeah-silence is golden!
On some further thought re fingerspelling: a necessary adjunct to the "defect in ASL" not having a specific sign for EVERY word in English. Is this not true? Eliminating fingerspelling would seem to "cause a communication-linguistic problem" in using ASL. I am not unduly concerned about whether typing a short line. is a "massive inconvenience". About 2-3 seconds.
Implanted Advanced Bionics-Harmony activated Aug/07
