How do you know which

Silentwolfdog

Silentwolfdog

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Which sign language are you fluent at? I mean how do you know if you signed in ASL or PSE?

I just found out recently that ASL teacher encouraged me to take ASL classes. I was surprised at such suggestions because I used sign language my whole life. Sign language is my first language and language I depend on the most to communicate.

I am somewhere confused, because someone would tell me that I am more of ASL user and someone else tell me I am not.

I am curious as of if learning ASL is hard after you already used sign language (whatever heck it is) basically your whole life?

I don't mind learning it, but as of right now I don't have time because of school and internship. I am just wondering that's all.

Is it possible for someone to understand others in ASL but not sign ASL themselves?

Also does ASL mean person signs really fast? I struggled a little with people who signed or fingerspell really fast.

I knew I am a slow signer, mostly because of my personality, I am very laid back person who like to think first before speak. After all I am southerner. ;)
 
It can be hard to learn about a language that you learned naturally. You know what you're signing and how, but you probably don't know why. It's just like with hearing people, when we start taking English classes in elementary school...we've been using verbs for years but never once heard the word "verb" before or knew that a sentence has to have a subject and a verb.

It is good for ASL users to know how their language works from a structural point of view, meaning to take ASL classes. You don't only learn vocabulary (which you probably don't need), you also learn grammar, syntax, and you come to understand the "inner workings" of your language. It can be very worthwhile and can also help you better understand other languages, like English. (The same goes for any native speaker of any language, by the way, not just ASL users.)

However, don't worry too much about what OTHER people consider you to be. As long as you are comfortable communicating then that's all that matters. If you don't want to take an ASL class, then don't! :)

It is definitely possible to understand ASL without using it yourself. It's much easier to understand a language than it is to produce in a language. Most people can understand ASL long before they're able to sign in it fluently.

Just a few thoughts, hope that helped.
 
Personally, I've never taken a ASL class or any other sign classes. I've always learned ASL or signs by interacting with deaf people or interpreters. Plus I watch a lot of Vlogs and make sure I understand the vlogs. IF signs have changed, I generally will learn the sign.
 
BearBeauty said:
Personally, I've never taken a ASL class or any other sign classes. I've always learned ASL or signs by interacting with deaf people or interpreters. Plus I watch a lot of Vlogs and make sure I understand the vlogs. IF signs have changed, I generally will learn the sign.
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Same here but off on another tangent, this is why I all too often see deaf ASL'ers who teach the language and do not know one whit about ASL's grammar, syntax, etc. They just stand there and try to make hearing learners learn the language by sheer muscle (rote) without really understanding the concepts.
 
Knowing the grammar and mechanics of ASL is mostly useful if you're going to be studying another language, attending college or university, or working in a job that requires you to do a lot of writing. In those cases if you learn about sign, it will improve your linguistic knowledge about other languages, including English.

If you don't have a strong need to be bilingual and you're not having trouble communicating with the people you want to communicate with, then it's probably not too necessary, although you might find it interesting.
 
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