I have a question...

AquaBlue

AquaBlue

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As some of you know I am learning sign language and I have questions.

Which words are fingerspelled (mostly) as signs?
Examples: bus, leg, etc.

I've learned that US States are abbreviated, as well as city/town names and other words....

Which words are abbreviated (mostly) as signs?
Examples: Apt (apartment), Veg (vegetable), etc.

Thank you for your help.

:D :D :D
 
I know here in RI, we have a sign for bus.

Most towns here in RI have a sign name or an abreviation.
I know that NY and Maine has their own signs.

There is a sign for vegetable that I learned. I have no way of demonstrating it. I don't have neat software like Eternity has.

You have asked a very broad question. I answered what I could.
 
What I want to know is if there is a rule as to what to abbreviate and what to fingerspell? In the lesson I am now on, the teacher tells that city/states are abbreviated and thta certain other words are spelled out.
I just want to know, in general (not regional), what list of words (signs) are abbreviated and which are fingerspelled as signs.

I hope I phrased it clearly. :(
 
Are you looking for a list of loan signs? If you are, say the word and I'll go through my notes from fingerspelling class last year. I have a list of every loan sign in existence in this region of the world (Cleveland, Ohio area) or at least, every loan sign that my professor's friends could think up. I'll be more than happy to type it up and post it if that's what you want.
 
Everyone, please feel free to correct my wording:

A loan sign is a sign that is based on the fingerspelling or a variation of the fingerspelled word. I.e. "early" is spelled in an arch, "bus" is another one. If a word has a sign already, then generally, the loan sign is used to put emphasis on the word (like "what")

I hope that helped.
 
That sounds like what I am asking, in part Sydlie.

Question: Is the awswer to my question(s) exclusive to regional signs?
I mean, if you list lone signs for the Cleveland, Ohio area, will those same signs be used or understood in Florida- where I live?

As prostock19 pointed out, certain regions of the country have a sign for certain words that other parts fingerspell.

Question: When do I abbreviate, and when do I spell out the entire word?
 
Originally posted by AquaBlue
That sounds like what I am asking, in part Sydlie.

Question: Is the awswer to my question(s) exclusive to regional signs?
I mean, if you list lone signs for the Cleveland, Ohio area, will those same signs be used or understood in Florida- where I live?

As prostock19 pointed out, certain regions of the country have a sign for certain words that other parts fingerspell.

Question: When do I abbreviate, and when do I spell out the entire word?
Click to expand...
Since I am learning like you, when in doubt, spell it out.
 
If I were to travel this country, would I find that regional signs (as a whole) are dramatically different from those in my home town, or will I discover that I only have adjust a few of my signs per region, generally speaking?
 
I recently interpreted for the GLDBA regional tournament and there were Deaf from everywhere between Maine to Wisconsin to Florida, so basically half the country. I did notice some differences, but nothing more than if you drove in to Texas and tried to talk to someone there. For the most part I had no problems figuring it out. And from what I've seen, the Deaf in your area would straighten you out in a second. Now, if you're interpreting for a regional event, it's kind of funny when you're told to sign the same word 3 different ways by 3 different people in about 10 minutes, but that's the fun part. And anyway, it's obvious that they understand you if they can correct you.

My advise is the same as Prostock's: When in doubt, spell the whole thing. The only things I would always abbreviate would be things you abbreviate in english. AC (air conditioning) Ref (refridgerater) Veg (vegetables) and if anything, let me say that since I have started sign, no one has ever been rude to me for not knowing a sign. It's been quite the opposite, everyone I've met has been really helpful and understanding.
 
Originally posted by AquaBlue
What I want to know is if there is a rule as to what to abbreviate and what to fingerspell? In the lesson I am now on, the teacher tells that city/states are abbreviated and thta certain other words are spelled out.
I just want to know, in general (not regional), what list of words (signs) are abbreviated and which are fingerspelled as signs.

I hope I phrased it clearly. :(
Click to expand...

Really, there is no quick rule to learn. You just have to go along and see how ppl sign it. Some ppl I know have signs for bus, but I spell bus. Some ppl sign for dog, others spell dog as D-G. You have to learn as you go along.
 
Hmm... from what I have learned and seen: I noticed that most words with 5 letters or less are fingerspelled.

Some words are being abbreviated like these:
TB = Too Bad
NG = No Good
TL = Too Long or Too Late
258 = Very Interesting

I bet there are more than these, just that I can't remember them all.

Some proper names are fingerspelled by full name until the deaf people are aware of the common sign for these proper names. These proper names are not always the same in signs anywhere else other than these local areas. Do I make sense here?
 
I guess it depends on the deaf culture in a specific area.
 
I think its actually a matter of personal preference. Some people use a sign for any one word, and another person, in the same region will spell it out.

There's no real *right* way to sign. Just as long as people understand you, that's what matters, right? I'm assuming you're hearing, so I'm going to put it this way ...

When you speak, some people say All right, and some people say A'ite, right? Same basic concept. There is no real rule as to what you HAVE to say/sign. Sure, its written that THIS way is the right way, but ASL, as with spoken english, that rule is more often than not broken.

If you really want to learn HOW to sign PERFECTLY, by the book, then your best bet is a class. But if you're going to ask here, I'm going to say this --

Abbreviate in signs, what you would abbreviate in written english, like, a e-mail to a friend or something. That's probably the best way I can think of to say this...

Don't take it from me though, I grew up in the "hearing world" and live there now, sure, I'm 75% deaf, and went to a deaf high school and college *for a semster* i don't know nearly enough.
 
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Well, as far as I know that sign language varies...not all same...depending where you are from. :dunno:
 
Thanks everyone for the help.

In my personal study I've learned the following:
(Please note that this info is solely from books and video lessons)

A signer always fingerspells proper names, names of states/cities/towns, and the months of the year.

Word signs that are fingerspelled are MALL, LEG, SIZE, REFUND, JEWELRY, HOBBY, LEFT, AIR, CORAL, EEL, OF, MAP, BUS, BY, AN.

Fingerspelled abreviations would be TTY (teletypewriter), TV (television), AC (air conditioner), APT (apartment), VEG (vegetable), FAX (facsimile), and GAS (gasoline).

Any comments on the above info?

_
 
Originally posted by AquaBlue
Thanks everyone for the help.

In my personal study I've learned the following:
(Please note that this info is solely from books and video lessons)

A signer always fingerspells proper names, names of states/cities/towns, and the months of the year.

Word signs that are fingerspelled are MALL, LEG, SIZE, REFUND, JEWELRY, HOBBY, LEFT, AIR, CORAL, EEL, OF, MAP, BUS, BY, AN.

Fingerspelled abreviations would be TTY (teletypewriter), TV (television), AC (air conditioner), APT (apartment), VEG (vegetable), FAX (facsimile), and GAS (gasoline).

Any comments on the above info?

_
Click to expand...
Out of all the words you mentioned about, I learned a sign for Size, Left, Bus, (I think Map, but I forgot it if I learned it.), Vegetable, Gasoline, and Fax.
 
Originally posted by AquaBlue
Thanks everyone for the help.

Word signs that are fingerspelled are MALL, LEG, SIZE, REFUND, JEWELRY, HOBBY, LEFT, AIR, CORAL, EEL, OF, MAP, BUS, BY, AN.

Fingerspelled abreviations would be TTY (teletypewriter), TV (television), AC (air conditioner), APT (apartment), VEG (vegetable), FAX (facsimile), and GAS (gasoline).

_
Click to expand...

I do sign for mall (BIG STORE CLUSTER), leg (point to legs), size (MEASURE), refund (MONEY BACK), jewelry (RING NECKLACE ETC), left (L to left, or LEAVE or ZOOM depending on meaning), AIR (fan air to face), MAP (PICTURE BOOK TOWNS POINT), CORAL (WATER IN PLANT WAVE), VEGETABLE can be fingerspelled VEG or signed "V" for Fruit, GASOLINE has a sign for it (GAS, be sure not to sign SHIT!)

I rarely sign BY, AN, OF


HOBBY and EEL I do fingerspell.
 
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