Sign for 'deaf'

Jazzberry said:
Does anyone think that the current sign for deaf will change? When I was taught the sign I was told that the reason the "number 1" hand points from the ear to the mouth was because of the old fashioned phrased "deaf and dumb."

Even now, if you look up dumb in an on-line dictionary (dictionary.com for example), most of the definitions given for dumb are for mute, not stupid.

However, FWIW:

* I don't think most people realize that dumb has an additional meaning.
* Most deaf people are not only not stupid but they aren't mute either

So ... I'm kind of surprised that we still use this sign. Is anyone else surprised? Do you think there will ever be a different sign used?
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I like the sign, "ear, closed". That's in use now and for a long time previously also.
 
Bottesini said:
I like the sign, "ear, closed". That's in use now and for a long time previously also.
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I was taught that sign also, but was told not to use it because it wasn't used anymore. Obviously the person who told me that has no powers over what sign can be used and can't be used. I guess he was just giving me his opinion.

I do like the sign you use better also though, Bott. The only thing I don't like about it is that it takes slightly longer to sign -- 2 movements instead of 1. {Shrug}

Just curious -- does anyone else at AD use it?

As for the other sign -- it just doesn't make sense to me that we still use it. If none of us here would be happy to hear the phrase "deaf and dumb" in English, why use a sign that seems to imply the same thing in sign?
 
"I like the sign, "ear, closed". That's in use now and for a long time previously also."
That sign is listed as a second definition in most ASL/CSL dictionaries and I think it is much more accurate for the diverse deaf population (from oral to voice-off). However, I have yet to meet any deafie who uses that sign - you are my first Bottesinin :) - perhaps that will change in time.

Deaf/"dumb" in this context always referred to one who could not speak/vocalize. Dumb equalled mute, not stupid. Only over time has the word been bastardized to now also mean 'stupid'.
 
Wirelessly posted (BB Curve 9300)

When I first learned AmSiLan (pre-ASL) in the 1960's in CT, DEAF was the old "closed-ear" sign.
 
Point to ear+ sign "close" is really an old sign, but I like it....I typically do the mouth to ear version with my index finger, fist close.
 
Reba said:
Wirelessly posted (BB Curve 9300)

When I first learned AmSiLan (pre-ASL) in the 1960's in CT, DEAF was the old "closed-ear" sign.
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Interesting! Have you noticed a lot of changes in ASL sign since the 1960s? As teaching the language to the general public became more common -- did that have an effect on changes in the language?

I would guess that more ASL dictionaries (both the old fashioned kind in books and later video on the net) and the more youtube videos on/with sign on the net would have an effect. Perhaps slowing down the changes or making them more standardized throughout the country?
 
Ok, so I have fought hard not to bring up questions based on what I'm learning in ASL1 because I'm trying not to be "that person", but this thread has me totally confused and I'm thinking I've been doing something horribly wrong (in terms of signing)....I thought the sign for Deaf was the d hand from ear to mouth/chin and that the d hand from mouth/chin to ear was the sign for dorm..as in college dormitory. Clearly I'm wrong somewhere...clarification please?
 
JFaison said:
Ok, so I have fought hard not to bring up questions based on what I'm learning in ASL1 because I'm trying not to be "that person", but this thread has me totally confused and I'm thinking I've been doing something horribly wrong (in terms of signing)....I thought the sign for Deaf was the d hand from ear to mouth/chin and that the d hand from mouth/chin to ear was the sign for dorm..as in college dormitory. Clearly I'm wrong somewhere...clarification please?
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The dorm is with the bulk of the "D" hand , not drawing with finger, and it is the same as "Home" , not really from mouth to ear.

And deaf is really a "1" hand, and it does actually touch mouth and ear.
 
JFaison said:
Ok, so I have fought hard not to bring up questions based on what I'm learning in ASL1 because I'm trying not to be "that person", but this thread has me totally confused and I'm thinking I've been doing something horribly wrong (in terms of signing)....I thought the sign for Deaf was the d hand from ear to mouth/chin and that the d hand from mouth/chin to ear was the sign for dorm..as in college dormitory. Clearly I'm wrong somewhere...clarification please?
Click to expand...

Nooooo! Be that person! :) That was a good question! And thank you Botts for answering it.
 
Just saw this youtube that PFH linked to here --

[yt]PUWSQd1yzUk&feature[/yt]

The spokesperson for Project Humanity talks about the sign for deaf from 48 seconds to 1 min 22 seconds.
 
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