Hey!
First, I want to let you know that this video was not my idea.
I was stuck, because I wanted to make a video
but I didn't want my roommates to hear me.
What could I do?
But Pancakes had a great idea.
She said "You should make a video in ASL!"
And I was like "That's perfect, thanks!"
And thank you for talking for me.
This is really important:
I am Hearing, and not Deaf.
There's links in the description if you want to really learn ASL.
I should not be your teacher.
But I can show you some basics
so if you chat with a Deaf person you will be polite and understood.
First, let's talk about the language.
Then Fingerspelling,
introductions,
and lastly, sign names.
Firstly - what is ASL?
ASL is not English.
There's another "language"
called Signed Exact English,
which has English words shown with hand movements.
It is not its own language.
ASL is its own language.
It has its own words, grammar, and culture.
But, most people who use ASL as their first language
also know English.
So if you don't know a word in ASL, you can say
"How do you sign A-P-P-L-E, apple?"
And they'll say "Oh, like this!"
Our second topic is Fingerspelling.
There's many videos out there that will teach you the ASL alphabet,
links down below.
But I want to show you how to Fingerspell.
This right here? That's your Fingerspelling space.
When you're Fingerspelling, your hand should stay in this area
and keep it still.
Don't bounce your hand with every letter,
people can't read that.
If a word has double letters,
like S-P-E-L-L "spell,"
you can show the double letters by bouncing your hand slightly
or sliding your hand.
Just, not a big bounce. Okay?
Our third topic is introductions.
When you meet a new person, you sign
"Nice to meet you."
"Nice
to meet
you."
Got it?
You sign "meet" with your fingers flat.
You're not dating someone, you're meeting them!
It's also important that you sign "meet" upright,
not lying down.
You meet people standing up.
If a person is standing over there
you can sign "nice to meet you" in their direction.
Or if there's a person over there,
you sign "nice to meet you" in that direction.
You can sign "nice to meet you" and point at who you're trying to reference.
or point at everyone, and meet everyone in front of me.
Fourth, sign names!
After you've signed "nice to meet you,"
you sign "My name is Emi."
E-M-I
Got it?
Here it is from the side.
"My name
Emi, E-M-I."
And finally, I want to explain a little bit about sign names.
Before, when I introduced myself I spelled my name.
But I can also sign my name like this.
What is that though?
That's not a sign in ASL!
That's my sign name!
My sign name represents me, and just me.
It's based in part for the signs "curly hair" and "smart."
This is super important:
I did not give myself my sign name.
Never,
never never never
give yourself a sign name.
Never. Got it?
Only a Deaf person can give you a sign name.
Why?
It's a very important part of their culture.
When a Deaf person gives you a sign name
It means they know you for who you are.
They understand you, and they accept you.
I am super thankful for my teacher giving me a sign name.
Please support Deaf people.
I hope this inspires you to learn ASL
or at least the ASL alphabet.
Deaf people love it when Hearing people communicate with them in their own language.
I hope you enjoyed this lesson.
DFTBA!