Noah's Blog

The job well done! The power of ASL is its ability of language borrowing. I often sign in the English word order if I wish to emphasize something I think is essential to my purpose. Language interdependence is a wonderful skill if one wishes to pursue another language.

One tip...keep your vlogs short...no more than two minutes. Thanks. Keep vlogging.

I love you.. Noah.. I think you are way great as a vlogger and thinker! Go man, Noah! And yes, i agree with you about this subject. It is better to know ASL and English both.. Than one.

Very good explanation about ASL to PSE! Many Deaf people used PSE a lot. I used it a lot in the past. After I learned how to use ASL, I realized it is total different than PSE. If we want to be pure ASL signer, then we have to avoid PSE.

Thanks, Noah for sharing with us!
Toby

That's true. Often times, when I am asked of what kind of sign language interpreter I want, I usually specify that I want an ASL interpreter, in some cases it works out but when it comes in things that I need more specific information, then it is harder and I would prefer for an interpreter to sign in "English" or whatever you call it. Like if I am taking classes, or getting very detailed information from doctor or whatever, sometimes interpreters who sign in ASL make it more worse than it should be. Get my dilemna?? There are very few interpreters who can use ASL very well and others who cannot and they are better off using in English order. Hope I am making sense here.

:)

That was a very good example and I agree with Carl on summarizing it up.

As for Toby's comment - I agree that a lot of deaf people use PSE.

I'm one of them.

I can read ASL'ers with no problem at all, but I can't immerse myself into using ASL.

I don't know why - I think it has to do with my way of thinking.

For me, it's really difficult. And I think it's the same for many.

Some are able to convert to ASL with no problems at all or with practice.

I respect ASL as a language, but unfortunately, I just can't sign that way.

Like Michele said, there are some cases with interpreters where it's better signed in English while others in ASL.

Ah, even the PSE situation. ;)

Good Morning Noah,
I would rather response to you in ASL to prevent misunderstanding as it has been happening on vlogs...but I will try my best.

I consider myself "Balanced Bilingual" I believe Barbara Kannapell came up with terms...ASL monolingual, Balanced Bilingual etc...

But we need to be careful when we say it is better to know both languages this is oppressing to other Deaf people who are ASL monolingual.

What is the difference between PSE and Contact Language? I rather use the term Contact Language than PSE because of the word "SE".

Like Jay I do analyze my ASL vlogs and notice myself signing some in English. I like to do ASL diagnosis if u dont mind I would like to offer you feedback only if you ask. My e-mail is dndmartin@aol.com

Noah,
You brought up a good point about switching from English to ASL and ASL to English. I examined myself and do recognize that I tend to do that all the time. Yes, I do agree sometimes things are expressed better in using English word order but with ASL signs. I do notice in my sermons or in formal situations - I tend to use more English word order to express a point but at the same time I do use ASL a lot to expand on the point that I used in English word order. I hope I did make sense. :) My wife mentioned this after watching your vlog last night that if a person knows more than one language, that person is able to express himself/herself richly.
I, after watching your vlog, decided to watch Carl Schroeder's vlogs and do noticed that Carl used ASL signs with English word order when he is "lecturing" but used ASL exclusively when he tells his ASL dragon stories which I love. Carl, please correct me if I am wrong here.

Good vlog. This is the dilemma I'm struggling with as a vlogger with lack of direct feedback. Do I sign ASL or not and aware of it? Despite being DoD, 4th gen deaf/hoh and a product of Total Communications era from 70's, I think I'm more like David said, Contact Language than ASL. It is frustrating because I have no ASL Education or linguistic training at my Deaf School back then so I have no conscious awareness that I'm expressing incorrectly. This time, I try to be aware of what I'm doing, but I feel I need training. But you're right, it helps to shift talk at times, depending on situations.

Mike
"Oh I See.." vlog
http://drmzz.blogspot.com/

Great VLOG, Noah!

I disagree with someone who prefer keeping it short. I like it when you expand on things and making it longer, it enables me to ponder as more information are being revealed.

Good vlog, Noah. I personally do transit back and forth between ASL and English even I don't consider myself a PSE user. I just sign in a mixture of two languages and probably perplexing some people but most do understand me. I use ASL primarily but use English to make an emphasis on something or to explain something more clearly or teach a person a new word or two with a fingerspelling of a word. You're correct that some ppl do express best in either ASL or English OR EVEN BOTH!!!!! I am one of those people who express their thoughts in both ways simulateously!

I just watched your vlog about ASL and English.

I agree with you that we, the Deaf, are bilingual and bicultural people.

We can play with two languages as long as we respect rules of languages and people understand us.

English and ASL are both fantastic languages. Both of them can adjust and change gradually. If language cannot change, it will die same with Latin language.

If we mix them, we do not respect the rules of languages as well as our people.

Keep vlogging.

David Kerr
Deaf Chipmunk

thanks for validation . i tried to bring this "strategy" to Regional Conference Interpreters.

It is not English obtrusion. It is purposely signed in English order for a reason known only to the signer.

I loosely label it stacking because the ASL version is always there also. it seems

righto about accomplished fluent asl users that throw in english sign order obviously not in error.

good job!

mahalo, bev