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February 19, 2006
Supposedly "The Book to Use" to Learn Sign Language
Earlier this year I asked my boyfriend to teach me sign language. I've mastered the alphabet and a few phrases, but for Valentine's Day he bought me The Joy Of Signing so I could learn more on my free time. I quickly browsed the entire book; it's great because it helps explain why certain words are signed the way they are. I was happily broadening my ASL skills until I saw the way to sign different countries.
"Representing the eye of the Oriental person?"
This book was published in 2001! The term "Oriental" is derogatory (especially in North America), and not all "Orientals" have slanty, small, beady, lidless eyes. Sheesh!
Posted by Stacy on February 19, 2006 02:27 AM | Filed In: 101 in 1001 & Books
Comments
i know ASL. i'm fluent. i took sign 1, 2, and 3 for my foreign language in college. i always wondered why the signs for the asian populations were directed at the eyes.
if it makes you feel any better, the sign for "Italian" (for ethnicity) is VERY close to the sign for "pepsi". and one of the signs for "shave" is very close to "sex".
i actually have that book, the joy of signing. i didn't know your bf knew sign language, that's cool. i was given a sign name, which i thought was pretty rad, but some deaf people i met at a social. my sign name is monkey.
you're jealous i know ;)
Posted by liz at February 19, 2006 02:32 PM
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2004/03/21/nsign21.xml&sSheet=/news/2004/03/21/ixhome.html
Deaf culture is so cute...enviable for its blissful naivete...
Posted by You're right at February 23, 2006 04:56 PM
