The Language of Signs

So I should probably mention that American Sign Language (ASL) is a big part of my life. I eat, sleep, and breathe ASL. (Okay, maybe not that much.) I’m not Deaf/deaf/hard-of-hearing, but I kinda have a (sick) infatuation with the language.

I can’t exactly pinpoint where my interest in sign language began, but I remember learning how to sign (not sing) church songs in 4th grade. Over the course of the next ten years, every so often I would pick up an ASL dictionary or “Learn Signing” book from the library or bookstore. I guess I’ve always had some kind of fascination with the language. I must have channeled my love of visual communication to the stage because I used to act a lot. Since 4th grade actually, I have done a lot of theatre, both in school and out, before I came to college and switched gears.

For the last year I’ve been taking ASL classes at school (ASL I-IV), but it has not been enough to quench my thirst for this beautiful, complex, visual language. I read/watch blogs/vlogs written by members of the Deaf community. I volunteer at a Deaf Community Center to pick up more signs. I practice learning signs on ASLPro. I sign to myself. I sign with my friends, especially with Sara (her blog) who says I’m “obsessed… in a good way” with ASL. It’s weird but I’ve found that I now think in both English and ASL (two very distinct languages).

So what to do with my love of American Sign Language? I’ve decided that I want to be an ASL interpreter. It involves me being fluent in the language (I’m not yet) and getting certified. I’m also likely moving to Washington State or Washington, D.C. to get trained. (More on this another time.) It’s a lifelong journey, but I’m determined to make it a reality. True business (ASL idiom).



- extraordinarIAN

Snuggle Up With A Good Audiobook

I recently got into an argument with one of my coworkers about audiobooks. I consider listening to an audiobook to be reading. I am aware it may not be an “intellectual” equivalent. (Cite all the scientific studies you want.) However, I believe the experience is comparable, if not enhanced. There is a good New York Times article on the subject entitled, “Loud, Proud, Unabridged: It Is Too Reading!”

Oral tradition predates the written word. Books are not a superior form of communication; they are just a different mode. One can read with one’s eyes, ears, and/or fingers. I like audiobooks because they are portable for carrying, convenient for multitasking, and fantastic for commuting. I can listen to more hours of audio than I can read pages of 12-point, single-spaced text. It is NOT lazy to want to listen to a book read to you by an experienced orator or the author him/herself.

All of the opinions I’ve read for/against audiobooks highlights that it’s simply a matter of taste. I disagree. I believe taste plays a role, but I believe the effectiveness has more to do with the way you learn. Some people are auditory learners, some are visual, and others are kinesthetic. I am in the 30% of people that prefer to learn by hearing. The qualities of an auditory learner include: never stops talking, are good storytellers, has ten excuses for everything, and can memorize easily. (That is exactly me! Ask my mom.) People say that listening to audiobooks is the equivalent of listening to music or watching television. They could not be more wrong. I can absorb and retain the same amount of information from listening to an audiobook that one could get from reading a handheld book. That’s not all. The experience of listening to a good audiobook is absolutely incredible. It’s intellectually stimulating and it’s fun. Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it!

Let me know which audiobooks you recommend and I’ll be happy to review them. Happy reading!