versus: "Nice to meet you!"
Question:
A Hearing ASL student mentioned that when meeting someone in English she says
"Nice to meet you" at the beginning of the conversation and then near the end of
the conversation she says, "It was nice meeting you." She asked, "is it
common or okay in ASL to repeat the signs "NICE MEET-you" at or near the end of
a conversation after meeting someone?
Response:
Please reflect on the fact that these two sentences have different meanings:
1. Nice to meet you! (A polite formula used on being introduced to someone. --
Source: Oxford).
2. It was nice meeting you! (Involves an aspect of saying "good-bye." Signals to
the other person that you are ready to end the conversation and move on. Refers
to the overall exchange of information and interaction that happened during the
meeting of someone).
The second sentence carries:
1. An implied type of good-bye
2. An expression of appreciation of the conversation and an implication that
meeting again is something you might like to do.
Thus rather than repeat "NICE MEET-you" in ASL at the end of meeting a Deaf
person you may wish to consider signing something to the effect of:
I ENJOY CHAT YOU! (or "I ENJOY MEET YOU!")
TAKE-CARE!
SEE-YOU-LATER!
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Is it "wrong" to sign NICE MEET-you at the end of a conversation?
No, it is not wrong. It is fine -- but it doesn't seem to quite match the
meaning of the English phrase "It was nice meeting you!"
Notes:
Notes: