The importance of active feedback when seeking to improve your signing
A member of an online group asked what it would mean if you did the sign for CHILDREN using a toward-center movement instead of the standard toward-the-dominant-side movement.
One of the others members replied that it would be like saying "kidrens."
Readers of the thread likely glanced at the "kidrens" comment, clicked the laugh emoji, and moved on -- but it may be worth thinking a bit deeper about that example.
If a Hearing English speaker said the word "kidrens" to another Hearing English speaker the listener would likely still "understand" the speaker but would instantly make assumptions about the speaker's fluency and/or familiarity with English.
The same is true for American Sign Language (ASL). A signer can move signs in non-standard ways yet still be understood by a native or skilled signer. The beginning (or intermediate level) signer might be oblivious (have no clue) regarding the error and
think they are signing just fine.
This sort of error only gets fixed if you actively seek to improve your signing. Here are a few approaches that will help root out "movement errors" and other signing issues:
1. Take a live or interactive class wherein a teacher corrects you
2. Hire a tutor to help you catch and clean up such signing
3. See out opportunities to interact with other signers who are confident enough to correct you (such as peer learning groups where it is explicit (understood) that if you see someone signing something questionable you have permission and are expected to
comment).
4. Specifically empower your Deaf (or highly skilled signer) friends to stop you and inform you when they notice non-standard signing. (YOU NOTICE ME SIGN WRONG? INTERRUPT ME INFORM-me BETTER SIGN. I not-MIND. I APPRECIATE! THANKS. )
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Notes:
Reference and credits regarding the "kidrens" article available via:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Lifeprint.ASLU/permalink/3139181279514378/ (Note: that is a membership-required for access group.)
Notes: