What Sign Language Can Do That Spoken Language Can't

 

1. belonging

2. without

3. terrible

4. simple

5. in theory

6. superior

7. through 

8. Esperanto

9. utopia

10. carry on

11. imagine

12. hearing

13. adept

14. underwater

15. shared

The deaf community is no _______, but it does offer an alternative language, culture and social life to those who choose to be a part of it. In fact, signed languages can do many things spoken languages can’t. In fact, here’s a list of ways in which visual languages are _______ to the spoken word:

 
10. You can _______ a complex conversation in the loudest pub or club, while people all around you scream into each other’s ears, trying to convey something as _____ as, I’m going to the toilet now.

9. Visual languages are more accessible, not only for people who are fully deaf, but (_______) for the 1 in 6 Australians who have a ______ loss.

8. You can ask your partner to pick up the mail from the balcony when he’s standing in the parking lot, four floors down, ______  disturbing the neighbours.

7. You can talk _______.

6. Storytelling is more engaging and detailed in visual languages. Because they are visual-spatial, signed languages are particularly _____ at describing space and movement.

5. You can talk _______ car windows. It’s easy to give directions to a signing friend driving behind or in front.

4. Deaf people who sign have been proven to be more “multilingual”. In a fascinating study lead by UK academic and researcher Sabaji Panda, it was found that if you put two deaf people in a room, who have no ______ language, it’s only a matter of hours before they find a way to communicate (________ trying that with hearing people.) Because signed languages have shorter histories, their grammars typically share certain features, which means that even if two deaf people have no common vocabulary, it takes short time before they can figure out a way to communicate.

3. You can critique a ______ lecture/performance/reading without anyone in the audience hearing you.

2. Unlike _________, that failed international spoken language, International Sign has taken off since the advent of social media. Deaf people often learn and use IS when they travel overseas, skype, and/or present at international deaf conferences and events.

1. A signed language, often referred to as the “natural language of the deaf”, offers deaf people a sense of ________ and a positive identity.

Link to article:

What Signed Languages Can Do

Or check your answers here:

The deaf community is no utopia, but it does offer an alternative language, culture and social life to those who choose to be a part of it. In fact, signed languages can do many things spoken languages can’t. In fact, here’s a list of ways in which visual languages are superior to the spoken word:

 
10. You can carry on a complex conversation in the loudest pub or club, while people all around you scream into each other’s ears, trying to convey something as simple as, I’m going to the toilet now.

9. Visual languages are more accessible, not only for people who are fully deaf, but (in theory) for the 1 in 6 Australians who have a hearing loss.

8. You can ask your partner to pick up the mail from the balcony when he’s standing in the parking lot, four floors down, without disturbing the neighbours.

7. You can talk underwater.

6. Storytelling is more engaging and detailed in visual languages. Because they are visual-spatial, signed languages are particularly adept at describing space and movement.

5. You can talk through car windows. It’s easy to give directions to a signing friend driving behind or in front.

4. Deaf people who sign have been proven to be more “multilingual”. In a fascinating study lead by UK academic and researcher Sabaji Panda, it was found that if you put two deaf people in a room, who have no shared language, it’s only a matter of hours before they find a way to communicate (imagine trying that with hearing people.) Because signed languages have shorter histories, their grammars typically share certain features, which means that even if two deaf people have no common vocabulary, it takes short time before they can figure out a way to communicate.

3. You can critique a terrible lecture/performance/reading without anyone in the audience hearing you.

2. Unlike Esperanto, that failed international spoken language, International Sign has taken off since the advent of social media. Deaf people often learn and use IS when they travel overseas, skype, and/or present at international deaf conferences and events.

1. A signed language, often referred to as the “natural language of the deaf”, offers deaf people a sense of belonging and a positive identity.\

Italian gestures

Watch this sign conversation without sound.

From 8.12

Italian gestures

In pairs, write the dialogue down and perform it.

Then check by watching with the sound.

Tourist:

Italian: