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Communication is an integral part of our lives.
By and large we use verbal communication. But
there’s another language that is the third most
used language in the US- and it is not spoken.
It is sign language – a natural language that
uses gestures to form the words we use to speak.
American Sign Language or ASL is a beautiful way
to communicate. Just imagine being able to
communicate with gestures as well as words
equally fluently. Many people are realizing that
learning sign language can be a wonderful hobby
that can easily turn into a high paying vocation
in a variety of fields.
With sign language, you can talk to someone at
a distance without actually using your voice.
This is the beautiful language that has been
developed to an art. It is the primary language
used by those who cannot hear or speak. Sign
language has opened up the world for them
enabling them contribute to society regardless
of their so-called handicap.
Sign language is from the perspective of the
viewer rather than the person who ‘speaks’. Here
facial expression, how you use your eyebrows,
raising or lowering them and body language are
part of the language. These give emphasis to
what you intend to convey. When we speak, we
use vowels and consonants. In sign language, it
is the shapes of the hand, where you place your
hand and the movements of your hand. While it is
easy to learn sign language, you will find some
specific nuances that are country or race
specific. For example, what holds good in
British sign language could differ from the sign
language used in another country.
In terms of variation, different signs could be
used for the same word in different areas. Some
signs could be specific to males while some
could be for females. Similarly, young kids
could be using some signs while older people use
certain signs.
How To Learn Sign Language
One of the best ways to get started with
learning sign language is to learn from a deaf
person. Many colleges offer ASL courses. You can
also learn online, through subscription based
websites which offer you plenty of resources in
the form of the ASL dictionary and lessons. They
also teach baby sign language, international
sign language, using gestures and finger
spelling that involve learning the alphabet in
sign language.
To work as a sign language interpreter you
might have to get an associate degree with on
going certification. Colleges have workshops,
tele-classes and opportunities for continuing
education for those on a sign language program.
As a hobby, learning sign language has a lot of
benefits. Apart from making you more sensitive
to communication, you can talk to people with
special needs. You can also communicate with
babies long before they are able to actually
speak, speeding up their progress. A major
advantage of learning sign language is helping
pre-verbal children to communicate their needs.
Learning sign language could also mean a new
career for you. When you travel, you break the
communication barrier by being able to use
gestures. Did you know you could also
communicate with animals using sign language?
What sign language interpreters do
When you are well on your way to
mastering sign language, you might want to work
as a sign language interpreter, which is
fulfilling work.
Sign language interpreters are specially
trained. They facilitate communication between
deaf people, people who are hard of hearing and
also those that can hear. You might find
yourself working in the education industry or
freelance. You could also be contracted with an
agency to offer interpreter services. Sign
language interpreters could also find work in
schools and colleges.
To truly enjoy being a sign language interpreter
you would need to be a person who is flexible,
objective, self disciplined and motivated. You
would also need to be sensitive to others,
responsible and punctual. Interpreters earn as
much as $50000; depending on who they work with,
how much experience they already have and where
they live, they might earn $50 an hour.
You can also teach the deaf and become involved
in social work and counseling. Interpreters,
like translators make cross cultural
communication a reality. For this it is
important to be sensitive to the cultures
involved. Since it involves the conversion of
spoken language into sign language and vice
versa, the sign language interpreter must be
focused on what is being said.
If you want to become a translator, you would be
converting written material from one language to
the other. For this you would need to develop
your analytical and writing skills along with
editing skills.
There is a big demand for sign language
interpreters today since the requirement is more
than the availability. You can choose to take it
up as a part time or full time hobby. Here is an
idea of the various situations where you can
work as a sign language interpreter:
-
In educational
institutions
-
Business situations when
board meetings and seminars are held
-
Community settings at
meetings, the local library, and interviews
etc. in short wherever deaf persons are
employed
-
Church where funerals,
weddings etc., are involved
-
Social service
organizations
-
Medical hospitals and
rehab centers
-
Legal situations which
could be at the police station
As you can see, there is a lot of scope for
using your sign language skills once you become
proficient at it.
Now that you have a good idea of what it means
to have a hobby that is so fulfilling and well
paying at the same time, go ahead and get in
depth knowledge of the subject by visiting this
website. Here you will find instructional videos
and some very useful books that tell you all you
need to know about sign language. This will help
you become proficient in sign language, and who
knows, you might just start off on a brand new
career!
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