Why do they do sign language AND subtitles

[john_p]

..on See Hear ?

What tiny percentage of the deaf population can't read but can understand sign language? Unless I've missed something

[Kit80]

For people who can't read sign language but also can't hear/part deaf?

Edited by Kit80 on Wednesday 21st April 00:56

[mrsxllifts]

Some deaf people use lip reading as their preferred choice so can't understand some/all of the sign language. Also the older people who have lost their hearing may not be able to sign.

And there are a few varieties of sign language, its not all standard.

[phumy]

Does anyone know if sign language is universal, or is there English, German, French, Caribbean and West Cundry.....?

Genuine question for all those doubters

[Animal]

Sign language for the deaf and subtitles for me for when my girlfriend starts talking over the top of the telly.

[Morningside]

phumy said:

Does anyone know if sign language is universal, or is there English, German, French, Caribbean and West Cundry.....?

Genuine question for all those doubters

I think American sign and British sign are slightly different.

From Wikipedia:
"On the whole, deaf sign languages are independent of oral languages and follow their own paths of development. For example, British Sign Language and American Sign Language are quite different and mutually unintelligible, even though the hearing people of Britain and America share the same oral language."


Anyhow, why not use "888" or Subtitles on the TV? I am puzzled why subtitles need to be in vision


Another thing. Why is that when you try to catch up on a programme late at night the playback size is smaller with some woman waving her hands madly like Magnus Pike

Edited by Morningside on Wednesday 21st April 07:36

[Stevenj214]

Morningside said:

Why is that when you try to catch up on a programme late at night the playback size is smaller with some woman waving her hands madly like Magnus Pike

Because deaf people are let out of their cage at night to forage and watch TV.

[Planet Claire]

ASL and BSL are different, although I'm sure there will be common signs. There are also sign languages for other countries too, such as France.

Just like our spoken language and different dialects/words, BSL is the same. There are very different signs for the same word in different parts of the country, in fact when I started learning sign language in Newcastle I learnt one set of signs, but then I did my Stage 2 in Darlington, about 30 miles down the road, and certain signs were completely different.

BSL has its own structure and bears no resemblence to spoken English so when interpreting you don't sign every word that is spoken and some words don't have a corresponding sign at all, for example, in true BSL there is no sign for 'because', it's not needed in how sentances are constructed. However, the sign for 'because' does exisit in Sign Supported English (SSL - this is a sign language based on spoken English - a sign for each word spoken) - we used to get told off for using it.

Oh, and to add, subtitles are there for hard of hearing people and those that don't use BSL, and the sign language is for Deaf people who sign.

Edited by Planet Claire on Wednesday 21st April 08:29

[Galsia]

Serious question, why do people 'speaking' sign language on tv always pull funny faces and start gurning?

[Eric Mc]

I bet you do the same when you are talking normally.

It's a human atribute to move facial muscles as part of the communication process.

Edited by Eric Mc on Wednesday 21st April 08:42

[Galsia]

I don't know about you but I don't do it while I'm writing.

Its just so exaggerated I wondered if there was a reason for it.

[joewilliams]

I have a theory that 'reading' sign language would require less concentration than reading subtitles - anyone with actual experience care to correct me?

[Kit80]

Galsia said:

Serious question, why do people 'speaking' sign language on tv always pull funny faces and start gurning?

It is all part of the sign facial expression that will support the sign.

Also ASL and BSL are completely different sign languauges.

Makaton is also different and a very watered down version of BSL.

I spent about 6 years studying BSL it is not easy thing to do, so I imagine people who may have gone deaf later on life may not chose to learn it hence the need for subtitles also.

Edited by Kit80 on Wednesday 21st April 08:51

[Kit80]

joewilliams said:

I have a theory that 'reading' sign language would require less concentration than reading subtitles - anyone with actual experience care to correct me?

No, I sorry I dont agree I am not fluent by any mean so to me yes it is very much harder work but whilst I was learning deaf people discussed how tiring reading and doing sign actually is.

[Galsia]

Kit80 said:

Galsia said:

Serious question, why do people 'speaking' sign language on tv always pull funny faces and start gurning?

It is all part of the sign facial expression that will support the sign.

Also ASL and BSL are completely different sign languauges.

Makaton is also different and a very watered down version of BSL.

I spent about 6 years studying BSL it is not easy thing to do, so I imagine people who may have gone deaf later on life may not chose to learn it hence the need for subtitles also.

Edited by Kit80 on Wednesday 21st April 08:51

So for each word is there a facial expression to go with it? How does it work? Does it set the context or emotion of each word or something? This is quite interesting.

[Kit80]

Galsia said:

Kit80 said:

Galsia said:

Serious question, why do people 'speaking' sign language on tv always pull funny faces and start gurning?

It is all part of the sign facial expression that will support the sign.

Also ASL and BSL are completely different sign languauges.

Makaton is also different and a very watered down version of BSL.

I spent about 6 years studying BSL it is not easy thing to do, so I imagine people who may have gone deaf later on life may not chose to learn it hence the need for subtitles also.

Edited by Kit80 on Wednesday 21st April 08:51

So for each word is there a facial expression to go with it? How does it work? Does it set the context or emotion of each word or something? This is quite interesting.

I wouldn't say its as clear cut as you want to make a sign you do this face, it is more a supporting thing, like we do when we speak just a lot more exaggerated.

[Dracoro]

john_p said:

..on See Hear ?

What tiny percentage of the deaf population can't read but can understand sign language? Unless I've missed something

If you're deaf, can read but can't understand sign language but want to learn so seeing both helps.

[Doofus]

Many people who have been deaf from birth have never learned to read. Written language is just a representation of a verbal means of communication. If you can't communicate verbally, there's arguably less need to learn to read. If you have never used spoken English (for example), written words don't mean much.

That's why they show both.

Edited by Doofus on Wednesday 21st April 10:35

[zac510]

It's the law too isn't it?

[NDA]

I have tinnitus and quite often have the subtitles on, so it's 'andy innit.