<p>How many of you guys know ASL? I'm fortunate to not have any hearing problems, but I was thinking about fitting it into my schedule. Would it be handy to know (no pun intended)?</p>
<p>I know a girl with hearing problems that takes ASL because she’s worried her hearing might get worse. Other than that, I can’t think of any particular reason why it might be useful unless you want to be a translator of that sort. </p>
<p>However, I know a lot of people at he neighboring public school take ASL just because it’s easy.</p>
<p>My cousin is totally deaf, and my aunt and mother are very deaf but have cochlear implants. So I know ASL, but I started to learn it before I met my cousin (she was adopted when I was 8) just because my mother signed me up for it as an EC thing to do, like ballet, or soccer.</p>
<p>Sorry for my ignorance, but do different countries have different sign languages?</p>
<p>To my understanding, ASL is the most commonly used, but there are other sign languages for some regions. Someone correct me if I’m wrong.</p>
<p>ASL is used by many other countries, but ones with significant deaf/Deaf communities have their own sign languages. ASL is actually based on Old French Sign Language. ASL is likely the most commonly used, owing to its popularity in other countries and simply the size of its home country, but there are other large sign languages.</p>
<p>Most people will understand you though if you use ASL in countries where ASL is not used. There may be some barriers, but there are ways around them. </p>
<p>I know ASL as well. I was almost fully deaf when I was younger, until I had surgery to correct my hearing (not cochlear implants). I didn’t learn it when I was young though because no one in my family knew ASL. I have a deaf cousin and we sign back and forth a little, but it is hard because he is mentally ■■■■■■■■ so many of his signs aren’t actual ASL signs. It is an especially useful language to know IMO, because it can cross many, many borders. Plus, it’s really cool to talk to someone in sign language that is used to using an interpreter (I do it occasionally at work and usually get a tip, even though people don’t tip sports photographers).</p>
<p>If you can fit it into your schedule, I would. If nothing else, it is a great conversation starter.</p>
<p><a href=“no%20pun%20intended”>quote</a>
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That is some bs</p>
<p>^ LOL yeah, I wasn’t thinking about it when I wrote that, and when I read my post to make sure there weren’t any glaring grammatical errors, I laughed</p>