I Was Only Trying To Help...
Two of my brother’s three daughters are extremely proficient in American Sign Language. Neither is hearing impaired, but one is an Occupational Therapist who uses it in her work, and the best I can tell, the other one simply enjoys making fun of the rest of the family right under our noses. The third daughter is about to receive her doctorate; she makes fun of me on general principle.
A while back a friend of mine had her tonsils removed and was unable to speak comfortably for a few days. Insisting on returning to work during her recovery, and neither of us being familiar with the noble skill previously mentioned, I took it upon myself to devise some flash cards, (a sort of Pinholian Sign Language, if you will) which I thought might help her communicate throughout her work day.
The following are a few examples of these simple hand signals, accompanied by phrases signifying some of their more common usages.
I’m not sure which of these she used on her husband…he has still, yet, to speak to me.
Pinhole's Shop
Looks like a very efficient system to me! Helpful, too. Now I understand that those people who communicate to me when I drive my truck through city traffic all have sore throats. I was beginning to wonder!
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And, apparently, they're all doing fine, thank you very much.
Thanks for stopping by,
Pinhole
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I'm sure those who keep up with finger spelling and the giant dictionary for AMSLAN will welcome your useful additions.
If you want to show your brother's daughers your cool, take the sign for milk (one hand held sideways making a squeezing motion like you're milking a cow) and (while doing that) move your hand across in front of your face. Then ask if they know the sign.
It's an old gag, a groaner. The correct answer is "past your eyes milk." Pasteur would be so pleased.
Malcolm
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Thanks Malcolm, I can't wait to try it out. When they see me they're usually groaning anyway, so this will be icing on the cake...mmm, cake...I'll be back later.
Thanks again,
Pinhole
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Almost a month later, I'm still chuckling over the one with the gerbil... Don't tell anyone that I put this terribly frivolous page in my bookmarks!
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Frivolous? You mean to tell me that you don't think this goes perfectly with your "How To" series?
I see what you mean...your secret's safe with me.
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