Two Deaf Women Show Us Bilingualism At Its Finest

[@joelover33]

I had a deaf woman come into my store with her husband and three small children. Her family was hearing but she was deaf. I know so little ASL. But I made sure to sign thank you to her and she smiled because it might have been the first time someone used her language outside of her family during their trip. I was so excited I wanted to show a lot of love to her. Idk I have this curiosity about deaf people and their language. So neat.

[@deedebdoo]

This is so patronizing. "You wanted to show a lot of love to her?" I'm sure she and her family don't need your pity..

[@s.k.1603]

Dee Bdoo I wouldn't say that's pity but perhaps compassion.

[@arimonL]

Same. I have such a love for Deaf culture. I took two years of classes in high school and had a deaf teacher. I then went to a ASL congregation for about a year. Learned a lot and opened my eyes to what it's like.

[@JasminE-ut1ou]

I do appreciate hearing people try to make the effort to communicate with me, which makes my day better. There is so much shit going on in the world. Spread love and kindness :)

[@ludivinek.7437]

Right there with you Jasmin, it makes a huge difference to us.

[@thesuzefla]

Please consider captioning this video so that the Hard-of-hearing community can enjoy it as well. The automatic captions are subpar and do a grave disservice to the speakers, signers, and message of the video. Not only that, but then there's the message of non-inclusion that it sends to the HOH (or late-deafened, such as myself) community... Let's bring the two together, make DHH truly that. Deaf AND Hard-of-hearing.

[@dhnnews]

Suzy D. Thanks for the critique. DHN actually prides itself on closed captioning everything to about 90% accuracy upon upload and then fully captioned in 24 hours. When I just checked I DO have the option to select English captions and not auto captions. I'm not sure what happened on your end but it's been up since 9:00 am this morning.

[@thesuzefla]

DHN Thank you for that update. I've watched it again this morning and the captions are 100x better now. Auto-captioning was my only choice yesterday; though I found the auto-captions to be better than normal (usually it's just gibberish; I was at least able to get a sense of understanding of the video), there were still multiple strange words/word combinations as is standard with auto-captioning, and every instance of "Deaf" was captioned as "Death". I'm so thankful to have watched it now with the full captions, and even more so that you guys are supportive of captioning.

[@dhnnews]

Suzy D. Yes ALWAYS! We are volunteers so sadly we can't promise 100% accuracy out the door but we agree that auto captioning isn't great which is why we put up our script upon upload. I'm sorry there was some kind of technical issue that delayed you from seeing them. I updated them this morning to be 100%. Glad it looks that way.

[@samiamisme]

Suzy D. This is good to know. I wasn't aware of that problem. How does one put correct captions on a video? Does it have to be done by the person who made the video? Thanks.

[@thesuzefla]

samiamisme This should be helpful support.google.com/youtube/answer/2734796?hl=en

[@aprileaton3396]

We have a deaf daughter and are a hearing family. We have used ASL from the start and spoken English. It seemed natural to give her as many options as possible. The biggest challenge we faced was finding a place to learn ASL as a family. You would think that organizations would realize the whole family needs access to learn in order to make it a part of their lives.

[@JRSmario]

April Eaton where do you live?

[@aprileaton3396]

Seattle area.

[@JRSmario]

April Eaton Where do you go to learn ASL?

[@aprileaton3396]

We have pieced it together: my oldest took a college ASL class, we went to a homeschool support program that had an ASL class (only option that included all family members), and watched Signing Time videos. There wasn't a "your child is deaf, here are community resources to help you learn ASL" type of moment. Just mom digging around and asking questions. It just seems like a normal response would include helping the whole family in one setting develop ASL skills. It is already a huge jump for many families, and "one stop" learning makes sense. We had added challenges since our daughter had health issues and is significantly disabled in other areas. I didn't have time to drop one kid off at their class, check in on our daughter's speech therapy, get myself to a class, etc. and I am sure other parents struggle with the same issue. Our family already had so many obstacles, it was just one more to add to the pile, getting the WHOLE family up to speed with ASL.

[@mhairibrown4957]

+April Eaton I am deaf myself and I wish my parents had done this. There is a slight chance my child might be deaf so I am learning so when I have children they have the option and if they are not deaf then at least they can communicate with me without relying on me wearing hearing aids

[@jebsmith323]

When I adopted my three yr.-old daughter from China years ago, she couldn't speak Chinese because of a bilateral cleft lip and palate. I used Signing Time Videos to teach us all signing. Her first real language was sign. She started special ed preschool just a few months after coming here, but the school would not provide a sign interpreter for her. I believe as a teacher and as a parent that ASL should be taught from kindergarten up. It enhances literacy for hearing children as well as providing communication skills.

[@clowncarnival6208]

I'm hearing, I am learning ASL and I love it. I would like to have kids. If my kids are born deaf they will know ASL and English, it they are hearing they will learn ASL and English. Both are beautiful languages

[@juan1256roblox]

You don't forget to learn Cued Speech. Thanks.

[@aricmackenthun1206]

I think it is stupid that deaf people are expected to choose between asl and english sign language. They should be allowed to which ever way they want.

[@ludivinek.7437]

I totally agree. I, myself, am Deaf and my whole family is hearing. I am trillingual by choice, not because of some standards or whatever. I speak English and French and ASL. I sometimes do both English and ASL at the same time especially when I'm talking to both a hearing person and a fellow deaf person at the same time. I have interpreters mostly everywhere I go. There is something I don't like about the hearing community and I'm sure most of us Deaf people feel the same about. I don't like how they react or respond to me when I ask them to repeat what they were saying or when I ask them to slow down a little. They need to be taught how that is harmful. I have always told them that but no one ever listens.

[@taelerrwashington9164]

+Ludivine K. Also if u think about we arent in your position at all even tho we try to get we gotta slow down its like learning another language almost like im learning spanish and as soon as someone speaks really fast i cant comprehend what they are saying but if i did have a child that was deaf i would try my best to learn ASL but i want them also learn how to speak as well as ASL i dont know if this is for alot of ppl or just me but i have no deaf friends i dont and never have learned how to sign and i havent been surounded with too many deaf ppl in my life so it like there isnt really much use to learn it for me even tho it seems cool to learn

[@ludivinek.7437]

Its not just the language. Its our hearing. You have to sow down because we are relying on lip reading to uderstand what hearing people are saying. FOr example, like I said, I'm the only Deaf person in my family. When my famiy talks to me, they'd have to slow down for me to understand what was said. Even just a little understanding can go a long way for a Deaf person. If you know just yes and no in ASL, That really goes a long way and it shows that you are learning. Like Erika Welker did, She signed Thank you t this women whose whole family is hearing. It makes a huge difference having someone know that language, Someone that's not part of the culture. I emotionally cried once when I was in a store because I came across this person who taught himself how to sign. I told him I was Deaf. We started communicating in an instant and I felt my tears coming down. He saw it and asked why I was crying. I explained that its because this is the first time someone used my language to communicate with me that's outside of my School.

[@tudormiller8898]

What about some deaf people who refuse to have cochlear implants, to keep thier deaf identity number?

[@mars7612]

@@tudormiller8898 What's your question here? Deaf people with or without a cochlear implant are still Deaf and still part of the community if they want to be.

[@harshmnr]

CIs are fine for those who want them but there's still the issue of giving people the _option_ to get the surgery or learn to talk (with or without a CI) instead of parents choosing that for the child before the child understands the different choices.. Either way sign language access as early as possible is definitely an absolute must. And it's important to note that you can still be "bilingual" without speaking; many Deaf people know English just through reading and writing, but it doesn't mean they don't "know" the language. ~:~

[@glorialinville1259]

Thank you for this video. For those who are struggling with making the choice of which path to go down, do choose the best one for you. I personally believe, having both paths, is the best choice. I work with Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing students, and this is what I tell them, " Choosing the best option for you is what you need to do, but remember to have an open mind, you never know what your future will hold." Being a CODA, I had no choice, but I absolutely love this path my life has been on. I have the best of both worlds.

[@DaniLeia3]

Why is it a practice to advise parents to pick only one language? As an early childhood educator, I have been taught that the first five years of life is the optimal time to learn language. In addition, the bigger a child’s vocabulary, the more successful they will be in school. So we give opportunities to learn other languages to increase their vocabulary. Also, I have met many bilingual children under the age of two. One child had two home languages and was learning English at school. Just doesn’t make sense to limit a child to one language when they are perfectly capable of learning more than one. I give big kudos to the families that put the work in to teach their children both languages!

[@robertrp3757]

Thankyou for this!!!! You don’t know how much it has helped me. I was never taught Sign language as a child, I had to teach myself later. I’m hearing person who used to find it frustrating not being Able to talk to all the children of whom couldn’t use their voice and ears for communication. I found it very frustrating not being able to go and play with so, when I have children, From birth, I am going to teach them sign language and Makaton in BSL & ASL. It’s a great way to keep everybody included in this world and I love that you answered my question so thoroughly. Thank you so very much.

[@aliciakristen2263]

Psh, I wish I could take off my glasses when I got home. I'd be unable to function.

[@vwhatever8151]

Alicia Kristen same

[@ViridianForests]

Aww, come on~ Running into walls you didn't even know were there until the last second is a *great* ~ way to relax, isn't it? ;) (I have glasses too in case someone didn't catch the sarcasm. There is always *someone* who doesn't catch the sarcasm on KZbin)

[@Lollipop.er42]

I was never deaf but I couldn't speak due to having whats called a trache so I learned ASL when I was little and then in Highschool as a second language!

[@somecallmelizx]

I'm not going to lie I like the fact deaf people have more emotional facial expressions. I feel like hearing people aren't....so...emotional with their expressions? if that makes sense.

[@vedikabhatnagar335]

I agree and I think that might be because hearing people who speak convey a lot in tone, while Deaf people have to use their facial expressions.

[@kateg9437]

Sign language includes a lot of facial grammar. Some words have different/no meaning with the wrong expression. It's really interesting

[@MultiMarvelGeek]

Last semester, I made a hearing friend in my ASL class. He had such a stiff face when we met. XD. By the end of the course, his face became more alive and active out of necessity for ASL fluency. It was extremely interesting and funny to see.

[@davidalfonso3042]

I am young man poor hearing single 31 year looking for love and mariage my whatsap 00212658158318

[@mars7612]

In ASL, facial expressions ARE the grammar. Using your face and body in ASL is nearly a requirement unless you just want to sound like a 1 dimensional robot. In the hearing world, there is tone when speaking. That's how emotion is conveyed. In ASL, we don't have that so we use our face and body to show that emotion instead.

[@crumb9cheese]

I wosh asl was offered in school to kids like spanish or french. Why cant is be considered the same as a second language... I tried to take it in my community college but it was no longer offered so i took spanish.

[@kahealaninakoa5921]

crumb9cheese my college offers ASL . I tell customers at my work ( bar tending ) that I'm learning ASL and they look at me like I'm dumb and say " why ?" Like it's not a real language . It's annoying . I tell them " well deaf ppl do exist ." Then they get an epiphany and say " oh!" While nodding . Smh

[@leonardodalongisland]

My friend, it IS considered aand recognized as an official language. It's been that way since (approx) the early 90's. Some schools in America do offer it, alongside Spanish, Italian..

[@withevery]

My middle school currently offers ASL and is considered a world language, which is also along with French and Spanish. However, in the next school year, both my school and the only other middle school that teaches ASL out of 19 middle schools in my district will be discontinuing ASL since it is not considered a FULL universal language, which means that when we start 7th grade, we won’t get enough language credits to enter different magnet schools, besides our feeder school.

[@rawriamanivysaur632]

There's a girl in my school that has a cochlea implant (I hope that's how you spell it) and the teachers have to wear special microphone type things so she can hear them from further away but when we're speaking to her personally we don't need it, we just have to make sure to say it quite clearly. It's kinda cool seeing how stuff like that work.

[@teewalmsley8329]

I wish sign language was a universal thing, though that would make finger spelling complicated. I really feel the world could communicate if we all had something in common

[@junbh2]

Sure, but that's true of spoken languages too. It would be easier if there was just one spoken language, but so boring, and so sad when languages go extinct. Plus it's just a natural thing the human species does; we evolve our language over time, which creates new languages.

[@arimonL]

True. Plus there are MANY different sign languages, not just American sign language. They are very much not the same.

[@leonardodalongisland]

Tee, what is your association with ASL and sign in general? Do you have friends/family in different countries? Are you deaf? Sign language is the same as a spoken language in that it derives from the cultures and needs of the people it serves. Even in America there are many different signs for the same words depending on where you live. Like people in the Bronx speak differently than those in Texas, the signs in the Bronx are different than those used in Texas. It doesn't matter how one communicates, that communication is and always will be based upon and used by those who have a shared cultural/physical commonality, be it spoken or signed.

[@Kez_abi]

It's weird that Americans speak English but sign American Sign Language!

[@TJtheHuman]

I'm noticing that I can understand some Filipino Sign Language because it is closely related to ASL

[@ManuelGuerrero_traducteur]

Thanks a lot for your videos ¡ I'm english-french-spanish translator. I'm from Colombia and i'm currently studying to become a colombian sign language interpreter. I would like share this video in particular with my friends but most of them don't understand english. That's why I would like to subtitle it , if you agree with that....

[@dhnnews]

If you are able to type up a French or Spanish version with the timing we will gladly add it to our caption options.

[@pablodanieljiang961]

+Manuel Guerrero si por favor.

[@daltonstocks1]

oooooh Soy americano. Yo aprende español en la escuela y mis profesoras eran de Colombia.

[@podavus8156]

Manuel, también soy colombiano y me interesaría aprender el lenguaje de señas. ¿Dónde lo aprendes?

[@samanthaolivera1]

Manuel Guerrero Colombian?"whaaaaatzzzzzzup!How you doing?;b Hahahahhahaha Just kidding. Ps:I'm Colombian ,too.I know Spanish and English.Also,I'm currently learning French! Au revoir!

[@smileyriley1001]

Stumbled across this video while doing some early childhood development research. I'm glad I found it! The Coleman's are actually my neighbors! I was pleasantly surprised to see their faces pop up 😊

[@aliciakristen2263]

Also, how in the world do you raise deaf child without learning ASL??

[@deedebdoo]

A cochlear implant gives many children access to spoken language, so that they learn to speak and attend hearing schools.

[@greego5952]

Along you learn asl you teach your child.

[@aliciakristen2263]

My point is that if I was deaf I would want the language of the Deaf community, even with a cochlear implant, and that is easiest if my parents raise me with it.

[@linasayshush]

Many parents just don't learn it or teach their kids. They're mostly not able to communicate. I studied this in Linguistics, and it's a goddamn crime.

[@dutchik5107]

oh you can communicate without knowing a lot of sign language. if there is a bit of hearing left it is easier. and it's just slow and a lot of pointing. my mom works with mentally handicapped. and this one old man. hears nothing still has hearing aid. and is really mentally disabled. and it's quite easy to communicate with him. just takes time. OK maybe my mom is the best with communicating with him. and I copied that and know him since I was 2 and was raised with mentally disabled like that. but also people who stutter that it is easier for me. but it's completely doable. but it's better if you learn your kid sign language and English or wel here Dutch since it just opens a world.

[@deathembodiment]

I'm hearing, but I'm interested in signing, and now I'm learning a little. I have been researching and teaching muselg

[@meganluck9132]

The Signing Time show was great and I remember little Leah and her Mom. Both sets of parents made the right choice for their children. So happy for both women.

[@clashley25]

My daughter has Down Syndrome, and we watched Signing Time on Netflex to communicate with our daughter. I miss it on Netflex.

[@michellelamar8965]

I'm not going to get into the cochlear debate, not everyone is actually a candidate for a cochlear. My "niece" (Best friend's daughter) doesn't actually have auditory nerves and isn't a candidate. Cochlear debate aside.. doesn't what this video is talking about make sense? I don't understand whats wrong with raising a deaf child to sign AND speak AND read lips. That way they can communicate comfortably with the deaf community through signing, which I understand is alot more comfortable and easy for them. (and yes, their family hearing or not should learn ASL as well..it's your child's first language people!!) BUT with lip-reading and speaking, a deaf child/person can also get around in the hearing world.. just with alot of explaining that the person they're speaking to has to look at them. I don't know why either the hearing OR deaf community would be so stubborn as to NOT support sign/speak/readlips and proper English Education (I do think that students should have at least some classes conducted in Signed English as opposed to ASL because from what I understand deaf people's English skills can be very poor.)

[@mhairibrown4957]

+Michelle LaMar I agree with this. I'm deaf and my parents raised me oral and mainstreamed me so I went to school with hearing kids and I never learned sign. I felt out of place a lot of the time and it really affected my confidence. I'm learning sign now and really enjoying it. I actually make videos on deaf culture too

[@christinaflinn5418]

+Michelle LaMar It is just the sigma from the past mainly when it was said that if the child was signing that he or she would not be able to speak or know english well. It came from the huge push for the oral method. I too believe that they ( person in question) should be given access to both and aloud to pick later if they prefer to.

[@junbh2]

Bilingualism is better anyway, whether you're deaf or hearing. Bilingualism even protects against alzheimers! And lets you experience multiple cultures and understand how language works better... I know as a hearing person that growing up with multiple languages was great for me - of course deaf kids should have the same opportunity anyway! Plus there are such obvious benefits of each language for a deaf kid.

[@ludivinek.7437]

Right there with you Michelle!!!! you said it.

[@ludivinek.7437]

I am physically clapping at what you said here, Junbh2. You said it so perfectly that I just wanna cry!!!!!!! It great that you feel that way. I'm right with you!!!

[@alina1548]

Iam Born deaf and got my Cochlear Implants bilateral Implanted in July 2006 I was 1 year old. It’s kinda sad I never learned sign language.

[@davidcolombier5673]

very good video. I love what the woman says: "we could choose either to sign, to speak, or both". Great idea.

[@briwhite1606]

I'm hearing and I'm learning asl and it's wonderful for me to be able to talk to my family that is Deaf and people I know who are Deaf or hard of hearing

[@tildeatelie5610]

I am hearing as well, and speak ASL. That I thank my deaf little sister for. It gave me a oppertunety to get my job, and got me my closest friends

[@starbum444]

Unfortunately bilingualism (or poly-lingualism) is dis-encouraged in every community I've lived in (in the US and abroad). I see that as a huge tragedy. Giving your child an opportunity to learn a language or many languages from native speakers can only benefit them. It is a new culture, a new way of thinking and seeing the world. It's an amazing opportunity. It seems that there is still a prejudice and misconception against teaching children more than one language. The misconception being that it will impede their language acquisition in one or all of their languages and they will not develop language skills properly. That said, its important to learn from a native speaker/signer (or native level) who has an extended number of years of experience and an expansive vocabulary in many registers and on many topics. I think ASL could be taught in hearing and deaf elementary schools and/or day care centers - helping the kids to develop a new way to see and discuss the world.

[@felik3305]

If I have kids one day and they're hearing, I'll teach them ASL for sure. It's just wonderful to be able to speak it from a young age and communicate with deaf children. And, obviously, it's got another advantage: You can communicate without actually speaking, which equals "speaking" quietly.

[@samiamisme]

This was incredibly interesting. I didn't realize so many things about the deaf community. I am hearing and actually don't know any deaf people, but I've always been drawn to ASL, and I am actively learning it. I have a love for all languages. Being bilingual with any languages opens up your world. I didn't realize so few deaf children weren't taught to sign from birth, but it makes sense if 90% are born to hearing parents. It's certainly easier for parents not to sign but I believe this is a huge detriment to the deaf child. I feel as though it's a no brainer that a deaf child will have to navigate in both worlds. Teaching them both ASL and English just makes those two worlds into one. Communication with people is a given. If a child can't communicate then we are setting them up for failure. Teaching our children both languages removes a large obstacle and allows them to focus on other issues. I also believe it removes them from "having a disability". It gives them tools to be "normal" and puts them on an even playing field with their peers. It makes them competitive and gives them the same chances for success in life like everyone else. They can become anything they want, not just settle for something "suited" for a deaf person. There is no "just" only "all" when we give them both sets of tools.

[@mauralawton3260]

I was a preemie when I was little. I didn't talk until three years old so I had to use ASL. I still remember watching signing time!

[@louierichards8459]

This is how it should be. Both.

[@angeltsouris8632]

Hello! I'm learning ASL currently and also learning about other types of sign languages like pidgin signed English. It says in my book that the PSE is what most interpreters use, and since I'm still learning I couldn't tell for myself, I was wondering if you could tell me whether you used PSE or ASL in the video. Thanks!

[@thisismissdark5106]

I've been learning ASL slowly and I wanted to go to school be an interpreter to be apart of the bridging-the-gap thing for the two worlds, but the colleges near where I live don't even have a class for it. Nothing. The nearest school that offers it is nowhere near where I live and work. This is pathetic. All colleges should have at least ONE class for it because there are deaf and hard-of-hearing people in every walk of life there is. It's so stupid that this isn't a common resource.

[@hly1226]

...I don't understand why you have to choose one? I learned two languages at once. I had a cousin who learned 3 at once. Granted they were all speaking languages but children learn so easily. This sound more for the parents who are too lazy to do both and needs an excuse to not do both...because the specialist said to do only one. But kudos for the these family. You sould try to enrich your children's lives.

[@arianabarlow4440]

Oh my gosh, look at Leah! I haven't seen her since all of the signing time movies. Wow!

[@haleighhunter466]

I'm born deaf but my parents tell me that I'm profoundly deaf and I really want to be deaf but I'm still making. My decision now and I use asl often and my family members are not deaf so I'm the first family member to be deaf that I know of and I'm 15 years old and 8n high school taking asl classes and being taught by a deaf teacher

[@mintesnotmentam8095]

I am deaf.I live in Ethiopia where i can sign language and Asl where i know a little. Thank you for teaching. How to skills Asl by practicing?

[@FingersKungfu]

Deaf or not deaf, that is a rich girl in a rich family. Cochlear implant costs $100,000. Not all the "tools" are available to everyone.

[@seafooddog687]

She isn't that rich lmao. Upper middle class people are very common in America.

[@kakiexo1423]

So over 90% of children born deaf have families that speak. Why wouldn't you as a parent want to learn asl to communicate with your kid?! Glad they are on the rise to improve the parents to understand their kid

[@okolietobias5151]

I m a Coda from Germany. My mother and her little brother are both deaf and later they married deaf partners. My father was born 1930 and my mother 1937 and I was born 1967.I grew up with 4 deaf Adults in one house. Their Gerneration hat to go in special boarding schools from a young age .My father was 6 years as he left his family to learn to speak with his voice and to lip-read. Endless our of training these skills and the education , was not on the same level like hearing kids. Sign language was not allowed in the classroom. But in the "deaf Hogwarts universe"the magic off the talking hands secretly passed in the next generation.They teached me the German sign language and they tried to speak with their voice to me but they now that I can lip-read. In Germany ca. 1984 deaf kids became the right official by law to be teached in sign language. My personal statement is this: For the 90 % off hearing parents with a deaf kid.Take Asl our English sign language ,or what in your country is available. But in the End the spoken or the sign word are dust in the wind. Only the written word gives true freedom.

[@randolphmckay6871]

My best friend's sister is named LEAH COLEMAN also. Like wow? It is so important.

[@ajaxronanpatrick150]

This video is great and important, but as a HoH teenage boy you really should have represented someone without a cochlear, d/Deaf people don't need one to be successful in life

[@aricmackenthun1206]

I dont think it is silly I think it is stupid to have to choose. I think that parents and their kids should be allowed to choose witch one they want. Or to give them both as these two families did.

[@allisonjenkins4255]

Absolutely Linda. Bill Vicar is awesome.

[@utoroabraham2338]

That is true Alison

[@kushina1310]

I remember I would watch signing with Alex and Leah in 5 grade and I would wake up early at 5:30 or so and watch the show to learn but when I moved and I looked for it it was there anymore I thought they had canceled the show but I'm happy they didn't this was the show that taught me the alphabet in sign language I'm not really good but I'm getting there

[@kushina1310]

+mb presents it is thank you for telling me

[@kaylasanders5445]

I REMEMBER WATXHI G SIGNING TIMES!!!!!!!! I used to watch it in elementary school

[@dontask3497]

I want to start learning ASL just as a skill. Does anyone have any tips for me? I'd really appreciate it.

[@SilverScreenJean]

So well said& signed!

[@iluvzurara2]

why would that even be a question? knowing multiple languages is good for your brain and just overall awesome. i was raised bilingual learning english and spanish (not sure if that's an inappropriate analogy please correct me if it is) but i cannot think why it would be a bad thing. thinking a child will get confused (yes maybe at first but not forever) is severely underestimating the ability of a child.

[@toscatattertail9813]

used to be deaf children were automatically put in a dead residential program and the parents never bothered to learn sign, at least now there are many more options but i think ever pre-verbal child should be exposed to baby signs, they understand most of what is said around them by 9 months old, but the muscular control in the mouth and throat for speech does not develop for at least another 6 months to a year.

[@mariasofola6743]

i am hearing but am learning irish sign language

[@dianezimmerman4434]

A deaf woman came into the fitting room I was working in. She could speak but still signed to me. I found myself speaking louder to her, even though I knew how stupid that was. It worked out, though.

[@charliefrazier5746]

If you are deaf or know a deaf person, Please support this project by simply coming to our page and clicking "Like"...Okay? ;) facebook.com/DONTTELLVERA/ We are trying very hard to get Hollywood producers and corporate sponsors to invest in this movie featuring a deaf character. DON'T TELL VERA can and will be successful if we can get lots of "Likes & Shares" from the deaf community.

[@katejacobs4134]

i really enjoy this but wished that the dad in the second family signed

[@michellel9595]

i would want to ask a deaf person if they wanted me to sign or speak because i dont know how they would want to communicate. i think its honestly up to each person to decide which langauge to learn but saying you can only choose one is a bit ignorant!

[@deedebdoo]

Yes, you can also choose to use both.

[@mchobbit2951]

That's like saying a Mexican American child has to choose to speak Spanish or English but cannot possibly know both.

[@blueturtle3623]

I am hearing,I know English and my biggest struggle with ASL is trying figure out what English words are typically dropped in ASL. Like you don't sign "How old are you?" You sign "Old you?" And thats odd to me. Particularly when translating English songs.

[@SK-jf7dq]

You wrote this 3 years ago so I doubt you'll see my comment ... but here it is anyway. Facial expressions have meaning in ASL. So if you sign with the right facial expression, you do in fact say "How old you?" There are two expressions for questions in ASL- 1) Bring your eyebrows down in a sort of frown for questions that don't have a yes/no response. 2) Raise your eyebrows for questions that do have a yes/no response.

[@bbobafett2554]

Awesome story!

[@happyappy02]

I was just watching animations... How am I here?

[@melapplehowlter7741]

I am currently learning more ASL and I know the entire alphabet but I really want to know a lot more

[@ludivinek.7437]

That's great!!!!!!! Sign Language is a community language. I'm proud of you for wanting to learn more. You should definitely take more lessons. :)

[@68Bugs]

Myself deaf and my all family as my sister , brothers and stepfather learn sign language to communication with me all time and some of my family ' s sign as ASL and some English and they not bother me and I usually to that And my only sister in law know sign language to communicate with me and also my only aunt know some sign language to communicate with me too. And I feel good to have my family that know sign language to communicate with me too.

[@algernonheadley3814]

Andrea A. Lopez - Rocha say hello

[@kaydenceletendre7627]

I was watching music videos and now I'm here...

[@MoonshineBlack.]

they are not going to have an issue finding a boyfriend. beautiful. from England xx

[@rosieespinoza6855]

I'm sign I can't talk

[@isayit143s]

i love asl... it is now my second language

[@breeze5926]

Children learn languages 100 times better than adults. If you can teach them multiple languages, start as soon as humanly possible. It will be very helpful to them through out life.

[@masontalarico7090]

Couldn't be me. Unless my child is hard of hearing or hearing I wouldn't waste my time teaching them a language that isn't the most convenient for them. If my child was Deaf they would learn sign and then I would teach them different ways to interact with hearing people without sign to get their point across. Takes less time, less effort, and allows more time for them to focus on what they want to do. If my child wants to be an astronaut I'm not going to make sure they can speak English. If they can sign all they need is an Interpreter. I'm glad that the total communication route worked for these two, but you wouldn't catch me doing this.

[@applepie3175]

SIGNING TIME WITH ALEX AND LEAH!!!

[@JoshiesWorld]

This belittles American Sign Language, you cannot choose both American Sign Language and English. That just doesn't work, it's like you try to speak in French while speaking in Spanish. That isn't bilingualism, this misleads the meanings of bilingualism as bilingualism means American Sign Language AND English SEPARATELY.

[@emilyshmelimy]

JoshiesWorld But there are people that do that.

[@JoshiesWorld]

Then learn. When I was young, there was no classes that teached ASL but I found one class that taught SEE and that was the only option I had to learn a method of communication. Then several years later I felt that SEE weren't effective as a method since it isn't an language so I took classes to learn the proper language and that is ASL. So now I am able to communicate much better and while being able to write English so that is bilingualism. Very successful.

[@emilyshmelimy]

JoshiesWorld That's a great story. But I don't know what that has to do with people who are OK with knowing a little bit of one language and a little bit of another. If that's how they want to live their lives who are we to tell them to change?

[@emilyshmelimy]

JoshiesWorld Also your definition of bilingual is odd.

[@JoshiesWorld]

What you mean by "another" language? If you mean another sign language? There is only one and that is American Sign Language. The rest such as SEE, PSE, Cued Speech or Total Communications/Simcomms is considered communication methods.

[@SimsFreakGaming]

I don't understand the "one or the other", that's ridiculous! Shouldn't you teach all options available to your child and have them choose instead of limiting their potential? I don't get it! I'm hearing, but my mom is HOH and one of her close friends is deaf. My brother and I learned ASL from an early age, and I'm continuing to learn. Both languages are beautiful, and I think all children deaf or otherwise, should learn ASL and English, like schools want us to learn other languages! It opens the doors of communication up instead of us sticking to just what we grew up around.

[@cochleargirl6297]

Very good video 👍🏽 I am deaf

[@andreanatsuminadeau5608]

This is ridiculous, most children with a normal IQ can learn 2 verbals languages without even mix them up in term of grammar/vocabulary/etc so why would a deaf children be unable to learn both a verbal and a sign language? Of course either might take a little more efforts than an hearing person learning to speak but learning both if possible would be a great asset for that child growing up to an age when it will become less easy to learn a new language so in my head there's no choice here.

[@amandaheller9746]

Ok I know this is going to sound extremely stupid but I am new to learning about sign language and I'm really so lost about what they are talking about. Do they mean they wanted her to choose between learning to speak the English language and ASL or choosing between ASL and a form of English sign language like following literal English words?

[@ZenekandSashasHearing]

They wanted her to choose between spoken English and ASL.

[@AAO-Falcon]

I kinda just assumed deaf and hard of hearing people just learnt both. I want to learn sign language but i struggle with all languages so im hesitant to try it

[@mhairibrown4957]

+BeFaLcon 94 sign language is pretty easy to pick up. I know a bit of ASL from TV shows and youtube and I'm learning BSL (I'm from UK). I wish it was as you assumed. I am deaf and was raised oral. I didn't get the option to learn sign language until quite recently. It's unfortunately not too easy. Where I live it also costs a heck of a lot to get lessons

[@babysnoops14]

+life&deaf i live in uk and when i was little i couldnt really talk well and my school teach me BSL.i can talk tho, i stop use BSL when i went to secondary school. i stop all together but if a dead person come up to me and sign i will sign back to them.

[@annarobocop]

Don't be scared to learn! I have learned twice as much sign language in half the time I have been studying Spanish! Jump in and I promise you will find a whole community of people willing to help you learn!

[@deedebdoo]

Yes, and many parents struggle with language learning as well. They often prefer to work on spoken language first. Many Deaf people don't believe this and can be harsh to new parents.

[@chetansonawanedeaf6054]

Nice

[@jordannickel-dubin9851]

I was on Signing Time.

[@marzipan9428]

I'm not deaf so it's easier, I can sign most BSL (British sign language) and of course I speak English.

[@tschuju]

can she actually hear music with the device she was wearing in the gym?

[@thesilentproductions8020]

julia w the cochlear implant? yes. i have two on both sides on my head and they help a lot with music and those things.

[@yesjesswellness]

+thesilentproductions im sorry if this is a dumb question, but what is the difference between a cochlear implant and a hearing aid?

[@cguay23]

+RawritsJess123 I have 2 hearing aids they are for people who can hear with them without your'e deaf period. A cochlear implant is for people who can't hear with hearing aid they go through surgery it a magnet that produces sounds through a device. Wanting to know the price for them... 2k for hearing aids. 3 to 4k for cochlear implant.

[@cguay23]

Yea Email me I'll send you one tmw. :)

[@babysnoops14]

+cguay23 me 2! they were talking about cochal hear implant when I was little but back then it could damages ur body. I'm profoundly deaf on high/low I can't remember which and severe on the other. I have problems with spelling sometime.

[@brookepearce1031]

Leah Coleman looks like Rachel Ballinger

[@victoriaelguea7774]

I think it's dumb to be asked to make that decision. If a child can learn two languages simultaneously why wouldn't they be able to learn both English and ASL? By thinking that child will be unable you are limiting them, and if in the end they decide to use only one that's fine, at least you gave them all the options available to them.

[@marmarino2070]

the bronzer though

[@elishasipem1431]

congrats

[@sheaschroeder2104]

I cannot understand why there are even any thumb downs..?

[@deedebdoo]

Because some deaf people speak and hear well, and this feels like someone is telling them that they are deprived and incomplete as people. It makes them feel like someone is questioning the validity of their identity.

[@baylap7701]

I'm an ESL

[@eliowinch4533]

Leah and I have the same glasses

[@alvaroalas2450]

my cousin is deaf but she can still talk and read lips

[@leonardodalongisland]

As ASL is an independent language as Italian, Spanish or Russian is and one cannot speak Russian and English at the same time, it's also not possible to "speak" ASL and English at the same time. The syntax, grammar, etc are different. When a person signs and speak they are SIGNING ENGLISH, not ASL. Additionally, those who do this perpetuate the false understanding that 99% of Americans, have that "sign language is just 'making signs' that represent English so you should talk and sign at the same time." This is 100% incorrect. And although this video and those in it are attempting to do a good thing they are not telling the entire story and perpetuating the "99%" rumer. The mom is NOT using ASL. She is signing English..

[@dreamtheateriano95]

katon goukakyuu no jutsu suiton suiryuudan no jutsu

[@emeraldkimble7602]

I pity an island like Cyprus fingerspell in Greek and Turkish

[@a-ju7464]

"Only 20% of them (parents of deaf people) will learn ASL" Me: wait of course I'm in Taiwan. I'm not gonna learn ASL if I just want to be signing to my deaf kid, I'd be learning TSL Me: oh wait they mean Americans Me: ...yeah only the weirdos like me would choose to learn ASL instead of local sign language, while being not American and not deaf

[@davidalfonso3042]

I am young man single 31 yr looking for deaf women

[@juan1256roblox]

What about Cued Speech?

[@donaldornelas5646]

Yes I am both

[@joaogoulao8315]

Muito bem falar linguagem gestual ajuda crianças 👍👌. I'm deaf, from Portugal

[@nikkiaanneelizabeth7440]

Are the girls signing PSE? Or am I seeing that wrong?

[@tux7300]

How are high heels a tool?

[@Blake1720]

Is that a serious statistic? How on earth could you possibly have a deaf child and not learn ASL? Do they just not speak to their children? That sounds absurd to me!

[@jeannettecross7812]

thx

[@plumerillo1]

More benefits to being bilingual 😁

[@cutecats532]

That makes no sense. Why is there regulation of what language you can learn?

[@annarobocop]

It's not really regulations. There is really a lot of history as to why there is such a big split between the two choices. A lot of it has to do with a sort of persecution of ASL which resulted on the reverse backlash from the Deaf community. Why it came about makes sense, but continuing to allow it does not. I think that's what makes this video so fantastic.

[@deedebdoo]

Because you have to really refine a sense in order to rapidly and thoroughly understand a language. And in this form of bilingualism, you have two senses to develop. Some people believe it is best to focus only on the vision and get strong language first; some feel it's best to develop the weaker sense, the hearing first, so that the child's brain gets the hearing working well as soon as possible. Others, like in this video believe that there are ways to do both. It depends on the child.

[@samanthaolivera1]

Ok.I'm gonna just make a quick joke.Hopefully,you guys laugh because im sorry but I cracked my self up. JOKE: at 2:46 Mom says,"First,you know,we found out she was deaf when she was a year old and we-we knew her vision was great-" Me- *looks at girl with glasses sitting next to her* "-Bitch,bitch please.Yeah,sure.That girl got 20/20 vision,huh?...HAHAHAHAHA!!!" END OF JOKE This is how i reacted the second the lady said that.I think it was funny and I wanted to give a random person a laugh too so I wrote it as a comment.If you see this post and you're offended then sorry and please just keep scrolling don't waste time on negativities when you couls be surrounded by positivity.If you see this post and Laugh your @$$ off then you welcome.

[@samanthaolivera1]

I just realised I made some grammatical errors,but whatever.I'm on KZbin! As long as I don't make those types of errors in school then I'm fine.

[@genevaechols7935]

Samantha olivera I noticed that too lol