Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!yale!bunker!wtm
From: GE0013@SIUCVMB.BITNET (Roy Miller)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: ASL in 4 weeks???
Message-ID: <18469@bunker.isc-br.com>
Date: 3 Apr 91 04:33:20 GMT
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Reply-To: GE0013@SIUCVMB.BITNET (Roy Miller)
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Index Number: 14596

Hello Roggie,

I am glad to see your interest in sign language, and I understand
your concern regarding the differences in ASL vs SEE and which would
be the 'best' for you.  It is certainly true that there are many
differences between ASL and SEE.  While SEE follows the syntax and
rules of grammar for the English language, ASL has its own syntax
and rules of grammar.  On the other hand, they have a lot in common.
In particular, a great many of the ASL signs are often used by someone
signing SEE.

Regarding which is best for you to learn, I can only say that the
choice here is not much different than the choice of any language.
If you want to communicate with French speaking people, you learn
French.  But if you want/need/intend to communicate with people
from Japan, you learn Japanese.  If you want/need/intend to
communicate primarily with persons who are culturally Deaf, then
you learn ASL.  But if you want/need/intend to communicate primarily
with late-deafened adults, then you are probably better off with
SEE (actually Pidgin Signed English {PSE} is probably even more
practical).

The real bottom line, however, is that I don't really think it
makes a dimes worth of difference if you are talking about a
4-week class.  Unless that class meets every night for several hours
a night, you won't learn much but a few basic signs and how to
fingerspell regardless of whether it is billed as an ASL or SEE
class.  Don't worry about it.  Take the class, learn a little, and
enjoy the experience.

                       Virtually,

                      Roy E. Miller

             The Professor Who Never Listens,
                But Whose Eyes Hear A Lot!

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