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AmmieBell · 18-21, F
I learned as a baby (which actually became an issue since I then decided speaking wasn't necessary until I was around four lol). But my cousin started learning in high school. The basics are really easy to pick up. So you CAN communicate with it. But the sentence structure is different with ASL, so it can be harder to figure out longer sentances that you can use In conversation. As just a form of communication, though, it's really easy.
AntisocialTroll · 56-60, F
Years ago I learnt a form called makaton and really struggled with it unless the origin of the sign was explained to me, somehow that helped me to remember the signs so much more easily than just the sign itself.
Laughman · 46-50, M
@AntisocialTroll are you still using it today?
AntisocialTroll · 56-60, F
@Laughman No, I never actually got to use it as although it was part of my college course I never needed it for work and had no other opportunity to use it, I do still remember a few of the signs despite it being over 30 years ago, so if I remember rightly the sign for biscuit was a tapping of the arm near to your elbow as apparently that's what sailors did to tap out any bugs that may have got into the biscuits, no idea if it's true but it's why I remember that sign.
VictoriaR · F
That used to be the only way I would communicate when I was younger, since I didn’t want to learn to speak. I think it would be an interesting, and perhaps useful, skill if you were to learn sign language. :)
VictoriaR · F
@Laughman I can remember some: help, sweet, candy, milk, mom, dad, hello, goodbye, to speak, want, stars, stop, write, continue, the alphabet, hungry, sick, thirsty, sign language (to literally sign it)... give, crossing, see, hear, calm, hurt (I’m hurt, not to hurt), f*** you, a**hole (...), waves, honest... Probably a few more
bijouxbroussard · F
My brother learned it while he was a police officer. He actually took classes, and was subsequently called upon to “translate”. He still occasionally uses it, and has a couple of deaf friends.
Laughman · 46-50, M
@bijouxbroussard good on him? Did it take him long to pick it up?
bijouxbroussard · F
@Laughman Not really. A big part of it was getting opportunities to practice.
Laughman · 46-50, M
@bijouxbroussard I just think it would be handy in a noisy place do you don't have to continually yell at each other to have a conversation.