Why is it that when people want to learn sign language the first thing they want to learn is how to swear?
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Why is it that when people want to learn sign language the first thing they want to learn is how to swear?
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That is almost always the first thing that people ask to learn in ANY language. I guess it makes them feel cool.
I guess because they like to be able to insult someone in a language that the insultee doesn’t know.
Personally, I just want to learn basic words. And my name. :] Which is why the first thing I learned in sign language was the alphabet. Call it narcissm. ^^
Swearing is done with such passion. You can use it when you get frustrated with the lesson and the teacher will go: “Very good” now lets move on to the past infinitive form ;-))
When I am travelling in a train, like tourist might, half the English I hear is obscenities so, if you teach somebody they have half their conversational vocabulary.
“The finger” is the universal swear gesture. It comes in different versions, but basically done using a clenched fist with the the middle finger protruding and swinging it up the poor guy’s face. Variations include using two fingers (the middle and the index) or just the index finger. I think the Aussie version is “the thumb” which is like signing “ok”. My favorite is the one using the whole arm (clenched fist swung upward like throwing an uppercut) with the other hand blocking the upward swing at the crook of the elbow. Practice in front of a mirror to make it just elegant enough.I just love man’s creativity when it comes to swearing. Americans have perfected the art.