I work at a retail store and we get a lot of deaf people in. I know how to say a few words, but no sentences. Can someone tell me how to say “How are you?”, “Can I help you?”, and other helpful phrases in sign language? Or at least point me in the direction of a good website that I can look at. Thanks!
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As a hard-of-hearing (not deaf) person, let me thank you for your willingness to learn some ASL (American Sign Language).
Your first step should probably be an inexpensive ASL dictionary or
instructional DVD. You might also wish to take a basic course at
a local community college. Remember, though, that ASL has its own rules, rules that are necessarily different from those of written or spoken English.
I’ve listed what looks like a good website below. I hope it works for you. Again, thanks for your interest.
How are you just sign “How” and point to the person, “How you?”
Can I help you just say “How help you?”
Learn a lot of polite gestures, like thank you, nice to meet you, welcome, and so on. Just a big think, make sure you keep eye contact, pronounce the words clear so if your signing isn’t too good the can at least read your lips with it, and use facial expressions.
a good site that can help is http://www.aslpro.com
They have the asl dictionary, along with conversational phases. Good luck.
How are you? is hard to explain. Can I help you? is easier. The sign of help is done by making a “thumbs up” hand shape with the right hand and placing it on the open palm of the left hand. Then, with your eyebrows raised, move the sign from you towards the person you are asking. The raised eyebrows shows that you are asking a yes/no question. There are also a few good websites out there. http://www.lifeprint.com is good as well as http://www.aslpro.com
Also, don’ t be afraid to get it wrong. If they don’t understand you they will tell you. And you can try another way or the deaf person will correct you. If they do correct you, they are just trying to help you learn. Correcting a person’s sign (in Deaf culture) isn’t the same as correcting someone’s English (in hearing culture). And, as stated above, most ASL users appreciate that you are trying to communicate. As my ASL teacher always told me, the goal is to communicate whatever the form.