This past week I was learning ASL American Sign Language. It was incredibly enjoyable. I did have a hard time moving my wrists properly but I think I learned and can sign the most common signs.
ASL started as a language in the American School for the Deaf (ASD), founded in Hartford, Connecticut in 1817. The school was known as The American Asylum, At Hartford, For The Education And Instruction Of The Deaf And Dumb. The founder was a Yale graduate and divinity student named Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet.
When I was a child I had a hard time hearing. I couldn’t hear the whispers or quiet sounds around me. I went to the Ear specialist and they were concerned I might be going deaf. One doctor said that we just had to wait it out and hopefully it was growing pains. They wanted to wait and see if I would grow out of it. For the most part I did. I can hear better now, but I have extremely sensitive ear drums. I met a girl who was completely deaf who lived a town over and we became friends. She tried to teach some basic signs but she was a kid and I was a kid. We weren’t very good at teaching and learning from each other.
This week I learned a new sets of words each day. I used the site by Bill Vicars called Lifeprint.
Sunday – Numbers 1-10 / 11-20 / 21-30 / 31-40 and Alphabet
Monday – Family – mom, dad, boy-girl, marriage, brother-sister, grandpa-grandma, aunt-uncle, baby, single, divorced-separate Animals – cat, dog, bird, horse, cow, sheep, pig, bug
Tuesday – Colors – blue, green, yellow, red, brown, orange, gold & silver Clothes – shirt, pants, socks, shoes, coat, underwear
Wednesday – Places – home, work, school, store, church, come-go, car/drive, in-out, with Requests – please, excuse, thank you, help, who, what, when, where, why, how, stop
Thursday – Food – pizza, milk, hamburger, hot dog, egg, apple, cheese, drink, spoon, fork, cup, cereal, water, candy, cookie,hungry Temperature – hot, cold
Friday – Amounts – big, tall, full, more Money – dollars, cents, cost Time – day, night, week, month, year, will-(future), before-(in the past), today-(now), finish-(“all done!”)
Saturday – Health – wash, hurt, bathroom, brush teeth, sleep, nice/clean Feelings – happy, angry, sad, sorry, cry, like, good-bad, love
I am going to continue learning a new sign everyday going forward and take a few minutes to refresh will I sit and watch TV or go to the bathroom. What else do I have to do while sitting on my throne?
Today’s sign is BILL
Wiggle Rheum 