A couple of weeks ago, when I was asked to guest blog here, I caught a few minutes of one of NCIS's re-runs. In the short segment that I saw, I was suprised to see Abby signing. I took an American Sign Language class at SCCC as my language requirement for my degree. I chose ASL because, at the time, my oldest son was about two-years-old and was having trouble developing his language skills. I worked with a speech therapist shortly after discovering his delay and it was per the expert's suggestion that we include a visual when communicating with my son.
So, she gave me some handouts which showed common signs to use with babies, and me and my son soon began to communicate beyond our verbal language. Later on, we would also include pictures for learning new skills such as toileting, bed time routines, etc.
One event that I attended was the play "It's a Wonderful Life" which we saw performed at NYSTI. This showing had a sign language interpreter who stood side stage. At times, it was more entertaining to watch the woman signing than the actual staged performance. I do not mean to say that it was a bad show at all. Instead, I am just stressing how intriguing it was to watch someone communicate using sign language.
The second event was Deaf Bowling. There was a group of deaf people living in the area who bowled in a league once every two weeks at a local bowling ally in Latham. The name of the place escapes me right now, and I am not even sure if it's still in existence.
This event was kind of awkward.
A few of my classmates came with me, and at first, we stood off to the side just watching these people talk to each other using their hands. Then we felt it necessary to go an introduce ourselves. We only new basic signs but they were enough to explain to these people we had been observing that we were students at SCCC taking sign language. We were able to tell them our names and that was about all.
They attempted to explain who was deaf and who was hearing in their family, but it was pretty hard to understand everything that they were saying to us. They signed much faster than we were used to. They also added signs into conversations that we hadn't seen before.
As of today, I haven't signed in at least two years. And when you don't use it you lose it. I guess that's why Abby took the opportunity to sign even though she didn't have to. It keeps her in good practice.
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As a person in the entertainment field, I love when a show uses other forms of communication - especially a television show or film because they reach a much broader audience base! I've always been kind of sad that I don't speak a second language fluently, as so many on this planet do.
ReplyDeleteI think the United States lacks this educational instrument that is second nature in so many foreign countires around the world - learning, and I mean really learning, a second language as kids. Something NCIS is also very good at, utilizing a variety of foreign languages - which I find accurate for the type of work environment they portray, and accurate for the trend of the world - we're so global/international now.
In every country I have been in - and it's a sizeable number - the people native to that land typically speak their native language and English, and often times another language as well. It made me think, with so many Spanish speaking areas so close to the United States (and with in it) why don't we require our children to learn Spanish starting in Grade School? Just a thought.
Where NCIS uses Sign Language - I believe it is because both Abby and Gibbs have hard of hearing individuals in their families - I think it's Abby's Parents and so it is something that character has done since birth - which taps into what you said with regards to your son ... and other babies in the world who are taught to sign things before their verbal skills are developed. My niece included, she learned several 'baby' signs so that she could communicate with her parents before she began speaking out loud.
I do wonder how well the actors know sign language in real life though, or do they just practice the few motions needed for the shows tapings? Interesting ...