It’s a paradox, but often posture and facial expressions say more about a person than words, and gestures make speech bright and expressive. According to psychologists, the ability to read and use the interlocutor’s gestures will not hurt for successful communication. Therefore, mastering sign language will help anyone both at home and at work.
Sign language is necessary for every person to fully communicate
What is sign language
In psychology, sign language (gesture) is a system of movements of the body and hands, which helps to better transmit information, understand others, and is the main way of communication for people with hearing loss. Sign language is now popular among psychologists as an effective means of reading nonverbal signals.
For your information. Sign language (SSL), a naturally occurring and independently functioning sign language, is a combination of gestures, facial expressions, and postures.
Interesting Facts
Not even facts, just a few things you need to know. Or interesting to know if you want to familiarize yourself with sign language.
- Sign language varies from country to country. There is an international sign language, but it is little used.
- Deaf people read lips, so it is important for them to see your lips as they pronounce words. Don't be closed off and speak clearly so that they can understand you.
- Sign language uses different grammar and word order. For example, question words are placed at the end of sentences.
- SL has its own linguistic features, structure and grammar. It cannot be said that this is simply a copy of ordinary language transferred to gestures.
- In New Zealand, sign language is the third official language.
Films, TV series, songs and performances are adapted for people with hearing problems. All these materials can be found on the Internet, in particular on YouTube.
Learning sign language is not only useful, but also interesting. You can discover a lot of new things, look at the world a little differently, and help a stranger in a difficult situation.
The history of the appearance of deaf-mute language
Although sign language has existed for many centuries, it began to be systematized in the 18th century, during the period of industrialization of European cities. Groups of deaf people were concentrated there and needed to be trained. The first person to come up with the idea of teaching deaf and mute children using gestures was the Italian doctor J. Cardano. The basis of education was the languages of the deaf and mute, which have national characteristics. They were the basis for creating a gestural interpretation.
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Today, sign language is rapidly developing and transforming into a full-fledged communication system. It is used to teach people with hearing loss in schools and universities. An artificial international sign has been created - a sign, which is used at international events.
For your information. Unlike Europe, where the language developed in a civilized manner, in the countries of Africa and North America it was actively used by the entire population, for example, during hunting or war.
In African and North American countries, sign language is often preferred
Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet School
Thomas Gallaudet, after visiting the de Leppe school, returned to the States and opened his own educational institution. The method was borrowed from a French colleague. At Thomas Gallaudet's school, there were real "lectures" on how to learn sign language, adapted into English.
And again this method enjoyed great success and popularity.
Oralists opposed such a system of education. According to their beliefs, such a technique separates deaf people from the hearing community, and there is actually no benefit from it.
Difference between sign language and auditory language
Experts clearly distinguish between sign and sound languages. It is believed that the sound one is too cumbersome: each letter is indicated by its own sound, that is, a phoneme, only then a word is formed. Unlike auditory language, gestures represent both letters and whole words, which is more convenient for presenting information. Therefore, sign language is considered more effective.
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In real life, every person uses a non-verbal method of communication every day, and he, as a person, is characterized by his gaze, manner of speaking, and gesturing. It turns out that the deaf do not have access to the speech method of communication, but ordinary people easily use the language of the deaf.
For your information. A FL is actually a foreign language, which, if necessary, must be studied in accordance with all the requirements of a foreign language.
Bonet system
Fortunately for the deaf and dumb, there were also positive-minded people who felt sorry for them and wanted to help.
Such a person was, for example, the priest Juan Pablo Bonet. He lived at the beginning of the 17th century. One day, Bonet was hired as an assistant to a wealthy family, the head of which was an important official. This gentleman's son suffered from deafness; no one could teach him writing or arithmetic. Soon the priest created his own training system for this boy. He came up with a special symbol for each letter in the alphabet. The question of how to learn sign language did not even arise with this deaf-mute boy; Bonet began to work with the child with enthusiasm and great enthusiasm.
Very soon the boy learned the entire alphabet. After this, rumors about the Bonet system spread throughout Spain. The priest published a book in which he described his method in detail.
Where is sign language used?
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It is a mistake to think that only deaf and dumb people use nonverbal language. Any person intuitively uses gestures to expressively color their speech. Sign language is necessary in many areas of activity: on television, a sign language interpreter conveys information for the hearing impaired; divers and astronauts, due to the inability to speak in water or air, use special signs. In the theater field, politics, medicine, the army - professional gestures are needed everywhere.
Examples or how to read thoughts without words:
The examples of body language given are universal and the most common. By studying them, you will be able to benefit from valuable experience that will definitely come in handy.
1. Arms crossed over chest
This position is almost always seen as a defensive gesture, regardless of the general position of the body. A universal sign indicates that a person is closed, on the defensive, or wants to hide from something. It is also necessary to take into account that arms crossed over the chest may mean that a person is cold or tired.
2. Smile
Smiles can be different, depending on the characteristics of the facial expression: happy, shy, warm, ironic, etc. The most sincere and real is considered not the one that bares the teeth, but the so-called “Duchenne smile” - when not only the lips are involved, but also the muscles around the eyes. The French researcher Guillaume Duchesne, who studied the facial expressions of the human face in the mid-19th century, discovered that some muscles near the eyes are difficult to control - and they are the participants in an involuntary, friendly, sincere smile.
3. Tilt your head to one side
If the other person's head is tilted to one side during a conversation, this usually means that he is listening attentively and is deeply interested in the topic of conversation. It could also mean that he is trying to concentrate.
4. Connecting the fingers and palms into a spire or “house”
This gesture is often used by politicians and businessmen, it indicates the presence of power and control. He may also be present at the moment of reflection or making an important decision.
5. Crossing your legs
A person's posture in which their legs are crossed can tell a lot. For example, crossed legs that are connected at the ankles show that he is trying to hide something. Legs bent at the knees and turned away from the interlocutor indicate that he is not comfortable. The optimal position for the legs is a symmetrical position relative to the body.
6. Pulling or rubbing your ear
A gesture in which the interlocutor rubs or touches his ear usually shows that he is making a decision. At the same time, this may mean that a person instinctively says: “I don’t want to hear this.”
7. Support your head with your hands
The position in which a person props his head with one or two hands in most situations indicates that he is bored. It could also mean that he is tired or upset (if there are other gestures that indicate this).
8. Gesture with open arms and palms up
All hand movements play an important role and often decide whether others will trust a person. If during a conversation you hold your hands in an open position with your palms up, this will be a signal that you are not hiding anything.
9. Eye contact
In order for the interlocutor to feel comfortable when talking with you and to best perceive the information, it is necessary to establish eye contact. Experts believe that most people are comfortable looking into a stranger's eyes for no more than 3 seconds. In friendships, work or family relationships, when people have known each other for a long time, eye contact can last much longer without causing psychological discomfort.
10. Viewing direction:
- down (to the floor or ground) - reveals a weak and insecure person;
- to the left - the partner is trying to remember something;
- to the right - an attempt is made to lie or invent something;
- facing the interlocutor’s face – speaks of attention and interest in the partner;
- directed “through” the interlocutor – emphasizes disrespect and warns of possible aggression;
- a direct look with wide open eyes - indicates increased interest, surprise;
- Rolling your eyes up means frustration or disappointment.
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11. Vigorous rubbing of palms
Typically, rubbing your palms together indicates excitement and hope for a positive result. To understand the signal in a specific situation, you should pay attention to the speed of movement. The more energetic the pace, the more favorable the expectations.
12. Touching your hair
If during a conversation a girl touches her hair and at the same time her eyes are slightly squinted, these are signals of flirting. However, for many people this becomes a habit - in this case, the signal can be interpreted differently. Frequently touching your hair can indicate anxiety.
13. Rubbing your eyes
Such a gesture may signal that a person feels deceived, doubts what was said, or is unpleasant to observe the picture that is revealed.
14. Touching the cheek with your hand
The interlocutor, placing his hand on his cheek, tries to carefully assess the situation or information he receives. As a rule, this is a sign that the topic of conversation is being taken seriously.
15. Touching your nose
Light touches, scratching the nose or the hollows under the nose indicate the speaker’s desire to disguise his deception. If this gesture is performed by the listener, he doubts the information received or has caught the interlocutor in a lie.
16. Covering your mouth
Unconsciously blocking the mouth with one's hand means that the person is lying or wants to hold back truthful information. This gesture should be considered in conjunction with others, since it may indicate not only exaggeration or concealment of facts, but also express doubts and uncertainty.
17. Stand with hands behind back
Folding your hands behind your back can be perceived as a signal of frustration, fear or anger. Although this position may simply be convenient for a person at a given time, others around him will unconsciously be wary.
18. Stand with hands on hips
This pose is quite difficult. In some cases, she expresses anger, hostility and aggression. And if the accompanying gestures express friendliness, then such a stance may mean that the person is delighted or ready to get to work.
19. Dominant pose
When a person stands with his arms down and forming a square with his shoulders and hips, he is extremely confident in himself and feels his dominant position in a given situation. This stance is often used deliberately to emphasize one's status or take a dominant role in the conversation.
20. Defensive position
A person who feels threatened, anxious, or afraid involuntarily takes a defensive position: shoulders are bent, legs are turned in opposite directions. Guards or military personnel are often seen in this pose, with their weapons held close to the body, perhaps with their arms folded in front or crossed over the chest or stomach.
There are a huge number of different gestures that can be interpreted both individually and collectively. Body language is a great first step to understanding people's true motivations in different life situations and being able to give signals that benefit you personally. Of course, knowing the meaning of certain movements and positions is only half the battle, because you need to learn how to apply them correctly. If body language is not conveyed or perceived correctly, it can harm relationships between people, so studying this area must be taken seriously.
Differences in deaf language
Sign languages may vary geographically and nationally. Research has shown that countries with a common sound language have different sign languages, and, conversely, places with a large number of dialects use a single sign language. A striking example of an American language that has more similarities with French and nothing in common with British, although it is common to the population of these countries is English.
In Europe, the situation is similar: the single German language in Germany and Austria does not affect the Austrian and Germanic languages, which are not even similar.
According to experts, the main difficulty lies in the lack of a unified system in the language of the deaf and mute, which is why it differs so much in different regions, which makes it difficult to learn.
Sequence of study
Let's move on to sign language itself. It contains about 2000 different symbols. How to quickly learn sign language with such a volume of signs? In fact, everything is not as difficult as it seems.
You should start learning gestures with simple words “hello”, “goodbye”, “sorry”, “thank you”. You should learn them gradually, without chasing quantity. It is better to learn a small number of gestures in one training session.
And the last recommendation. If you are seriously thinking about learning the language of the deaf, it may be worth looking for such courses in your city. They are not widespread, but you can still find them. Such courses are good because here you can get practice in live communication, hone your skills and language proficiency.
How to quickly learn sign language in Russian
Russian Sign Language (RSL) has its own vocabulary and grammar
With Russian Sign Language (RSL), a different problem arises. To study it, you need to know the features of the linguistic system, which differs from other linguistic languages lexically and grammatically. The main thing is that the grammar of Russian spoken language is different from colloquial Russian due to the complex morphological transformation of words.
In addition, most RSL gestures are taken from German, Austrian, and French sign languages, so its vocabulary is close to international.
Despite such subtleties, there are many Russian words in RSL. The initial letters of these words are shown using the finger alphabet (fingerprinting), for example, days of the week.
For your information. It is important for students of RSL to know that there are 33 letters in the Russian dactylic alphabet. They correspond to the letters of the Russian alphabet and are reproduced using fingers and hand movements.
Applications
Sign language (dactyl training)
Sign language (dactyl training)
Yato Andorid application for children with large and clear images of gestures. The application contains a large database of words and supports Ukrainian and Russian languages.
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ASL American Sign Language
ASL American Sign Language
This is another Android application. With it you can learn American Sign Language. The application is based on cards, each of which corresponds to one of the letters of the alphabet.
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ASL Coach – American Sign Language
ASL Coach - 'American Sign Language'
This is an American Sign Language teaching app designed for iPhone and iPad.
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Structure of teaching the language of the deaf and mute
Now you can learn any foreign language, including the language of the deaf and dumb. The main thing is to have the desire and desire to learn. Experts advise starting to learn sign language with a selection of video materials and memorizing signs on specially designed websites.
It is advisable to join groups that are created to learn sign language. They are now easy to find on social networks and practice practical skills there. However, this method is effective when the basics of the language have been studied. To quickly master the language of the deaf and mute, you can use the self-instruction manual.
Vkontakte community
Group for those who want to learn the language of the deaf
This is a community of people who want to learn the language of the deaf. In it you can discuss a topic that concerns you related to language learning and other aspects of the lives of hearing-impaired and deaf people.
Visit the site.
How to learn sign language yourself from scratch
There is no single theoretical and methodological basis for learning sign language and mastering it on your own. Printed dictionaries and online dictionaries have been developed for those interested: the teacher of the deaf demonstrates a gesture in accordance with the word and gives clear articulation.
Important! When studying gestures, the following feature is taken into account: dactylology is needed for proper names (cities, people) or for words that do not have a gesture.
Where to start self-study
You can learn sign language on your own, but it is better to practice speaking skills in the process of communication
Study plan:
- The main thing is to study the dactylic alphabet - 33 gestures corresponding to a specific letter of the alphabet. In reality, the alphabet is rarely used, but knowledge of it is useful when learning new words for which there are no special gestures, for proper names when letter gestures are used.
- Once the theory has been mastered, the alphabet has been learned, and a basic vocabulary has been acquired, it is necessary to communicate with native speakers to practice speaking skills. This can be done on thematic forums, specialized sites where the audience is hard of hearing and deaf people.
Important! It is impossible to master the language of the deaf without practice. Language skills are acquired only through direct communication. Then it is possible to understand sign language and be able to communicate in it.
Introduction to dactylology
When getting acquainted with sign language, you need to understand that it is not universal for different countries. Each region has its own alphabet and vocabulary that do not coincide with others. This is the whole difficulty, since often in non-verbal communication a gesture does not mean a letter, but a word or even a whole phrase. Therefore, knowledge of dactylology is necessary - a unique form of speech that includes the dactyl alphabet. In it, each letter has its own sign (dactylem), made of fingers.
It is difficult for beginners to distinguish between sign language and the dactyl alphabet, while dactylems spell out words, and gestures spell out whole words.
Finger placement technique
Dactylology is a manual alphabet, many gestures in it begin with a letter, for example, a teapot - the letter h. You need to study the dactyl alphabet step by step, slowly, it is important to practice the technique of placing your fingers well. At first your hand will get tired, but with constant training your fingers will become more flexible. For beginners, wooden gestures are observed at first. Flexibility is gained through exercises to stretch the ligaments and develop the hands.
To master dactylology, it is important to understand that this is a manual alphabet, the main thing for it is the placement of the fingers
The principle of clarity in SL is the following explanation:
- fingers not involved in the configuration remain straight;
- in the configuration, each finger acts independently;
- There are no intermediate configurations between dactylems;
- fuzzy, blurry configurations are defects.
Sequence of study
Each country has its own dactylology; there is no single deaf-mute language. Therefore, when studying on your own, you should adhere to certain rules:
- When mastering dactyl, you need to remember the basic words, names, titles.
- It is advisable to immediately master counting and simple numbers. This will help consolidate the language.
- Then they study the language itself - about 2000 different symbols.
- Learning gestures begins with simple words: thank you, please, hello.
- You need to learn words gradually, learning several gestures in one lesson.
Language is an informative method of communication that is perceived better than verbal communication. By learning to control nonverbal signals, you can interact more effectively with your interlocutors.
Victor Ivanovich Fleury
He was a teacher and worked as a school director in St. Petersburg. He conducted a deep analysis of “deaf-mute speech” and came to the conclusion that sign language, Russian, can be learned by every person with hearing or speech impairment. In addition, he noticed that in certain companies and societies of the deaf, sign language has its own characteristics, differences and subtle patterns inherent specifically to that society. Just as in “our” (verbal speech) there is jargon and specific words, so in the “speech” of the mute this is also present.
He wrote the book "Deaf and Mute". In this work, the teacher collected all the gestures and signs known to him.
There were other people who contributed to Russian education of the deaf: I. A. Sokolyansky, L. V. Shcherba, A. Ya. Udal.
How to use knowledge about facial expressions and gestures?
You can use such knowledge very actively.
- If it was noticed by certain gestures or facial expressions that the interlocutor does not want to continue the conversation, you can tactfully end the conversation and leave.
- Watching how a new acquaintance is disingenuous or hiding the truth, you can remove such a person from your social circle, depriving yourself of eternal secrets and omissions.
- You can save yourself from deceivers.
Professional liars and manipulators are well versed in psychology. In order to hide secret manifestations of facial expressions or gestures, they learn to control the smallest movements. They are difficult, but still possible to figure out. It is enough to observe their behavior for some time, somewhere their body will malfunction and then everything will become clear.
Advice : if you are not sure of the veracity of a person's speeches, ask him more questions and observe his body movements.
Such deep knowledge makes it possible to see the true face of people. Not everyone is who they say they are. So why not “split” a person before he could do something not very pleasant in your direction.
- On the positive side, the ability to use gestures and facial expressions can subconsciously endear a person to you, relax him and make him very accommodating.
You will be able to positively influence him, his well-being. So why not endow a person’s emotions with positivity using facial expressions and gestures?
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Here is an example of gestures of a guy in love
To understand how to recognize facial expressions, gestures and other non-verbal signs in a person in practice, it is enough to look at a clear example. The body language of a man in love will help any woman accurately determine his true feelings and emotions in relation to her. There are several points to pay attention to:
- appearance - a man in love is neatly dressed, clean-shaven, smells pleasant;
- gaze - a close and appraising look into the eyes and lips of a woman;
- hands – involuntary manipulations, for example, brushing away specks of dust or straightening your hair;
- The voice is a timid, insinuating voice, without harshness or changes in intonation.
A man who likes a woman will demonstrate his strength and masculinity in every possible way. In addition, he will be interested in all areas of the life of his object of desire, and show care and responsibility.
