Native American Sign Language Essay - 1449 Words

Native American Sign Language Very basic, elementary and logical characteristics made the Native American Sign Language the worlds most easily learned language. It was Americas first and only universal language. The necessity for intercommunication between Indian tribes having different vocal speech developed gesture speech or sign language (Clark; pg. 11). Although there is no record or era dating the use of sign language, American Indian people have communicated with Indian Sign Language for thousands of years. The signs illustrated ideas and the language conveyed a message. Many of the simplistic nonverbal gestures that were used by the Indian tribes across the United States are still in use around the world today. Most of†¦show more content†¦Many Indians with college and university training can speak better English than they can sign talk. Native American Sign Language was the first universal language produced by people. Every record of the landing of Columbus on North American soil, tells of how he and his group communicated with the Indians using sign language. The same is also true of other explorers that came to this country. Lewis and Clark communicated successfully with the tribes of the west during their exploration efforts. In the 17th century, the language of sign was so well understood throughout the western part of the country that there was little difficulty in conversations being carried on between tribes, traders, and mountain men. They could easily communicate with one another, even though neither understood a word of the others dialect at that time. Basic Native American sign language is easy to learn; it is much easier to learn Indian signing than it is to learn a spoken language. The combination of meaning and movement in signing, allows you to learn the meaning of a gesture, while you visualize the movement. One important factor to remember is that eighty-five percent of the Native American Sign Language was done with the right hand; this system kept the communication process very simple Some very simple signs are easily commandedÂ… EARTH Ââ€" Point with right index finger to the ground. FATHER Ââ€" Tap right breast with tips of fingers 2 or 3 times. FRIEND Ââ€"Show MoreRelated Deaf Culture Essay1564 Words   |  7 PagesDeaf Culture In mainstream American society, we tend to approach deafness as a defect. Helen Keller is alleged to have said, Blindness cuts people off from things; deafness cuts people off from people. (rnib.org) This seems a very accurate description of what Kellers world must have been. We as hearing people tend to pity deaf people, or, if they succeed in the hearing world, admire them for overcoming a severe handicap. 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