American Sign Language (ASL) is a vibrant language that traces its roots to France in the 17th century. Today, ASL is the primary language for 500,000 people in the United States. Read on as the interpretation services team at Akorbi describes five unusual uses of sign language that might surprise you.
Related Post: Akorbi Explains the Vibrant History of American Sign Language
Babies
Did you know that babies as young as six months old can use sign language to communicate? Simple hand gestures allow babies to demonstrate signs for the concepts of hungry, wants more, all done, water, food, too cold, too hot, and needs a hug.
Baseball
Baseball players at all levels use signs to communicate. Catchers make signs to the pitcher to indicate what pitch to throw. Coaches and players make signs to each other to strategize what to do on an upcoming play.
A deaf Major League Baseball player named William “Dummy” Hoy helped bring about modern baseball signs when his coaches communicated with him through gestures. Akorbi can help you take your game to the next level in more than 170 languages, including American Sign Language, for compliant interpretation services.
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Village Sign Language
Village sign language occurs in communities, usually indigenous peoples, where deafness is prevalent in the population due to genetic abnormalities. For instance, newborn babies may have several relatives who are deaf and already know some form of sign language. A larger percentage of people use sign language in these communities, and they often use local versions. Signs may differ from family to family in villages. Imagine the difficulty of interpretation services when there are slight variations in a language from one house to another!
Cheerleading
Deaf cheerleaders in schools attend the Eastern Schools for the Deaf Athletic Association Division 1, which includes institutions located in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. Deaf cheerleaders sign the cheers, but they also use their voices. The key lies in the drums the cheerleaders use so they can feel vibrations.
Military and Tactical Signals
Military and security personnel often serve as rescuers during times of crisis, where interpretation services can literally save lives. Combat situations often require stealth and quiet. Sign language helps keep troops hidden from enemy positions. Signs can relay directions for tactical maneuvers, where to move, what to watch for, and troop readiness.
Interpretation Services From Akorbi
Akorbi works in more than 170 different languages, including American Sign Language. Contact Akorbi or call 1-877-4AKORBI for more information on what we can do for your company