Dec 19 2007
Last BSL lesson of the year plus pub
Last night’s sign language was an optional extra lesson, to make up for the one we all missed when the Deaf Action building suffered heating loss on a particularly bitter November day. We didn’t do anything particularly challenging — some random bits of conversation about Christmas shopping and holiday plans, and a bit of descriptive work (describing the layout of rooms) which we were supposed to have been practising but, inevitably, had not done.
It wasn’t all earnest work though. We all bunked off early to go to the pub (including our tutors). Knowing how to sign in a noisy pub is incredibly useful. Seriously, if I don’t ever use it again, being able to communicate with people in a noisy environment is a big plus. (I find it quite frustrating that other people don’t know BSL. In fact, I’m sure people must think I just wave my hands around a lot when I’m speaking. But that’s their loss, frankly.) I found out that this blog has two (only two?) lurkers. So, hello Emma and Emily.
I had good discussions about the passion some people have for language; this specifically as relates to translation and finding the “right” way to translate some word, phrase or mood. I had other discussions about language, and why some of our classmates apparently just don’t get the fact that BSL ain’t English. I know, it would seem that after all this time it would be well-nigh impossible not to have twigged. But it seems true.
That’s maybe unfair. I’m sure the people I’m thinking of know, when asked that particular question, what the right answer is. But they never seem to use that information. These students listen to the instructions, nod assent, then ignore everything they’ve just been told to do. So what is it? Do they just not understand after all, or is there some deeper failure — like not actually seeing that English grammar is not universal? I’m at a loss to explain it.
I’m sure I had a great time anyway, because I had deep-fried burger supper on the way home and felt like a poorly-stuffed teddy bear for all the next day. Also, that dead badger in my mouth has got to go.