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I have a copy of “Universal American Indian Sign Language” by William
Thompkins (c.,1926;16th edition,1966,Neyenesch Printers,San Diego,CA).I’ve
had this book since 1969,when I was in junior high school.
I have 2 ?s:
1) What % of signs in “American Sign Language” (ASL),as used by the deaf,
were borrowed from American Indian Sign?
2) Since Thompkins book is 80 yrs. old,does anyone know of any updated
material on AISL?
Thanks,
Roca
Hey Roca, well Iam not sure about this topic, there may have been more work done on sign language but Iam not sure. What I do know is that up here on the northern plains when I was a kid (not that long ago) sign language was very common, and still is, some consider the use of it in Na communities to be another language, it may be different from place to place and people to people.
Something that I would like to share with you is that years back I worked in a local “pub” one of my first jobs.
There were several people that could not speak in any language, and they were pool sharks and traditional indian people, red wrapped braids etc, and I don’t recall them drinking at all either.
Anyway these two gents got into a disagreement over the rules and one shot on the table, they could argue faster than eyes could see and eventually one got the point across by creasing the back of the others pants (with his boot) where a rinkle used to be! pretty good sign language and nothing else was gestured!
I will keep you in mind on my next library visit.
A belated Happy New year, to one and all.
Hi everyone,
I became a certified teacher of the Deaf and founder of a National Deaf Arts org. many years ago.
American Sign language was imported from France. A teacher of the Deaf was convenced to come to America in the late 1700’s. His name was La Clerc from the Abbe’ de LEpee.
There were so many deaf children in the new northern colonies. It was called the “founders curse” Marthas Vineyard was particurlarly struck. They had so many deaf children they had developed “home signs” before the formal French system was imported. I would suspect that Indian sign was included.
Just as credit for the influence on the American Constitution as well as other importiant cultural/spiritual addaptions….few times are the Native americans credited.
Anyway…The British sign language has a two handed spelling system and can not be understood in the USA…
American Sign Language(ASL) is used in many countries and the French version can still be understood by any using ASL.
This is the formal language used in schools at meetings however if you get deep into the Deaf Culture you will find they have developed a language that teachers and other can’t understand. It has evolved over time and the hearing often relegious “leadership” are in conflict with the deaf. There has been a lot of rebellion for the last 25years to maintain “deaf leadership”. Deaf people born to deaf people growing up in the culture have a very different understanding and idenity comparied to ones coming to use sign language later in life or ones born to hearing families.
Also the ASL dilects are regional in the USA and other places much like the Southern dilect or a New Jersey dilect in spoken english.
If i could find a copy of the book you are talking about i could tell you which signs are used in ASL. I will look for it. Another interisting twist.
Note to you Tom and Bill…and all. I have posted Happy New Year and a post about my James Allison Love /Elizabeth Crook+James Love on the forum. Yes i am back on line and have my Gallery open in Hot Springs SD. Yeah!
Janette
Question…I am such a bad speller and rely on spell check…cant seem to get it to work …any ideas?
Oh.
Forgot the link to a good web site to see ASL on video…
http://www.aslpro.com – maybe not a link but an address …one day i will read the instructions on how to post here.
Janette
Dear Janette,
The book I mentioned and others on AISL are available on Amazon.com.
I’m not sure what this means but one book is by a “George Custer”:confused:
Roca
HI ROCA,
The book i would compare American Sign Language to is the Universal American Indian Sign Language…. I Know American Sign Lauguage but very limited in American Indian Sign Language. Because of the date of 1929 – 1966 ,thought it was possibley out of print. I will check it out. Also will see what is on the web on American Indian Sign Language. I am not familar with the “Custer” book but that is a curious. hummm back to ya as soon as i can compare.
Janette
Hi again,
Just took a quick look on the web. Was shocked a little bit.
Indian and ASL signs that are the same:
God
Heart
Taste
Dance
Words that are not the same:
Sick
Numbers
Sit
Laugh
They took everything without credit why not “American Sign Language forgetting the Indian part…. This was never brought up during my training as a teacher of the deaf. Guess I should have expected this result. Will continue to check more words if you wish but i am convienced already.
Janette
More:
From Native American sign Language by Madeline Olsen:
Same: As ASL Different:
Baby Mother
Our Father
Man (almost) No
Women(slmost) Yes
You Please
Big Work
Small. Little Now
I Me Myself Big
To Cry
To Hear
Smell
affection/Love
Calm Down
Quiet
I suppose the case is made that much of what has been called “Home Signs” came form our relatives!
Janette
Sorry Folks.
made two coloms but they pushed together when i pressed reply. So the first word is the same as ASL and the second word is from the different colum.
Janette
That is really interesting. I was just reading a little about AISL, looking at other language resource links. It does figure that there’d be a lot of “borrowing”.
I keep meaning to try learning ASL again, useful as it is. I think the problem when I did try was that the instructor was moving very, very fast (he bragged about covering three times the usual vocabulary in the same time), and I just got lost.
You are right it is hard to learn ASL. i studied it for years .There was a break through for me when at last i had a Deaf Teacher and he used no words. He said you do not look at the sign you look at the person’s eyes when you are reading them. This helped but the biggest deal was with the deaf arts organization i founded. It was total emersion. We had 28 Deaf Artists and 3 hearing people working full time. When it was do it or be left behind, it came pretty fast. When I started dreaming in sign language i knew i was there! The organization lasted for almost 8 – 10 years. After a while the deaf artists started sharing the real language they use…talked about that in my first post on this subject. I felt like i had been addopted into the deaf culture at that point. What i learned in collage did not relate at all.
I wonder if there are Native American Cultures that still use the signs. When i fell into it naturally around my Lakota friends/family… they just look at me with a strange look and say what does that mean.
So thats part of my experience and am curious to continue the search and compare and contrast. However i am sure the point has been made here that yes indeed a lot of ASL is also AISL.
Janette
hey janette yes Native people still use sign language alot “up here” it is connsidered a second language.
If you read my first post on this thread you’ll read about something that I personally witnessed no—– ; left hand upwith index finger and small finger extended and right hand down, with clentched fist top touching left elbow and fingers making and an opening motion.! Did ya get it!
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