Learn Sign Language – The Do’s and Don’ts of Communicating in Sign Language

Okay, so you’re interested to learn sign language, right? Before you even begin to learn communicating using signs, its best that you educate yourself on a few do’s and don’ts about sign language communication.

Do Maintain Eye Contact

When you learn sign language, you have to maintain eye contact with the person you’re communicating. You have to connect with the person with your eyes before you begin to sign so that they know you’re about to communicate with them.

Do Speak Slowly

It’s an important part of sign language that you speak slowly to the person that you’re communicating with in sign language. Your sign language must be accompanied by mouthing the words that you’re signing. This makes it easier for the deaf person to understand what you’re saying as they’ll match the signs with your words.

Don’t Exaggerate Your Movements

To be effective when you learn sign language your mouth movements must be normal. They accompany the signs that you’re communicating. If you exaggerate your mouth movements, you’re being rude to the person you’re signing to. Just speak as normally as you would to a person who is deaf as you would to a person who is not deaf.

Don’t Yell When You Sign

One of the critical features about being adept when in your effort to learn sign language properly is that you mustn’t yell at the person you’re signing to. A deaf person is not able to hear you no matter how loud you shout. They can only observe your mouth and the signs you make with your hands. So your gesticulations should be confined to your hands for effective communication.

There are several do’s and don’ts that you should abide by when you’re keen to learn sign language as a person of hearing. Afford a deaf person the same respect you would a person with normal hearing when you communicate with signs.