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The Covid Zoom Boom Is Reshaping Sign Language

scientificamerican.com

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Re: The Covid Zoom Boom Is Reshaping Sign Language

#31

Post by gedy »

mabbo wrote: post #3

Two quick misconceptions to call out for those less familiar with signed languages: 1. ASL is not just English with each word replaced with a sign. It's an incredibly complex language with different grammatical rules, some of which don't have English equivalents. 2. It's incredibly flexible. Many core grammar components will remain consistent, but often if you drive to another city, many words/signs will be different…

Thanks for your explanation, however it left me with additional question as to its value when politicians/government use a sign language interpreter in speeches. If it's so nuanced and regional, wouldn't reading English text translation be better/clearer?

Re: The Covid Zoom Boom Is Reshaping Sign Language

#32

Post by cush »

CivBase wrote: post #22

Perhaps someone on HN knows the answer to a question I've had for years now. Why use sign language on platforms where text is accessible? I've wondered this since I first saw a TV broadcast with a signer off to the side. Isn't that what closed captions are for? Surely it's faster to read text captions than the gestures of some low-res recording of a human stuck in a tiny box in the corner of the screen. Video chat pl…

The simple answer is that language can't be captured in text alone.

Think of how expressive language is. You can say the same sentence 3 different ways, where the real meaning is trapped in the tone, intonation, pitch, and emotion.

Think of how dynamic and expressive the word "fuck" is... Probably the most versatile and complex word in the English language.

Or just look at the [national anthem](https://www.today.com/popculture/asl-performer-steals-show-d...)

Re: The Covid Zoom Boom Is Reshaping Sign Language

#33

Post by pbhjpbhj »

mabbo wrote: post #3

Two quick misconceptions to call out for those less familiar with signed languages: 1. ASL is not just English with each word replaced with a sign. It's an incredibly complex language with different grammatical rules, some of which don't have English equivalents. 2. It's incredibly flexible. Many core grammar components will remain consistent, but often if you drive to another city, many words/signs will be different…

Here's another apparent misconception: sign language === ASL.

There are many sign languages and many more dialects.

Re: The Covid Zoom Boom Is Reshaping Sign Language

#34

Post by swsieber »

thepete2 wrote: post #5
mabbo wrote: post #3

Two quick misconceptions to call out for those less familiar with signed languages: 1. ASL is not just English with each word replaced with a sign. It's an incredibly complex language with different grammatical rules, some of which don't have English equivalents. 2. It's incredibly flexible. Many core grammar components will remain consistent, but often if you drive to another city, many words/signs will be different…

This is kind of unrelated, but I wonder if a small amount (say 100 signs or so) of sign language (ASL or local equivalent) wouldn't be useful for hearing people in their day-to-day lives. I'm very interested in sign-language, but language being what it is you can't do it alone ...

You know what signing is amazing for? Teaching babies to communicate before they have proper vocal control (preverbal is the term I think). We're talking useful communication at under a year. Something like 9-12 months.

Re: The Covid Zoom Boom Is Reshaping Sign Language

#35

Post by bombcar »

whoomp12342 wrote: post #17
mercurywells wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

English is not always the preferred language. An user of ASL may not necessarily be as proficent in English. The government version of Teams still does not have live subtitles last I checked.

I am suprised that Teams does not support multiple langauges

Captions itself is very new, I assume more languages are coming (as an aside Zoom's machine transcribing works surprisingly well).

Re: The Covid Zoom Boom Is Reshaping Sign Language

#36

Post by CivBase »

bskrobisz wrote: post #24
CivBase wrote: post #22

Perhaps someone on HN knows the answer to a question I've had for years now. Why use sign language on platforms where text is accessible? I've wondered this since I first saw a TV broadcast with a signer off to the side. Isn't that what closed captions are for? Surely it's faster to read text captions than the gestures of some low-res recording of a human stuck in a tiny box in the corner of the screen. Video chat pl…

It's faster to read text than to listen to someone speak, yet speech remains popular. There are aspects of communication which are not easily replicated in text -- sign languages do not lack the semantic information that is provided in speech by the tone, pitch, and rhythm of voice which is not, for the most part, reflected directly in grammar (in English, anyways). These components take other forms (expression and a…

> It's faster to read text than to listen to someone speak, yet speech remains popular.

I suspect there are a few reason for that beyond the explanations you gave.

1) Speech is faster to produce than text. Professional captioners are among the few who can challenge that. For everyone else, it's usually faster to give a speech or say what's on your mind than to type it all out.

2) Speech frees up the eyes. My vision is usually in greater demand than my hearing, so I prefer to avoid committing it to a single activity for a long time if possible. Unfortunately, that's not an option for those without hearing.

3) Speech is easier to attribute to individuals. I can determine who said something with minimal effort just by listening to the sound of their voice.

4) Speech is more immersive for narrative content. Movies and TV shows feel more believable when characters are talking with each other face-to-face like they would in real life.

Unfortunately, a signer in the corner can't make up for any of those factors.

Re: The Covid Zoom Boom Is Reshaping Sign Language

#37

Post by rasz »

sneak wrote: post #16

Does anyone know of a good web based videoconferencing system that does 1080p or 4K, at close to 30fps? Ideally it wouldn't require some big subscription plan, either. Meet maxes out at 720p (it's that or 320p) and what seems like a single-digit frame rate. Zoom doesn't seem much better. I don't know sign language but I have a lot of bandwidth (and am wired) and I'm tired of calls optimized for 1-5mbps wifi. Even cal…

https://obsproject.com/forum/resources/obs-studio-send-an-ud...

Re: The Covid Zoom Boom Is Reshaping Sign Language

#38

Post by bluGill »

thepete2 wrote: post #5
mabbo wrote: post #3

Two quick misconceptions to call out for those less familiar with signed languages: 1. ASL is not just English with each word replaced with a sign. It's an incredibly complex language with different grammatical rules, some of which don't have English equivalents. 2. It's incredibly flexible. Many core grammar components will remain consistent, but often if you drive to another city, many words/signs will be different…

This is kind of unrelated, but I wonder if a small amount (say 100 signs or so) of sign language (ASL or local equivalent) wouldn't be useful for hearing people in their day-to-day lives. I'm very interested in sign-language, but language being what it is you can't do it alone ...

It can be useful to have some signs, but don't confuse a few signs with a language. One like going to a foreign country and knowing how to ask where the bathroom is, and understanding because more their pointing than their words vs going to the country and getting into a discussion of something weird with a stranger that you just happen to meet.

Sign language is a real language you can learn the language. Or you can learn a few signs: there is a place for both, but know which place you are in and don't pretend more.

Re: The Covid Zoom Boom Is Reshaping Sign Language

#39

Post by pbhjpbhj »

thepete2 wrote: post #5
mabbo wrote: post #3

Two quick misconceptions to call out for those less familiar with signed languages: 1. ASL is not just English with each word replaced with a sign. It's an incredibly complex language with different grammatical rules, some of which don't have English equivalents. 2. It's incredibly flexible. Many core grammar components will remain consistent, but often if you drive to another city, many words/signs will be different…

This is kind of unrelated, but I wonder if a small amount (say 100 signs or so) of sign language (ASL or local equivalent) wouldn't be useful for hearing people in their day-to-day lives. I'm very interested in sign-language, but language being what it is you can't do it alone ...

Absolutely, my wife and I did basic BSL as a night class. Not only is it fascinating to get to know more of deaf culture but it's also really useful.

You can learn from YouTube, a sign dictionary (online ones have video) ... but yes, conversation is probably the best way.

A night class or MOOC?

Re: The Covid Zoom Boom Is Reshaping Sign Language

#40

Post by nsxwolf »

bluGill wrote: post #38
thepete2 wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is kind of unrelated, but I wonder if a small amount (say 100 signs or so) of sign language (ASL or local equivalent) wouldn't be useful for hearing people in their day-to-day lives. I'm very interested in sign-language, but language being what it is you can't do it alone ...

It can be useful to have some signs, but don't confuse a few signs with a language. One like going to a foreign country and knowing how to ask where the bathroom is, and understanding because more their pointing than their words vs going to the country and getting into a discussion of something weird with a stranger that you just happen to meet. Sign language is a real language you can learn the language. Or you can…

Why do I always sense anger seething below the surface of any conversation about sign language?
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