Side Effects of Sign Language
Sunday September 7, 2008
ILuvEire, a new signer, posted on the forum that when he uses gestures and facial expressions, he often gets asked if he is gay. Now that is a side effect of learning sign language that I have never heard of. Add your thoughts on the forum.
Comments
This hearing guy left very vague description of what really happened.
I could not tell if this guy resembles some kind of drag queen or high-pitched effeminate guy during his facial expression moments.
The video sample would be a great idea to verify whether the side effect of sign language lead to misassumption about someone’s own sexual preference.
Robert L. Mason (RLM)
Unbelieviable! Unbelievable!!
I don’t believe these gay think it is fact. Seem awakened if he told anyone about that. I feel that kind of distrub and behaviored is .. Umm kind of make up the stories.
Well, it may not be a popularly liked phenomenon, but it doesn’t surprise me.
I attended an introductory ASL seminar – nothing serious, just for curious people in general. One of the interpreters quipped that women have an easier time with the facial and bodily expressions that ASL requires than men do. She then made a jab at men by hardening her face while she spoke and signing with a stiff body.
Among hearing people, men use that avenue of expression less. That’s just how it is. So, for a guy to run into this issue for using his face and body more than is typical, shouldn’t be a surprise.