How to learn to talk to dumb people. Sign language of the deaf and dumb

Few understand the power they have in their hands. There are times when your own hands can save or literally betray, and all this happens without your conscious participation. Of course, if you don't know how hand language works.

A person who speaks the language of non-verbal communication has a lot of advantages over his counterpart, and is able to hear not only what the interlocutor is talking about, but also understand what he is thinking about, or what he is not talking about. But let's talk about everything in order.

Some stories about the origin of hand gestures

Today, many of the hand-showing symbols are internationally spelled and are equally understood by New Zealand Maori and African Masai. Why did it happen?

Why do the military put their hand to the head to greet, or to praise a person, we raise the thumb up, and to insult - the middle one? The answers to these questions came to us from the past. Let's analyze the history of some of these gestures in more detail.

Thumb up. Shows that everything is fine, and you are doing well. This movement came to us from antiquity. The Roman public, during gladiator fights, signaled in this way that for the diligence and diligence shown by the defeated slave during the battle, he could save his life. A lowered thumb did not bode well for the unfortunate warrior. Since then, it has become customary: the thumb points to the sky - you are at a height, to the ground - you are a bit of a loser;
The greeting of the military when addressing the chief or when raising the flag, by offering an open palm to the head, is borrowed from medieval knights. In those ancient times, in order to show the purity of their thoughts, the warriors, at a meeting, raised their visor, thereby demonstrating the friendliness of their plans. Another version of the origin of this sign is associated with earlier periods of human history. In ancient times, given in order to show that only the sun is higher than their ruler, when meeting with the autocrat, they covered their eyes with their hands, thereby demonstrating humility. Over time, the form of the gesture has changed slightly, but the content has remained unchanged. People in uniform show their respect and commitment to the authorities or the state symbol by raising their hands to their heads;
A hand extended at a meeting, or a handshake. The origin of this greeting is explained quite simply. In ancient times, an outstretched hand, without weapons, symbolized your peace plans and respect;
Raised middle finger. There are at least two explanations for this obscene gesture. According to one version, the ancient Greeks showed this symbol to those with whom they would like to perform actions, the meaning of which reflects what we mean by demonstrating this gesture today. Another option goes back to the beginning of the 15th century, when, during the Franco-English battle of Azincourt, French soldiers cut off the middle fingers of a captured English archer so that they could not shoot at them later. Naturally, those of the English, whom the vile Frenchmen could not catch, showed them their middle fingers from a safe distance, thereby showing their disdain and courage. Why didn't the French just kill the prisoners? The question remains open;
The so-called goat. A symbol that distinguishes true "metalheads" from the people around them. In one version, it is said that the sign originated among the ancient Vikings, and symbolized the Scandinavian rune that protects its owner from the evil eye. According to another version, this is the “springing” of Soviet prisoners, who, in order not to go to work, simply cut their tendons, and the hand took this shape spontaneously. Today, this symbol of coolness says that the person demonstrating it is a principled "thief in law", and he will not collect popcorn scattered in the cinema;
The well-known American OK. There may be variations in this gesture depending on the part of the world in which you are. In some nations, it symbolizes that your affairs are in perfect order, in others it means that you are a “complete zero”, and in some it demonstrates problems with the large intestine. According to one of the most plausible versions, this sign was borrowed from the non-verbal language of the native American inhabitants - the Indians, who thus showed their fellow tribesmen that there were no problems.

Some hand gestures and their meaning

Each gesture has its own interesting and multifaceted history, however, it's time to talk about their meaning and the practical use of this knowledge in everyday life.

open palm

In most cultures, an open hand is associated with honesty. Therefore, if you want to make people believe that you are telling the truth, it is not recommended to present your arguments with your hands clenched in fists.

At such moments, it is better to open your palms to show that you are not hiding anything.

On the other hand, be alert when someone says important things to you with their hands in their pockets or hidden behind their backs. Hidden palms do not make phrases more believable, even if they are correct. With a high degree of probability, it can be argued that your interlocutor is lying or hiding some important information from you.

Palm position up and down

The way you use your hands when communicating with others can greatly affect how they perceive your words and yourself. Ask a simple question with your palms up and people will think you're asking for a favor.

On the one hand, they will not be bothered by your request, but on the other hand, they will not feel threatened or pressured by you. If you ask this question with your palms facing down, it will be more like a requirement that must be met.

It can not only set the tone for any business or political meeting, but also influence its results. When two equal interlocutors shake hands, their palms remain in a vertical position.

But if the palm of one person is facing upwards when shaking hands, this can be perceived as a symbolic surrender, and denote the superiority of another person.

When talking, your interlocutor holds his hands behind his back and makes meaningless movements with them - he is not interested in you, you should stop the meaningless conversation, or move on to another topic.

What is the meaning of finger gestures

No less revelation can be gleaned from the position of the fingers on our hands. Let's give some examples.

There is a fine line between a hand gesture and a finger gesture, but we will talk about those cases in which the movement of the fingers is an independent signal.

Some finger gestures are unintentional, and by their position one can unmistakably read what emotional state the person is in, or about his attitude to the topic of conversation.

finger on the mouth - they lie to you;
during a conversation, the index finger involuntarily points in the direction of another person - a clear sign of dominance;
index finger up - you should be wary of such a person, since the gesture is often used by parents in relation to a negligent child;
fingers are straight and tightly pressed to each other - the person has made a firm decision to achieve his goal and he does not care about sentiment;
fingers squeeze the wrist or palm of the other hand - the interlocutor is furious, trying to restrain his emotions;
fingers are clenched into a fist from time to time - a clear sign of a hidden threat.

What about deaf people?

Many gestures, unconsciously used in communication, are reflected in the alphabet for the deaf and dumb.

The sign languages of the deaf and dumb belong to independent languages, which consist of combinations of hand and finger movements in combination with facial expressions, the position of the mouth, lips and body.

It is a mistake to assume that sign languages for the deaf and dumb were invented by hearing people in order to convey information to the non-hearing. In fact, these languages develop quite independently.

Moreover, in one country there may be several sign languages that do not grammatically coincide with the verbal languages of this country.

As practice shows, in the absence of the ability to use sound language as a means of communication, people instinctively begin to use gestures for this. The main means of communication for this are hands and fingers.

At the same time, deaf people have a lot of gestures, the meaning of which can be understood by an unprepared person. For example, the word “peace” in the language of the deaf and dumb will look like hands clasping each other located in front of the chest, “love” is a palm raised to the lips in the form of an air kiss, and “house” is palms folded in a triangle in the form of a gable roof.

Youth hand gestures and their meaning

Our children also use sign language for their communication, and the variety of these non-verbal signs is constantly enriched by the emergence of new ones. Here are a few examples of such youth gestures, with the help of which teenagers can easily understand each other, and people of the older generation, and even middle-aged people, will remain in the dark.

Time and scientific and technological progress dictate their conditions, and this fully applies to our gestures.

More recently, a hand folded in the shape of an English L did not mean anything, but today it is a loser, a sign that you are a loser.

An extended middle finger pointing to the side can mean that you are being sent, at the same time it can be interpreted as an invitation to sex.

With fingers folded in the form of a heart, everything is simple: "I love you." But the “horned goat” with the thumb laid aside means simple sympathy.

The English V, performed by a teenager with the back of his hand turned towards you, can mean both two "Cola", and serve as the equivalent of the middle finger in the UK. And such a familiar sign as OK, but upside down, and shown at waist level or below, is a frank invitation to sex.

Due to its specific versatility, using the language of hands and a few common English words, you can communicate with a foreigner who happens to be met on a busy street. Of course, you won’t be able to conclude a contract for the supply of gas equipment with him, but you can easily explain how to get to the nearest metro station or stadium.

Differences in the interpretation of familiar gestures in different countries

Do not rush to apply your wide knowledge of sign language when you are abroad. Some common symbols may have opposite meanings in different parts of the world. Let's look at the examples again.

If you're in France, the worldwide OK turns into a big fat zero. And in Turkey, with such a gesture, you will signal that your interlocutor is gay - not a very pleasant statement in a country where the majority of people are Muslims;
A thumbs-up and an outstretched forefinger means loser in teenage sign language, and in China this symbol represents the number eight;
A thumbs up in Europe and America says: “Everything is cool”, and in Iran, Afghanistan and Greece this obscene gesture will be read: “I ..., you ..., and all your relatives ...”, you understand;
The crossed index and middle fingers protect Europeans from the evil eye, and in Vietnam, such a figure denotes the female genital organ;
The stretched forward five stops all over the world, and, as it were, says: “Wait,” and in Greece it literally translates as “Eat shit.”

If, as the proverb says, silence is golden, then continuing the associative series, in some countries, the absence of gestures is a diamond.

The gestures and their interpretation that you have read are not limited to the examples given. The purpose of our article is to popularize, interest and direct. Perhaps our theses will help solve small life problems. Or maybe not small.

Some more additional information about the most popular gestures is in the next video.

The language of the deaf and dumb is a hot topic for the deaf and dumb themselves and for their potential interpreters, that is, those who speak and hear well. And this is no wonder. In developed countries, there are three sign language interpreters for every deaf and dumb person. And if you calculate all over the world, there are only three translators per hundred people of the deaf and dumb. Therefore, it is quite natural that sign language is of interest.

Types of language for the deaf and dumb

The problem of communication of hearing impaired people has been known to mankind for a long time. And this language also had its revolutions, ups and downs.

In the 18th century, there was the Amsel. His weakness was that he was constantly changing. Acquired many "dialects". People hardly understood each other.
By the middle of the last century, there was a need for an international language for the hearing impaired. He appeared. They called him a gesture. It includes hand gestures, body turns and facial expressions.

Language for the deaf and dumb and its types

It is important to distinguish the language of the hearing impaired from fingerprinting. The latter is the image of individual letters by hand. It is used for proper names, city names and specific words not yet included in the unified language.

Where can I go to learn the language of the deaf and dumb?

From the previous section it is clear: on the one hand, there is a fantastic need for sign language interpreters, on the other hand, no one is particularly eager for this profession. To answer the question why is too long and not too pleasant, so we immediately move on to the practical part - where to turn? The options are as follows.

Groups and communities of the hard of hearing and deaf and dumb. The salvation of the drowning is the work of the drowning themselves. Russian realities make many people feel like Barons Munchausen. Of course, this kind of service is free.
Educational institutions of both higher and middle levels. Available to social workers and linguists - free of charge.
If suddenly the sufferers did not find free courses, then there are paid ones. They are provided by research and methodological centers, as well as special schools for the hearing impaired and the deaf and dumb.

When you do not want to pay money (after all, this is not the most profitable investment), but there is a need for knowledge, then you should not despair. You need to turn to the great and mighty Internet, and he will tell you how to be.

How to learn the language of the deaf and dumb on your own?

In general, real education is self-education. The world is fast, highly efficient, so there is often no time to get a systematic education when a person needs specific skills. Consider options to learn a language for the deaf and dumb on your own.

Sites. The Internet, as always, helps out. A huge number of groups, communities that will help a person in the theoretical and practical development of the language.
Applications for phones. These are textbooks that do not take up much space and that can be opened at any time convenient for a person.
Books. Despite technological progress and newfangled novelties, books are still popular among the population. What can I say, books and dogs are man's best friends. But books are not for lazy people. They need to be dealt with seriously and thoughtfully.
Educational video. Plus, visibility. Minus - there is no mentor nearby who will help if something is wrong.

To understand whether a person speaks a language well or badly, practice is needed. Therefore, once the basics are mastered, it is necessary to find a community where you can test yourself. And don't be afraid. If a person is hard of hearing, then he will be welcome. If he does not have hearing problems, then he will be doubly welcome, because sign language interpreters are sorely lacking.

There are many languages in the world, but sign language occupies a special place among them. In order to communicate with deaf and dumb people, in the 18th century, the first sign language was developed, called Amslen. Subsequently, closer to the 20th century, it had many branches and interpretations. In the middle of the 20th century, an international sign speech, Gestuno, was developed to standardize the language of the deaf and dumb, which is still relevant. It is mainly based on the gestures that the speaker shows with his hands, with the help of facial expressions and due to various turns of the body.

In our country, Gestuno is not popular. If in Europe there are 300 sign language interpreters per hundred deaf and dumb people, then we have only 3. In 2012, amendments were made to the draft law “On Social Protection of the Disabled” regarding sign language. The language received official status, special educational institutions were created for the training and retraining of interested people, teachers, and the disabled. This had a positive effect on the percentage of those wishing to teach Zhestuno.

Local deaf and dumb communities provide special free classes that anyone can sign up for. In a few months, you will learn the basic aspects of Gestuno and, of course, try out the acquired knowledge in practice.
Educational sites - institutes and colleges, often include the subject of "sign language" in their programs. To a greater extent, this applies to social and linguistic specialties. So if you are still a student or planning to become one, then you have the opportunity to get acquainted with this subject for free.
In the event that you cannot find free courses, there are specialized paid classes based on research institutes, methodological centers, specialized schools for the deaf and dumb.

The structure of learning the language of the deaf and dumb

Let's take a closer look at what these special courses are and what you will receive at the end of the training.

Note that there are 3 levels of mastering Gestuno, which include the following skills:

Level 1 - a basic course for beginners, where they analyze the basic lexical norms and practice live communication.
Level 2 is a course for those who are already familiar with the base. It is designed for an initial acquaintance with the skills of translation from Gestuno.
Level 3 - includes the improvement of linguistic skills and in-depth training in simultaneous and consecutive translation.

Training at the levels lasts 3 months and consists of 44-50 academic hours. At the end of the course, you will receive a special certificate, which will indicate your level. But do not equate this piece of paper with the testimony of a sign language interpreter. To obtain such a crust, you will need to go through a special commission. You can try your hand at this after level 2.

How to learn a deaf and dumb language yourself

In addition to the methods listed above, you can learn deaf and dumb gestures yourself using the following resources:

On the Internet, you will find websites that will help you learn the language of the deaf. The most popular of them is the "City of gestures". You will also find a lot of useful information on social networks, in specialized groups on Zhestuno. In them you will work out both the theoretical part and the practical component with like-minded people.
Since progress does not stand still, special applications have been created for mobile devices, which are alphabets and sign language textbooks. Download the program to your phone and learn or repeat the information you need in your free time.
Books are a universal option for gaining knowledge in this area. However, this method is only suitable for those who are patient and willing to invest extra effort into learning. This is due to the fact that there will be no teacher nearby who can clearly explain everything to you, and, therefore, you will need more time to analyze the material.
Video lessons are a way to learn sign language close to special courses, but with the caveat that no one will correct you in case of mistakes. The main advantage of videos is the variety and clear, visual explanation of the material.

How to start learning sign language on your own

Before we figure out where to start, we note the following feature:

Gestuno is confused with the dactyling of letters, i.e., the image of individual letters with hands. Dactylology differs from the gestures of the deaf and dumb in that it is used to say proper names: cities, names of people, geographical names, etc., or to say a word for which a special gesture has not yet been invented. So keep that in mind when you get started.

So, having chosen one of the options for self-study, find information resources and choose those that are understandable and interesting.

To become fluent in sign language, you must first learn the alphabet. Once you feel confident in your handwriting skills, move on to learning non-verbal sign language. Build your lesson plan based on the difficulty levels described above. So, gradually you will be able to learn the language perfectly.

Do not forget that the most effective and quick way to learn a language is to communicate in it. So, even if you are studying alone, you still need to find yourself an interlocutor. So you can learn how to express thoughts correctly and understand what a like-minded person is thinking.

Learning Gestuno on your own is difficult, but after a while you will achieve visible results. The main thing is not to abandon training and reinforce theoretical knowledge with practice. Sign language is not more difficult than a foreign language, so gain strength, patience and soon get the desired result.

As you know, language learning always begins with theory. Therefore, at the first stages of learning the language of the deaf and dumb, you will need to get self-tutors. With their help, you can learn the necessary theoretical foundations that are needed to speak the language at a basic, that is, elementary level. In the language of the deaf and dumb, the basics are the alphabet and the words themselves.

How can I learn to speak the deaf-mute language on my own?

If you want to learn how to speak sign language, you need to have a minimum vocabulary. In the language of the deaf and dumb, almost any word can be expressed with a specific gesture. Learn the most common words that people use in everyday life, as well as learn how to pronounce simple phrases.

For this purpose, special dictionaries are perfect: the announcer shows a gesture corresponding to the word and the correct articulation. Similar dictionaries can be found on sites dedicated to learning sign language. But you can also use book format dictionaries. True, there you will see gestures only on, and this is not such a visual way of learning words.

To speak the language of the deaf and dumb, you will also need to learn the dactyl alphabet. It consists of 33 gestures, each of which corresponds to a specific letter of the alphabet. In conversation, the dactyl alphabet is not often used, but you still need to know it: letter gestures are used when pronouncing new words for which there are no special gestures yet, as well as for proper names (first names, surnames, names of settlements, etc.).

Once you have mastered the theoretical part, that is, learn the deaf-and-dumb alphabet and master the basic vocabulary, you will need to find a way to communicate with native speakers with which you will train your conversational skills.

Where can you practice sign language?

It is important to understand that learning to speak the language of the deaf and dumb without practice is an impossible task. Only in the process of real communication can you master conversational skills at such a level that you can understand sign language well and be able to explain yourself in it.
So, where can you talk with native speakers of the deaf-mute language? First of all, these are all kinds of online resources: social networks, thematic forums and specialized sites, the audience of which is hearing-impaired or deaf people. Modern means of communication will allow you to fully communicate with native speakers without leaving your home.

You can go on a more complex, but at the same time more effective way. Find out if there are special schools for the deaf in your city or any other community for the hard of hearing and deaf people. Of course, a hearing person will not be able to become a full member of such an organization. But this is possible if you learn the language of the deaf and dumb not for pleasure, but to communicate in it with someone close to you. You can also sign up to volunteer at a boarding school for deaf children. There you will be completely immersed in the language environment, as you will be able to really communicate closely with native sign language speakers. And at the same time doing good deeds - as a rule, volunteers are always needed in such institutions.

In our classes, we devoted more and more time to the history of the creation of writing. But this time I wanted something different, more unusual and modern. So the idea came up to tell children about other languages. Already in the plans are:

Sign language;
- the language of spies;
- programming languages;
- Braille cipher.

Gestuno is the language of people with hearing impairments.

Deaf people communicate using gestures - quick hand movements accompanied by a lively facial expression. These gestures, like any other language, need to be learned. They quickly convey information to the interlocutor. Where hearing people need many words, for example: Shall we go across the bridge?, one gesture is enough for deaf people.
This possibility is also used where it is impossible to hear: under water by divers or in space by astronauts working outside the spacecraft.
International alphabet of gestures. Each language has its own system of naming letters or sounds.

Sign languages for the deaf and dumb vary from country to country. There are TV programs in which the text is "translated" for the deaf. Then, in the corner of the screen, you can see the announcer, who silently gesticulates, i.e. speaks in sign language.
There are more than 13 million deaf and hard of hearing people in Russia. The birth of a child with hearing impairment in the family is a difficult test both for parents and for the child himself, who needs special teaching aids and, most importantly, communication with peers and relatives. Fortunately, the Russian Society of the Deaf is actively working on this front. Thanks to the activities of its branches, people with hearing impairments unite and communicate with each other without feeling excluded from the social process.

There are also problems: the lack of educational institutions that accept people with hearing impairments, the lack of sign language interpreters and teaching aids that allow them to master sign language.
Russian Sign Language is an independent language unit used for communication by people with hearing impairments.

Sign language does not consist only of a static figure shown by hands - it also contains a dynamic component (the hands move in a certain way and are in a certain position relative to the face) and a mimic component (the speaker's facial expression illustrates the gesture). Also, during a conversation in gestuno, it is customary to "pronounce" words with your lips.

In addition to this, when communicating with people with hearing impairments, you should be extremely attentive to your posture and involuntary hand gestures - they can be misinterpreted.
The basis of sign language is the dactyl (finger) alphabet. Each letter of the Russian language corresponds to a certain gesture (see picture).

Knowing this alphabet will help at first to overcome the "language barrier" between you and a person with a hearing impairment. But Dactyling (spelling) is rarely used by the deaf in everyday speech. Its main purpose is to pronounce proper names, as well as terms for which their own gesture has not yet been formed.

For most words in Russian Sign Language, there is a gesture that denotes the whole word. At the same time, I want to note that almost all gestures are intuitive and very logical. For example:

"Writing" - we kind of take a pen and write on the palm of our hand. "Count" - we begin to bend our fingers. "Grandfather" - very reminiscent of a beard, right? Sometimes in gestures for complex concepts, you simply marvel at how accurately the essence of the subject is noticed.

The structure of sign language is not complicated at all. The word order corresponds to the usual sentences of the Russian language. For prepositions and conjunctions of one letter, their dactyl gesture (a letter from the alphabet) is used. Verbs are not conjugated or declined. To indicate time, it is enough to give a marker word (Yesterday, Tomorrow, 2 days ago) or put the gesture "was" before the verb.

Like any other language, Russian sign language is very lively, changes all the time and varies greatly from region to region. Manuals and training materials are updated at a snail's pace. Therefore, the recent publication of a primer for children with hearing impairments has become a real event.

The basic gestures with which you can communicate with deaf people are quite elementary:

The main difficulty is not even in mastering gestures, but in learning to "read" them from the hands. Gestures are complex - they consist of several positions of the brush, following one after another. And out of habit it is difficult to separate the end of one gesture and the beginning of another. Therefore, learning gestuno takes no less time than learning any foreign language, and maybe more.

We often see people with hearing impairments in the subway and on the street, in cafes. These are cheerful, shining people, completely ordinary, just having other ways of communicating. Deafness does not prevent them from being happy - having friends, a favorite job and a family. They can even sing in tin and dance - yes, yes, people with hearing impairments still hear music,