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From:
Patsy van Andel Date: Sun Mar 18, 2001 9:27 pm Subject: Writing Sign Language | ||||||||
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Hi Angus, Thank you for your advice. As you said, it's difficult to write well in a language that is not your own. I have the advantage of being able to think and feel in Dutch. What I mean is, I don't have to translate what I want to say into English before I can say it in Dutch. I am taking a writing course (Dutch) and, up until now, have had very good reviews on all of my assignments. Don't ask my why or how that is, but I can express my emotions equally well in Dutch as in English. My husband is Dutch, so he proofreads all of my work. I realize that that isn't possible if I try to write in sign. I would then, like you said, need someone that is a sign language expert. I don't presume to think that I can learn sign language and sign writing in a few months. What I am hoping is that, like any other language, I can learn them simultaneously. I have no ambitions of writing articles for newspapers or magazines. I want to write for children and what can be more beautiful than writing for children that cannot hear. Hearing children take reading for granted (with the exception of children with Dyslexia). The story becomes alive through the voice intonation of the reader. Why shouldn't deaf children be able to "see" and read the emtions of the story? For those who might think I take learning sign language and sign writing lightly, I do not. I do, however, have the advantage of speaking and understanding three languages and am also what we in Holland call taalgevoelig (language sensitive). I pick up foreign languages quite easily, quite possibly because I worked in an environment where I constantly heard up to 12 languages being spoken (NATO). I realize that signing is completely different, but it has always fascinated me and the thought of being able to write in sign excites me. I have also been trying to find out where I can take a course, but up until now, no one has answered my e-mails. Considering the fact that I just stumbled onto the site last week and have only been trying to gain information since then, I have come a long way in my search for information. Hopefully I can learn more from you and all the others who are experienced in this field. Thank you for your advice and help. I will certainly follow it. Since I am a "rookie" and have a lot to learn, I am grateful for all the advice you can give. Your address is listed at the University of New Mexico. I was born in Albuquerque and my father and step-sister and her family live in Cimarron. I hope to hear more from you soon. Patsy | ||||||||
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