Asl - Blog Posts
(via https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7POL3MhfgA)
can you write a fic where reader is deaf and Emily learn sign language for them??
Enjoy!!
Prentiss Signs
Truthfully? You never expected her to try. You couldn't just expect something like that from someone, or at least you'd come to learn that.
Emily was already so busy, with jetting off to cases, working long nights, leading the team, carrying the weight of so many lives. You'd told her more than once, "It's okay... you don't have to."
And you meant it.
But Emily Prentiss has a stubborn streak, and she doesn't do anything halfway. So when she showed up one evening with a stack of notecards, her hair a mess and her jacket over one arm, you just stared.
She dropped her keys, and her bag, and signed (clumsily, but surprisingly clearly), "Hi. I want to learn." You blinked, then blinked again.
She smiled, nervous and unsure, and added aloud, slow enough for you to read her lips, "I know I got that wrong. But... I want to do this. For you."
And so it began.
At first, Emily struggled. Her slim fingers didn't want to cooperate, she'd blame it on her years of holding stiff guns, her brow would furrow constantly.
And more than once she muttered, "This shouldn't be harder than hostage negotiations," which you couldn't help but giggle at, though you'd quickly hide it under a cough when her arms would cross with a sigh.
But you were patient, as patient as she'd allow. You signed things slowly, sometimes repeating them two, three even four times till she got it.
When she fumbled through something as simple as "coffee" or "work", she'd huff and sign something vaguely chaotic that made you burst out with silent laughter.
Still, she persevered, kept going.
She even enrolled in ASL class on Thursday nights, juggling it between her BAU schedule and mountains of Chief worthy paperwork.
You'd catch her practicing in the mirror, mouthing the words while signing them slowly, her fingers dancing shakily until they learned the easing rhythm.
You'd fall asleep sometimes with her arm wrapped around your waist, her free hand unconsciously tracing the alphabet against your back. And slowly, oh so slowly, she got better.
You taught her curse words when she needed to vent, and jokes when she needed to smile. She learned "I love you" early, she practiced it more than once.
One night, without warning, she looked at you, no stumble or hesitation, and signed it. Perfectly. "I love you". You forgot how to breath for a second.
- - -
A few months later...
You, something you don't usually do, join the BAU team for dinner. Garcia picked the restaurant, somewhere trendy and loud, all laughter and clinking glasses.
The team has taken over a long table in the back. Emily rests her hand on your lower back as you slide into the seat beside her. And just like that, it starts.
Morgan is already in story mode, laughing at something Spencer had mistakenly done last week, talking a mile a minute. JJ is trying to keep up, and Garcia's hand gestures alone could tell a full story.
You lean back, a little overwhelmed, your brows furrowing as you slowly get left behind...
But then Emily taps your thigh gently, her fingers drawing your attention. She signs slowly, "Morgan said Reid spilled coffee on Hotch's files. Again."
You snort. Emily smiles.
Every few minutes, she checks in, translating certain bits of fast conversation, shortening some, skipping others, but making sure you're never left out of the loop.
She signs across your lap, under the table, casually but clearly, pausing sometimes to double check her signs. Once, when she fumbles over a complex phrase Garcia throws out, she huffs, rolls ger eyes and signs, "I'm trying, okay?"
You kiss her cheek. Knowing Garcia was one to make up her own words and phrases to emphasise her misfortune.
- - -
Later that night, when everyone was full and winding down, you notice the others looking at her a little differently. Not unkindly. Just... moved.
Emily, who once struggled to remember the difference between "want" and "need", is now translating full conversations without missing a beat or made up word.
And she learned it all, just for you.
You squeeze her hand under the table, signing a slow, heartfelt, "Thank you. I see you." She squeezes back, "Always, love."
Hey! Also, lots of libraries have resources for learning ANY language. Libraries are awesome.
You can sign up for a bunch of online resources for free with Transparent Language Online (transparent.com), through your local library.
I've used it for a while, and it seems that a lot of the ASL backend stuff is taken from signingsavvy.com (normally you'd have to pay).
I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again but it is absolutely an example of civilizational inadequacy that only deaf people know ASL
“oh we shouldn’t teach children this language, it will only come in handy if they [checks notes] ever have to talk in a situation where it’s noisy or they need to be quiet”
Do u know ASL if yes what the best way for a beginner to learn and is asl the first one should i start with even if im not an American, if no i wasn't here and ty anyway
I'd say I'm pretty proficient as I'm taking ASL college classes in the fall, but take this with a grain of salt because everyone is different!! It's completely up to you whether you want to learn American Sign or another country's sign language or even both!! Just start with one and take it slow :) What really got me started is learning how to fingerspell, count, and sign basic words and phrases. You can do this online or take an irl class (BE VERY CAREFUL IF YOU LEARN ONLINE AND MAKE SURE YOUR SOURCES ARE CREDIBLE. My favorite is Bill Vicars on youtube and handspeak.com cus we use him as examples in my irl classes!! Also note that if someone is signing a word and it's different from what you learned, signs are very regional so they might have small differences based on the state or area, dont worry too much about it though, the deaf community is SO understanding and kind when it comes to learning.) I also recommend investing in a book because I find it so engaging and fun to just read it and practice the signs regularly. LASTLY MAKE SURE YOURE CONSUMING ALOT OF MEDIA FROM THE DEAF COMMUNITY like movies, books, and other things!! because it's not just a language, it's a culture and it has its own norms and things like that so not only will it help you learn the language, but you'll know how to manage in the deaf world without being insensitive!! Hope this helps, and if you have any questions, feel free to ask, and I'll bring it up with my instructor if you'd like!! :)
I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again but it is absolutely an example of civilizational inadequacy that only deaf people know ASL
“oh we shouldn’t teach children this language, it will only come in handy if they [checks notes] ever have to talk in a situation where it’s noisy or they need to be quiet”
Learning ASL
So you want to learn ASL? Congratulations on taking the first step!
Many people want to learn ASL to communicate with Deaf people, being nonspeaking, their hearing is going away, hearing fatigue, they consider ASL a "beautiful" language, or just for fun!
ASL is a language separate from english, and it's primarily used in the US and some parts of Canada. ASL, American sign language is the second biggest sign language, with the first being CSL, Chinese sign language.
Here are my recommendations for you to help you learn ASL!
In addition to learning basic verbs, etc, try to learn one random word per day!
Download ASL apps if you haven't already, they'll help you to learn basic verbs easier. Some good ASL apps are Lingvano, ASL Sign Language Pocket Sign, and Hands On ASL.
Watch Youtubers who sign ASL without the sound on. My personal favorite is L1z Harris.
If it's possible watch movies or shows with people signing in them, such as CODA.
I hope your learning goes well!
Hard of hearing Steve Harrington is so real to me.
Eddie starts to realise how much Steve concentrates on watching people’s mouths when they talk. At first he doesn’t think much of it until Eddie is watching Steve as Mike and Dustin argue about something and his head is whipping between the two of them trying to read their lips to get an idea of what’s going on. Eddie puts his hand on Steve knee to see if he’s ok, thinking Steve’s just stressed seeing his ‘children’ argue but Steve says to Eddie, without taking his eyes off Dustin and Mike, “don’t distract me I’m trying to see what they’re saying”. It then clicks for Eddie that all that head trauma has had a bigger impact on Steve than he originally thought. He keeps a closer eye on Steve that night as he plans what to do.
When Steve next comes around to the trailer Eddie decides to try talk to him with his back turned to see if Steve understands him. He’s met with a lot of “huh?”, “can you repeat that?”, and “can you turn around?” Eddie finally decided to ask Steve about his hearing, and in true Steve fashion he denies all and claims he can hear perfectly fine. Eddie just stares at him and covers his own mouth and stays “no you can’t”. Steve throws his head back and just sits in silence for a while, thinking. After a few minutes he turns to Eddie and asks “so, you can understand people without having to read their lips?” Eddie nods, and Steve sighs as Eddie grabs his hand, rubbing his thumb. “You know we could learn ASL together?” Eddie suggests as he turns his head to fully face Steve. “You’d really do that for me?” “Of course I’d do that for you, you idiot. I want to talk to you and for you to actually understand what I’m saying.” Steve’s face lights up, and his eyes well up, realising he’s never had someone pay this much attention to the little things about him and actually want to help him. Steve leans in and gently kisses Eddie, and pulls away to show one of the few pieces of ASL Steve knows.
“I love you” 🤟
When the ASL brothers fight they still sleep together because they can't sleep alone but they put little pillow walls in between eachother.
I'll some a few doodle my characters for genderbend.
He can't stop thinking about her so much every day. And he said "no matter what, no matter how old we are." (Gap age)
Deaf in a Hearing World
It's hard enough to go from middle school to high school, even harder when you are going to a brand new school, but imagine doing all of that AND being deaf - the only deaf student in the school. That's what Jocelyn was going through when she entered 9th grade - alone in a big new school, without a friend, and feeling so out of place being a deaf person in a hearing world. Her cochlear implants ASL helped her to hear, just a bit, but they also looked strange to the other kids. She didn't know anyone, had no friends there, and nobody seemed to care about her, or noticed that she was all alone. In fact, because she was deaf, the other kids ignored her, or looked at her strangely and whispered to each other. This all made her feel even more alone, more different. She felt so isolated. Her deafness seemed to be holding her back and and stopped students from getting close to her in a way she should be just like any other kid. Then, one day in poetry class, a boy sitting in front of her passed her a note. She had never gotten a note before. He asked her is she wanted a friend. She could hardly believe it, hardly trust it - but there he was, asking, sincere. She said yes and, eventually, they became best friends! He spoke to her as if she wasn't deaf, and that made her so happy. He made her feel like she belonged. He treated her just like any other hearing person. And they did what any other friends would do, went to the Mall, to Starbucks, and the library to study and draw. He began to experience a day though a deaf person's eyes. Now they are always hanging out together. And he taught Jocelyn the true meaning of friendship, which was the greatest gift she had ever received. It changed her, brought her back to life, and for that, Jocelyn will always be thankful and grateful.
reblog if you think sign language should be taught as a language in schools.
🗣🗣🗣🗣🗣