手語大拷問

手語在英文中是Sign Language——標志語言。原來老外們交流的時候除了用手勢，還配合有表情、嘴型、眼神……所以來吧，大家一起來看看美國手語是什么樣的？

Q: What is American Sign Language?

A: American Sign Language(ASL)is a complete， complex{1} language that employs{2} signs made with the hands and other movements， including facial expressions{3} and postures{4} of the body. It is the first language of many deaf North Americans， and one of several communication options available to{5} deaf people. ASL is said to be the fourth most commonly used language in the United States.

Q: Is sign language the same around the globe?

A: No one form of sign language is universal{6}. For example， British Sign Language(BSL)differs notably from{7} ASL. Different sign languages are used in different countries or regions{8}.

Q: Where did ASL originate?

A: The exact beginnings of ASL are not clear. Many people believe that ASL came mostly from French Sign Language(FSL). Others claim that the foundation for ASL existed before FSL was introduced in America in 1817. It was in that year that a French teacher named Laurent Clerc， brought to the United States by Thomas Gallaudet， founded the first school for the deaf in Hartford， Connecticut. Clerc began teaching FSL to Americans， though many of his students were already fluent in their own forms of local， natural sign language. Today’s ASL likely contains some of this early American signing. Which language had more to do with the formation of modern ASL is difficult to prove. Modern ASL and FSL share some elements， including a substantial{9} amount of vocabulary.

Q: How does ASL compare with spoken language?

A: In spoken language， the different sounds created by words and tones of voice are the most important devices{10} used to communicate. Sign language is based on the idea that sight is the most useful tool a deaf person has to communicate and receive information. Thus， ASL uses hand shape， position， and movement， body movements， gestures， facial expressions， and other visual{11} cues{12} to form its words. Like any other language， fluency in ASL happens only after a long period of study and practice.

Q: Why does ASL become a first language for many deaf people?

A: Parents are often the source of a child’s early acquisition{13} of language. A deaf child who is born to deaf parents who already use ASL will begin to acquire ASL as naturally as a hearing child picks up spoken language from hearing parents. However， language is acquired differently by a deaf child with hearing parents who have no prior experience with ASL. Some hearing parents choose to introduce sign language to their deaf children. Hearing parents who choose to learn sign language often learn it along with their child. Nine out of every ten children who are born deaf are born to parents who hear. Other communication models， based in spoken English， exist apart from ASL， including oral， auditory-verbal， and cued speech. As with any language， interaction with other children and adults is also a significant factor in acquisition.

Q: Why emphasize early language learning?

A: Parents should introduce deaf children to language as early as possible. The earlier any child is exposed to{14} and begins to acquire language， the better that child's communication skills will become. Research suggests that the first six months are the most crucial{15} to a child's development of language skills. All newborns should be screened for deafness or hearing loss before they leave the hospital or within the first month of life. Very early discovery of a child’s hearing loss or deafness provides parents with an opportunity to learn about communication options. Parents can then start their child’s language learning process during this important stage of development.

批 注：

{1} complex: 復雜的，錯綜復雜的，難懂的。a complex network of water channels.

{2} employ: 這里的意思不是雇傭了，而是使用，利用。How do you employ your spare time?

{3} facial expression: 臉部表情。Facial是face的形容詞，of or affecting the face.

{4} posture: 姿勢，姿態。a position of a person’s body when standing or sitting. He stood in a flamboyant posture with his hands on his hips.

{5} available: 可用的，在手邊的，可利用的。必須接for或者to。The swimming pool is available only in summer.

{6} universal: 全體的，普遍的，一般的。of， affecting， or done by all people or things in the world or in a particular group; applicable to all cases: universal adult suffrage， the incidents caused universal concern. The government introduced universal secondary education years ago.

{7} differ notable from: 與某事極大不同。這個詞組相當于be greatly different from.

{8} different countries or regions: 這個詞組非常重要。在表達世界各地的時候，用這個詞組萬無一失。因為很多國家和地區都有政治主權問題，而這個詞組是唯一避免這個問題的。

{9} substantial: 多的，大的，大量的，豐盛的。I had a substantial meal.

{10} device: 設備，儀器，裝置。The television receiver is an electronic device.

{11} visual: 視力的，視覺的。of or relating to seeing or sight: visual perception. Near-sightedness is a visual defect.

{12} cue: 暗示，信號，線索。a thing said or done that serves as a signal to an actor or other performer to enter or to begin their speech or performance. I threw her a cue but she missed it.

{13} acquisition: 獲得，取得。the learning or developing of a skill， habit， or quality: the acquisition of management skills. He devotes his time to the acquisition of knowledge.

{14} be exposed to: 暴露于，接觸到。They consider it almost a crime to expose children to violence and sex on TV. 他們認為讓兒童接觸暴力和色情電視節目幾乎是一種犯罪行為。

{15} crucial: 決定性的，重要的。后面必須接to或者for。decisive or critical， especially in the success or failure of something: Negotiations were at a crucial stage. This game is crucial to our survival. These negotiations are crucial to the future of our firm.

編輯/孫櫟櫟