|
|
Manually Coded English vs "natural" Sign Languages
Manually Coded English is a generic descriptive term for a variety of visual communication methods expressed through the hands which attempt to represent the English language. Unlike 'natural' Deaf Sign Languages, MCE generally follows the grammar and syntax of spoken English. Because of this, forms of MCE can successfully be used with Simultaneous Communication - this is not possible with, for example, American Sign Language, because it involves speaking two different languages at the same time. It is common for a native ASL speaker to code-switch into a form of MCE such as when conversing with someone whose first language is not ASL, or when quoting something in English.The different forms of Manually Coded English were originally developed for use in the education of deaf children, as their literacy in written English has been typically low compared to their hearing peers. This educational method was popularised by Abbé Charles-Michel de l'Epee who in the 1750s developed a method using hand-signs to teach the French language to deaf children. The educational setting is still the most common place where Manually Coded English is found; not only with deaf students, but also children with other kinds of speech or language difficulties.
The variety of Manually Coded English include Signed Exact English (SEE), Manual Coded English and Pidgin English.
Signed Exact English (SEE)
Signed Exact English (SEE) was developed in 1972 by Gerilee Gustason. It is not a language; it is a manually coded form of English that uses ASL signs supplemented with special signs or inflections that allow English to be signed exactly as it is spoken.The supplemental items added to SEE, which are handled differently in ASL, include things like pronouns, plurals, possession, and the verb "to be". For example, pronouns are handled via spatial reference in ASL, but would be signed as a specific sign representing (for example, the word "he" or "she") the pronoun in SEE. Also, SEE includes special signs for "is", "are", "was" and other forms of the verb "to be", which are just not used in ASL.
SEE is most often used in an educational setting, where the focus is on English as a first language.
Proponents of SEE believe that it helps with learning English, since it manually reproduces English word-for-word in the same order as English.
There is some controversy over whether someone who needs a manual language would be better off with SEE or with ASL. Proponents of ASL point to the fact that it's possible to become skilled in both English and ASL, without signing in SEE. It's very much a personal preference. People who are comfortable with ASL would never sign among themselves in SEE even though they could understand and communicate with someone who did sign in SEE. In practice, people who use SEE often sign in Pidgin Signed English (PSE) rather than "exact" English. PSE is neither ASL nor SEE, but is perhaps best described as a combination of both.
Pidgin Sign English
What kind of sign language is it when you do not sign pure ASL with its own grammar, or use signed exact English? It is called pidgin sign(ed) English, or PSE. A more recent term is "contact signing."PSE is not a true language and lacks rules. It is viewed by sign linguistics experts as a way to "bridge" the gap between native ASL speakers and native English speakers. Native speakers can be either deaf or hearing. It contains a mix of ASL rules and English grammar. The signs used in PSE come from ASL, but they are not used in an ASL-ish way, but rather in a more normal English pattern.
PSE speakers also may not utilize certain elements of the English language such as the words "the," etc., to speed up communication.
Signed English
Signed English is also signed while speaking English simultaneously. English word order is generally used. This manual code was originally meant for young children, even though entire programs began using this method. Some signers are more conceptual in their signing, while others tend to be literal signers.Most of the signs in Signed English have ASL origins. Bornstein’s basic rules are: sign either a word alone or a sign word and one sign marker; fingerspell words not provided in the dictionary; and create plurals by repeating the signs for nouns.
Signed English has fourteen affix markers (e.g. ing, -s, -ed, -y etc.) Signed English has fewer markers than SEE-2 and once the child understands the use of the marker, adult users may drop the marker.
The verb "to be" is signed. Homonyms are sometimes signed the same and other times are signed based on the conceptual meaning.