Sign Language: Etiquette

Video Transcript

Now, I'll teach you a little bit of etiquette, some appropriate ways to communicate with a deaf person. It isn't like communicating with a hearing person. Speaking and signing are entirely different. The first thing that's very important is that you maintain eye contact. It isn't rude to keep that eye contact in the deaf community. A deaf person doesn't appreciate if someone looks away because they need to make sure that they're maintaining that communication with you. American Sign Language is a visual language, so it's okay to maintain that eye contact. If you need the attention of a deaf person, you wouldn't yell. You also wouldn't throw something. It's okay to tap a person on the shoulder or give them a gentle wave. But I would say the best way is to tap someone on the shoulder if you need their attention. Facial expressions are also vital in communicating with a deaf person. A deaf person can read a person's expressions very well. If you sign with very flat emotion on your face, they might not understand what you're trying to say. The last important thing is not to nod as if you're bluffing. I know that hearing people typically do that often. But with the deaf person, if you're nodding, when you don't understand, that's not appropriate. So you want to make sure that you're showing when you understand, but don't pretend to understand. Okay? Good job.

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