Introduction to Sign Languages

Overview

The unit introduces you to the definition of sign language, and how Ghanaian Sign language and Deaf education started in Ghana. The relevance of learning sign language will be explored. Again, the GhSL manual alphabet (MA) will be learned, and the rules regarding how to use the MA for finger spelling will be practiced. 

Learning Outcomes 

By the end of this module, participants will be able to:

• • Explain the meaning of sign language 

  • Relate the history of GhSL

  • Relate some of the relevance of learning GhSL to healthcare students.

  • Sign all the GhSL manual alphabets.

  • List all the rules for finger spelling in GhSL

  • Identify a word spelled using GhSL manual Alphabet

Activities in this section

1. Discuss: your understanding of sign languages and its relevance in health care practice

2. Watch: Learn how to sign the GhSL Manual Alphabet

3. Fingerspell: Get acquainted with the GhSL Manual Alphabet and practice how to spell your name and other words

4. Watch a video and identify some finger-spell words 

5. Exercise: Download the Fingerseek activity and search for the list of words.

Sign Languages

  What is Sign Language?

• Is a visual means of communicating using gestures, facial expressions, and body language.

• Natural Languages of the Deaf

• Evolve from the deaf community

• Every country has its own sign language

• There are families of sign languages

• GSl evolved from ASL

(Read details from the book Introduction to Sign Language.)- Get a copy (click)

    Importance of Learning GhSL

• Helps break communication barriers between health workers and deaf clients

• Helps Ghana implement its disability policy

• Active when the voice is inactive [Noisy environment, Distance, Problem with voice]

• An advantage of having two means of communicating

(Download the article "Perception of Ghanaian healthcare students towards the learning of sign language as course" for more details.) 

Sign Language Manual Alphabet

Sign Language Alphabet, Manual Alphabet, or Finger Alphabet is an alphabet used by the Deaf or users of the language to communicate with the Deaf. Characters (letters) are represented by hand or finger positions. The purpose of using the sign language alphabet is to enhance communication when using sign language, specifically to ensure the correct meaning in technical language or titles and the proper mode of address. Each letter of the GSL Manual Alphabet is represented by a handshake.

In all, there are 22 handshapes under the GSL Manual Alphabet, though the letter signs in the GSL Manual Alphabet are 26, the same number of letters as in the English Language Alphabet. Several letters have the same hand shape and are distinguished by orientation and movement. These are "h" and "u," "k" and "p," "g" and "L," and "I" and "J.". Letters such as J and Z involve motion, yet 'U' sometimes signs with slight motion. The manual alphabet can be signed with any hand, normally the signer's dominant hand—that is, the right hand for right-handers and the left hand for left-handers.

Basic Rules for Fingerspelling

1. Don't bounce or punch your hand with each letter 

2. Don't look at your hand when fingerspelling.  Make eye contact with your viewers.

3.     Maintain the same palm orientation.  

4.     Use the same hand to fingerspell more than one 

5.     Don't move your hand horizontally.  Keep it steady at one point in space.

6.     Don't block your face. 

Login to myclass.knust.edu.gh or read page 10 of the book "Introduction to Sign Language" for details