How many sign languages and gestures do you know?
Sign language, as a unique form of language, opens the door to communication for people who are deaf and mute, allowing them to express their thoughts, emotions, and needs. While most of us may not have much exposure to sign language in our daily lives, understanding some commonly used sign languages and gestures can not only increase our understanding and respect for the deaf-mute community, but may also play an unexpected role at certain critical moments.
Let's start by getting acquainted with some sign language that represents numbers. From one to five, it is usually indicated by fingers. One is to extend the index finger, the second is to extend the index finger and middle finger, the third is to extend the index finger, middle finger and ring finger, the fourth is to extend the index finger, middle finger, ring finger and little finger, and five is to put the five fingers together. There are some variations from six to nine, six is to extend the thumb and little finger, and the rest of the fingers are bent; The seventh is to pinch the thumb, index finger and middle finger together, and bend the rest of the fingers; The eighth is to extend the thumb and index finger in an "L" shape, and the rest of the fingers are bent; Nine is to bend the index finger into a hook-like shape. Ten is crossed with the index fingers of both hands.
In addition to numbers, there are also some words and expressions that are commonly used in daily life. For example, "Hello" means first extending your right hand and pointing your index finger at the other person, and then giving a thumbs up. "Thank you" is to make a fist with your right hand, extend your thumb, and bend it twice. "I'm sorry" is to first place your right hand in front of your chest, then palm down, and slash from the front of your body to the left. "Goodbye" means raising the right hand and waving it left and right.
The expression "I love you" is very warm in sign language. Start by extending your right hand with your fingers together and drawing a heart shape clockwise on your chest. When we want to express "happiness", we can make the other person feel the joy by stretching our hands horizontally, palms up, and moving them up twice in front of our chests at the same time, with a smile on our faces. And "sad" is to stretch your hands horizontally, palms up, and move down twice at the same time in front of your chest, with a sad expression.
Let's talk about sign language about direction and location. "Up" means the right hand index finger pointing upward, and "Down" means the right hand index finger pointing downward. "Left" is when the right hand extends the index finger to the left, and "right" is when the right hand extends the index finger and points to the right. "Front" is the right hand stretched forward with the palm outward, and "back" is the right hand stretched out backward with the palm outward.
In the process of learning sign language, we must not only memorize the movements of these gestures, but also understand the emotions and meanings they convey. Sign language is not a simple gesture, and every gesture carries a wealth of information. Through sign language, deaf people are able to communicate with others, share their stories, and participate in social life.
However, in reality, our attention and support for the deaf-mute community is far from enough. In public places, we rarely see specialized services and amenities for the deaf. Many people also encounter difficulties in communicating with deaf people because they do not understand sign language, and even have misunderstandings and prejudices. This undoubtedly brings a lot of inconvenience to the lives of the deaf and mute, and also makes them feel isolated and helpless in society.
We should take active action to increase the promotion and promotion of sign languages. Schools can offer sign language courses that allow students to understand and learn the language from an early age. The media could also produce more programmes on sign language and the deaf-mute community to raise public awareness. At the same time, all sectors of society should work together to create a more friendly and inclusive environment for deaf-mute people, so that they can participate equally in all aspects of social life.
When we learn some common sign language and gestures, we can take the initiative to communicate with deaf people and give them help and care when we meet them. A simple smile or a friendly gesture can become a bridge connecting each other's hearts and making them feel the warmth and care of society.
Let's work together to break down the boundaries of language and embrace every soul in need with love and understanding. Let sign language become a bridge of communication for us, and make the world a better and more harmonious place.
It is believed that in the near future, with the progress of society and the improvement of people's awareness, sign language will be more widely used and respected, and deaf-mute people will be able to integrate into society more freely and realize their dreams and values. Let's work together for this beautiful goal!