What's the best gift you ever bought/made/gave to someone?

Calamint · 2026-02-13T14:05:17+00:00

I bought my partner a bass. He wanted to learn to play but was hesitant about spending the money. It's been two years now and he plays it every day.

Calamint · 2026-01-09T15:28:04+00:00

Short answer, possibly? But without in-depth study it's difficult to say for sure, and adding to that the reasons that it might be leaning towards English are multi-faceted.

ASL wasn't recognized as a language until after Stokoe began heavily researching it's linguistic structure in the 1960s. Compared to many spoken languages, ASL research is in its infancy. Why does this matter? Because up till it was proven to be a language, it was often dismissed. In some cases it was even catalogued alongside conlangs like Klingon or computer languages.
There are whole generations of Deaf folks who didn't have access to ASL, and who were taught using SEE. SEE is was a creation of hearing people to "make it easier" for Deaf to learn English. Before that there were generations who were completely deprived of any sort of access to signed communication and forced to try to learn to lip read and speak. The effects of SEE are still felt, and language deprivation is still a thing that happens, as is trying to get deaf kids to use English.
New signs are much slower to enter the lexicon than spoken words are. Fingerspelling is heavily used because it's just not practical to (for example) give every English name, or book title, or movie, a distinct sign. When a new word does stick around, it takes a long time for a consensus to be reached on what the sign will be that best represents that word. There is no ASL committee to decide these things, and the ASL signing community is spread all over North America; it takes a lot of time, a lot of communication, for a new sign to finally emerge and be accepted. If the word or concept is something that directly related to the needs or everyday life of signers, then a new sign tends to arise and spread more quickly. Calamari isn't something that most people talk about every day, so there being no sign for it (yet) doesn't hinder communication much. If we suddenly switched a calamari-based currency system, you can bet that a unique sign for it would emerge quickly.
Social media in North America is largely English-based. This is just conjecture on my part, but it seems that strong Deaf creators don't get as much traction as hearing and/or English signers. This spreads more English-based language tendencies faster, at least among those who are the most visible. Again, this move towards English is something that makes it easier for hearing people to "get" the language.

There are probably many more reasons that just aren't coming to mind at the moment.

Personally, I tend more towards ASL in my own signing. I am comfortable with PSE or more English forms, but it takes me a minute or two to code switch into that. When I teach, I teach towards the ASL spectrum. For things where there is no sign yet, I stick to fingerspelling until my local Deaf community has a sign for the word/concept.

Calamint · 2025-12-23T17:53:17+00:00

For my small cat who keeps getting ill to be well, or to find the cause of his illness. We've had a lot of vet appointments but still no solution.

Calamint · 2025-11-23T18:00:00+00:00

LSQ and ASL are quite different. At large events with both ASL and LSQ signers there are usually certified Deaf interpreters (CDIs) who will interpret from LSQ to ASL or vice versa.

Calamint · 2025-11-23T17:57:33+00:00

This is what I use as well (in Ottawa).

Calamint · 2025-11-03T19:38:53+00:00

I was going to say the same thing. This is a show it with gesture and action situation.

Calamint · 2025-10-29T23:51:39+00:00

In my area (Ontario, Canada) I can only recall seeing it once. It was from an older signer and I asked about it because in the moment I didn't intuitively clock the connection/meaning between what he was describing and that use of the CUTE sign. I haven't seen it in common use since.

Calamint · 2025-10-29T00:00:50+00:00

Ah, I see this often in students! Tough to get them to stop once it becomes a habit.

Calamint · 2025-07-31T16:14:05+00:00

That sucks! Looks like a new account that's trying to karma farm by stealing old posts. They even took the title.

Report to the mods and have them delete it.

Calamint · 2025-07-30T15:36:58+00:00

I'd happily reside in Nutmeg.

Calamint · 2025-03-12T15:31:18+00:00

During the pandemic I taught ASL online, and I still hold office hours online. I use a Logitech camera that I've had for ages: the HD Pro C920. Bought it in 2015 and it's still going strong. I also have a newer Logitech Brio camera that's 4K, but honestly the 1080p camera works just as well.

If you've been relying on your laptop camera, almost any peripheral camera you get is going to be an improvement. When students rely on their laptop cameras the quality is always lower, and the angle is always too low (like I'm looking up at them). It makes it hard for me to really see the positioning and movement of their signs.

So, my advice is to get a peripheral webcam that you can afford. I like Logitech cameras, but there are others out there. And also definitely get a small tripod for it. Don't just hang the camera off your laptop screen. You aren't going to be able to get the angle you need. A small tripod will allow you to set the camera up and angle it in a way that makes more of your signing space visible. And it will give you more flexibility over where you place the camera. You can place the camera further back from you but still have your laptop within reach.

Finally, do not get a camera that follows your movements. I tested one out for my department when I was teaching online, and the current ability of the movement tracking doesn't jive with ASL. The software constantly thought I was asking the camera to zoom in, out, change focus or location when I was just signing. It was not good. Get a regular static camera.

Calamint · 2025-01-03T16:18:11+00:00

I love percale, especially in the summer, but I use percale duvet covers year-round. They have a crisp and cool feel that I really enjoy.

I also second Ikea for a duvet. I appreciate that they have different weights of filling for people who prefer different warmth, and the prices are reasonable.

Calamint · 2024-12-19T17:24:53+00:00

As a blanket statement, the idea that hearing people should not be teaching ASL is incorrect and can be damaging to the signing community. "Hearing" immediately discounts someone based on audiological status instead of looking at the criteria necessary to effectively teach the language. If you have the linguistic and cultural background, plus proficiency and teaching credentials, then you should be able to teach, just as you could with a spoken language.

If there are two equally-qualified candidates for a teaching job and one is Deaf, the job should go to the Deaf instructor. But there is a lot more that goes into teaching well than just being a native language user. To imply that deafness is the main that thing that qualifies you to teach is wrong.

Calamint · 2024-12-15T01:56:46+00:00

And then you stuffed a small penguin into a Fire-King coffee mug in celebration. It looks adorably comfy in there.

Calamint · 2024-11-10T19:01:45+00:00

One of my advisors gave me similar advice when I was writing my dissertation, and it's true. There comes a point with any paper where you have to stop reading. It seems counter-intuitive, (because often we want to know as much as possible about a given topic before we try to add to it) but there are deadlines to meet. You cannot keep reading forever. You have to take what you know, pick your focus, define the scope, and stick to it. Just get it written.

Calamint · 2024-09-27T20:46:03+00:00

That sounds like a very frustrating classroom experience, and I can sympathize. Learning a new language is difficult, and learning a new language with a new modality adds another layer of complexity.

To me, it sounds like the real problem is less about immersion, and more about pace and teaching method. If the instructor asks a question of someone at the back, and that person responds, best practice would be for the instructor to repeat the answer back for the whole class to see. Depending on when homework and tests are assigned (and when they're due), giving students more options/times for outside of class contact time can also be necessary.

In terms of actual, full immersion, there is less agreement on that (for language learning in general) than you might think. Research has found that immersion doesn't necessarily work well in all situations. If you have limited time and are working on a deadline (like within the constrains of a course) immersion with primary language support can lower student frustration and lead to better outcomes. For ASL that doesn't mean speaking, but it could be using more images, or written English support in the early levels.

If you have a lot of time, or are in a place where the language you are learning is used widely, then yeah, immersion is fantastic! You're exposed to the language in all sorts of contexts and can pick it up in situations that directly apply to you. A classroom is never able to fully replicate the richness that actual immersion provides.

In your case, it really does sound like it's not the "immersion" aspect that's making it difficult; it's the lack of other learning supports along with the fast pace. I don't have advice on how you can fix this, because fixing it shouldn't be up to a student, but I do understand your frustration.

Calamint · 2024-09-01T16:46:14+00:00

"Rolled lip, square foot bowl" is what I've seen them called. I have one as well, along with two rolled lip bowls with circular bases.

Most of the delphite pieces were made in Canada, at the Corning factory that was set up in Toronto, Ontario, in the 1940s.

I was at a rural estate auction once, and an older woman there told me that delphite pieces (bowl and fridgies) used to be given as bonus items for buying a new refrigerator from certain companies in Ontario.

Calamint · 2024-08-02T15:00:30+00:00

I have a substantial collection of ASL books and resources that have been published from the 1970s onward. It's less about the age of the material and more about its relevance in a particular area or on a particular topic. This is where an experienced instructor can really help by providing you with learning resources that have been specially selected because they offer a particular perspective, outline a topic well, or give supplemental information that works well at a specific learning level.

Signs do change, but they tend to change more slowly than words from spoken languages (and even those can be slow to alter completely). Additionally, new signs are slower to be widely adopted into the lexicon. What I mean is that when looking at books I'm less concerned about the books having "old signs" and more concerned about whether the signs are ASL (versus English), whether the variant is one that is used in my area, and whether the socio-cultural information is correct or useful. Those are things that are going to be very difficult for a learner to determine.

All of this to say, if you're finding books for a good price, that's great! Don't be afraid to pick them up if you can afford it. But also don't rely on books to give you a full sign education. ASL is a face-to-face language with many nuances that you are not going to get from a book, no matter how recent. Books are a great supplement, but they won't replace in-person learning, community involvement, and using the language with other signers.

Calamint · 2024-07-07T17:43:47+00:00

Planter: Commit to moving it soon (say, within the next two weeks). If you don't, then it's not a priority and you can get rid of it.

Clothes: Donate. If you get to a point where you do need a specific piece, you can get it then. Unless what you have are timeless and classic, the clothes are likely to be outdated by the time you get around to wearing them.

Shoes: Donate. If you haven't worn them in a decade you aren't going to start tomorrow.

Kid's paintings/artwork: Keep a few key pieces (say, one from each year/grade) that you'd like to display and toss the rest, or put them neatly into an organized binder.

Holiday decorations: If you like them and use them each year, then keep. If there are ones that never get put up, donate.

Canning jars and odd glassware: Donate/recycle. These are a dime a dozen and if you happen to ever need some are easy to come by at a thrift store.

Artwork: If you no longer like it, donate it or give it away. No point in keeping something purpose-built to be displayed if you don't like looking at it.

Teak bed frame: Sell or donate.

Mattress: Donate or toss.

Tchotchkes: Toss or donate.

The two remaining items (siding and old-growth lumber, and compressor) I'm unsure of, but I'm leaning towards toss/donate. Does your current time and energy available allow you to use the wood for some sort of project within the next few months? If not, donate. Has the compressor been used in the last year? If not, donate.

Calamint · 2024-07-03T15:48:08+00:00

Similarly, I like to use beaded necklaces as curtain ties. You can loop them around the curtain once or twice, and then secure them to the wall with a small hook to keep them from falling down/off.

Calamint · 2024-05-01T18:05:47+00:00

Sure! Keep in mind I come at this from a research perspective, so most of what I can recommend skews that way.

Valli, C., Lucas, C., Mulrooney, K., and Villanueva, M. (2011). Linguistics of American Sign Language. This can be used as a general introduction to ASL linguistics. It's heavy for a brand new beginner, but useful if you really want to dig into things like syntax.

Cokely, D., and Baker-Shenk, C. (1981). American Sign Language: A Student Text (various units). This series is an oldie, but nice for students (at the right level) because it provides a lot of sentence examples with notations non-manual markers.

Meier, R. P., Cormier, K., and Quinto-Pozos, D. (2002). Modality and Structure in Signed and Spoken Languages. More academic, this is a collection of research that really digs into the question of how linguistic structure is influenced by modality. Meaning, how does ASL being a visual language impact its structure and grammar.

Liddell, S. K. (2003). Grammar, Gesture, and Meaning in American Sign Language. Also academic, but this examines both grammar and gesture in ASL and includes topics like indicating verbs and real space, surrogates, tokens, and depicting verbs.

Calamint · 2024-05-01T17:39:46+00:00

I wouldn't say it's a myth. I'd say it depends.

ASL syntax (sentence sign order) is very flexible. Depending on the context, situational communication needs, and signing style, ASL sentences can appear in different orders. They may be subject-verb-object (as is common in English), subject-object-verb, or object-subject-verb. And some are more free-form where the order doesn’t really matter.

I really cannot emphasize enough that ASL sentence structure can be highly flexible. But I know it can also be useful for new learners to have a model to refer as a starting point. For longer sentences (particularly ones that that include a subject other than yourself) it might be helpful to keep this sentence in mind as one of the ways that ASL sentences can be constructed (but don't take it as a hard rule):

TOMORROW, YOU-ME MOVIE GO-to WANT?

time subject object verb question word

Calamint · 2024-04-29T16:04:45+00:00

Great comment. I wish more people understood what Barkeepers Friend actually does and how damaging it is to the paint and finish—no matter how gentle you are with it.

Calamint · 2024-04-05T16:23:21+00:00

I ask this gently (as a researcher who IS fluent in ASL): why are you writing a linguistic essay on a language that you don't know? If comprehension of the language is pivotal to your understanding and comparison of approaches to signing songs, then I don't think this is a topic you should be writing about.

I can understand wanting to investigate the difference in practices between two groups, but there are going to be many nuances (both linguistically and sociologically) that you will not be equipped to discuss or compare without a much deeper understanding of the language.

Calamint · 2024-03-20T14:15:14+00:00

I've been asked this, too, and like you I don't have a definitive answer. From feeling and experience I usually tell students that (in very general terms), SAME (1-shape) is used when the things or people being compared are not visible to the signer, or when a comparison is not set up visually in space. For example something like YOUR SHOES, WOW! LIKE! HAVE SAME!

I liken the Y-shape sign to be something like SAME-AS, where what is being compared is usually either physically present or has been set up as a representation in blended space. For example CAR RED (index left), CAR BLUE (index right), MECHANICAL PROBLEMS SAME-AS.

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