Sign languages are very important in deaf communities. These communities comprise of families and friends of the deaf person, other people who are hard of hearing and interpreters. As is the case in of spoken language, sign language varies from one region to another.
However, in contrast to people speaking different languages, people with different sign languages understand each other much easier. Sign language is not a common language among the deaf community all over the world. There are various sign languages pertaining to the different languages spoken in that particular region or country.
Signed varieties of spoken languages include the Warlpiri Sign Language and Signed English. There are over a hundred sign languages in existence helping the deaf people around the world communicate with each other and with others. There are sign languages in the world which are legally recognized and a lot more which are not.
In order to make the learning more effective and understanding Sign language charts are developed. These charts have the image of the hand sign which are used to represent alphabets, Arabic numerals etc. Unlike the spoken language, which can be learnt in a theoretical format this sign language needs more practical training rather, being theoretical to master it.
When individual letters of a word has to be spelt out with proper nouns, etc the American Sign Language is replaced by the manual alphabet. Letters should be shown with the dominant hand and in almost all cases, with palm facing the viewer.
Sign language charts have a list of several alphabets and Arabic numerical with it. All these are signed invariably with palms orienting them in different ways. For an example a closed fist denoted the alphabet A, flat hand represents the alphabet B. Letter C can be represented by keeping palm forward and thumb bent. Letter D is represented by stretching the palm flat and with index finger alone raised keeping all other finger closed.
Letter E has a similar representation like A alphabet but here the thumb is kept under the closed fingers. Letter F is represented by keeping the palm flat and stretched and keeping the index finger and thumb coupled. Palm in position represents letter G. Letter H also has the similar position to that of character G but in the palm in position both the index and middle fingers are stretched out.
Letter I is denoted by keeping the fist closed with little finger alone rose up. Thus the Sign language charts have a representation for all 26 alphabets, all Arabic numerals and several other additional things. Generally normal people who can actually hear learn this skill thoroughly from the sign language chart and teach people who has hearing defects. There are several schools available to teach this skill. Thus this chart has a major contribution in teaching the sign language to the hearing impaired people.
Muna wa Wanjiru
Original source: http://www.articlesbase.com/tutoring-articles/sign-language-charts-that-make-learning-more-effective-357373.html
