CHAPTER 13:

"I've noticed that when someone uses ILY sign in public, some of my deaf friends have a dismayed expressions on their faces. Dont they like it?"

ILY means I love you, and formed with the fingershape of each or the beginning letter of each word with one hand. Most people loved this sign when it was first brought out, but often they feel once people have established a meaning and know that sign they are "safe" and feel more comfortable in conversations with deaf people. Sign language is just like every other foreign language that people dont grow acustomed too. In some cases I feel that hearing people often cross the boundaries of being offensive and annoying when it comes to conversating with a deaf person. For example, If you only knew one word in spanish and every time you approached a fluent spanish speaker with the one word that you know, they would be confused and probably be annoyed after a while. Same goes for deaf people. Unfortunately not many people acknowledge sign language as the actual language that it is, so when a hearing person learns ILY sign and constatly use it a deaf person is likely to wonder why that one sign. I believe that this sign has become so popular because it is a way to symbolize, "I love you" with one hand and can be seen from a distance when your voice wont carry. I am gulity of using this sign sometimes, and I will be the first to say that some people over use it. I believe that if you think that one sign is unique and interesting you should study ASL and learn many more signs and expand your vocabulary!