CHAPTER 17:

"What is Pigin Sign English?"

American Heritage Dictionary defines Pidgin as "a simplified form of speech usually a mixture of two or more languages_and used for communication between groups speaking different languages. PSE (Pidgin sign english) is an impromptu blend of ASL and American English signs. Before I took my ASL calss, I had misconceptions about sign language as a whole. I had no idea there were so many dialects and so many characteristics. I thought all signs were universal and PSE was the way deaf people communicated. Little did I know. Before reading this chapter I had been wondering wha kind of sign language I was taught growing up. I realized after reading this chapter it was in fact PSE. I still cant believe how different ASL is. I grew up with my best friend, whose mother was deaf, she taught me the sign language I knew prior to this class. I realize now that she spoke in english sentences siging just as a hearing person would. PSE is commonly used when ASL- deaf people communicate with a hearing person who are not fluent in ASL, but do know some signs and fingerspelling.My own understanding of Sign language_ or what I feel more comfortable with is PSE. There are so mo much syntax grammatical structure of ASL like every language that people have trouble understanding. Looking back on that part of my life, I wish I would have known what I do now. I cant wait to visit her again so I can see if she uses ASL or PSE.