4 ms·

I wonder if they've just hard coded their names for now because they had trouble doing fingerspelling, because I doubt that someone's name-sign is just a 'T'.

I wonder if they've just hard coded their names for now because they had trouble doing fingerspelling, because I doubt that someone's name-sign is just a 'T'. That's really close to the sign for 'bathroom', which would be weird :)

pavel_lishin 10y ago
Could be a home-sign, or a common shortcut. If two people are discussing two people who aren't physically present, using just their first initials could be a very obvious way of referring to them unambiguously without having to sign their full names.
- Zuider 10y ago
  Agree. It depends on context. A quick flash of 't' could also mean 'thanks', or 'th' if it was less obvious.
  - gugagore 10y ago
    Have you seen that, or are you speculating?
    - Zuider 10y ago
      I have experienced this in communication with deaf colleagues.
      - gugagore 10y ago
        Can you describe why/how this would be used instead of the dictionary sign for THANKS or GOOD?
        Zuider 10y ago
        Here are the why/hows as I understand them: 1) This is an informal shorthand agreed between people who already know each other in the particular context of work, so there is no surprise or ambiguity. Outside this context, I would use, and expect to see the dictionary sign. 2) It functions as an 'in-group' slang, boosting cohesion and good will. 3) There is a certain humorousness in bending a symbol into an informal use. This is more pronounced in cases where the alternate meaning is irreverent or vulgar. I have no intention of expanding on the second point. 4) One does not have to be facing the SL speaker. The 't' symbol can be recognized from beside the person or even behind. Point 5 gives the rationale for this. 5) It can be communicated without changing focus or posture, allowing concentration on the task at hand without breaking the workflow. 6) Though 'thanks' is a brief gesture, 't' can be signed and understood even more quickly. Just a flash of meaning. 7) The sign for 'good', while it is also used to communicate thanks and has advantages 4,5,6 listed above, can be ambiguous, violating the principle of least surprise (see point 1 above). It is more generic, while 't' is specific.
        gugagore 10y ago
        Interesting. I'll ask around about that. However, I think it's fair to say that a rudimentary system like this one is scripted, and is not tuned to the informal and complicated contexts you describe. You can argue that it's fair game to pre-program the device to emit "Lemelson" for #L, just as you might prepare an interpreter with proper nouns before a gig, but I think it goes against the spirit of the claims made in the video.

pavel_lishin 10y ago

Could be a home-sign, or a common shortcut. If two people are discussing two people who aren't physically present, using just their first initials could be a very obvious way of referring to them unambiguously without having to sign their full names.

Zuider 10y ago
Agree. It depends on context. A quick flash of 't' could also mean 'thanks', or 'th' if it was less obvious.
- gugagore 10y ago
  Have you seen that, or are you speculating?
  - Zuider 10y ago
    I have experienced this in communication with deaf colleagues.
    - gugagore 10y ago
      Can you describe why/how this would be used instead of the dictionary sign for THANKS or GOOD?
      - Zuider 10y ago
        Here are the why/hows as I understand them: 1) This is an informal shorthand agreed between people who already know each other in the particular context of work, so there is no surprise or ambiguity. Outside this context, I would use, and expect to see the dictionary sign. 2) It functions as an 'in-group' slang, boosting cohesion and good will. 3) There is a certain humorousness in bending a symbol into an informal use. This is more pronounced in cases where the alternate meaning is irreverent or vulgar. I have no intention of expanding on the second point. 4) One does not have to be facing the SL speaker. The 't' symbol can be recognized from beside the person or even behind. Point 5 gives the rationale for this. 5) It can be communicated without changing focus or posture, allowing concentration on the task at hand without breaking the workflow. 6) Though 'thanks' is a brief gesture, 't' can be signed and understood even more quickly. Just a flash of meaning. 7) The sign for 'good', while it is also used to communicate thanks and has advantages 4,5,6 listed above, can be ambiguous, violating the principle of least surprise (see point 1 above). It is more generic, while 't' is specific.
        gugagore 10y ago
        Interesting. I'll ask around about that. However, I think it's fair to say that a rudimentary system like this one is scripted, and is not tuned to the informal and complicated contexts you describe. You can argue that it's fair game to pre-program the device to emit "Lemelson" for #L, just as you might prepare an interpreter with proper nouns before a gig, but I think it goes against the spirit of the claims made in the video.