1. Something
that I thought that was interesting to me in these last two chapters that we
read was out of chapter four, page 131 “Using Symbols”. The reason being that I
chose this particular topic is because it still surprises me what kids learn by
using just symbols to communicate with one another and sometimes we don’t even
know it. The reason being why it interests me is because learning about how we
develop and learn how to speak we use symbols to understand the way we speak
and so other understand us. It also interests me the way infants communicate
with one another using just symbols.
2.
I chose this because couple years ago I had a really good friend that had a son
and he was only 1 years old at the time and we taught him how to say “Thank
You”, “More”, “Please”, “Hunger”, and so many other things in sign language
that by the time he was almost two he was really good at and a lot of people
would be really surprised when they would see him. We using symbols now still
as an adult and sometimes we have to use it in the real world when we are
helping others like trying to help someone back up in there vehicle we use our
hands to make symbols to show someone how to back up with out even having to
speak it.
3. There
is lots that I would like to know more about, for example I wouldn’t mind
learning more about how else we use symbols in the world. I also would like to
learn more about how other people who can not speak how they live there day to
day life if they cant speak or here and how symbols that people make help them
out every day. I am a big fan of art and I think symbols, speaking, body language
is all art it has its own rhythm and its own way of showing someone anyone what
you are trying to say. It’s amazing the way the body works and the way we
communicate when we are infants and they way others talk to infants.
Symbols are a significant tool in early language development. "Children begin to learn that words and gestures are symbols that stand for something else"(Kail&Cavanaugh p.131). I was never quite aware or the importance of symbols and language development, until my son,Jayden, was learning to speak. He attended a day-care, and had a teacher that was educated in sign language. She taught the little ones in her class to use sign language along with the word to communicate. For the children this was very beneficial. My son, whom was very shy and quiet was not verbalizing his needs as often as he would have liked. He was not attempting to use verbal language. Learning to sign to communicate the things he needed helped him to not become easily frustrated. Using symbols also helped him to develop his verbal language.
ReplyDeleteI found it interesting how you brought up how we,as adults, also use symbols to communicate.Sometimes physical use of language can be even more effective then verbal. In instances when safety is a concern, such as a traffic guard, or an air traffic controller, the use of symbols for language is very important in communicating.
I also think it is amazing how people who can not speak or hear learn to communicate through symbols, or sign. It is interesting that we both had experiences with toddlers learning to communicate through symbols and hand gestures. I think it would be very beneficial for sign to be encouraged as a second language for both children and adults. I work with the elderly, whom are often hard of hearing, what a great tool gestures and symbols could be in communicating with the hard of hearing. Also, many elderly, with dementia, have lost the ability to communicate verbally. I often use hand gestures to communicate to my resident what we are going to do. Body language is also very effective in communicating. People read each others body language without really even being aware of it, people also express their feelings through body language without full awareness. I often had to be very conscious of my own body language when caring for the elderly, I had to keep my body language open and inviting in order to make my residents feel comfortable with me.
That would be one unfair advantage in charades. It would be fun if we all learned when we were young to do sign language. It would be a way to communicate to anyone in the world. Even without learning the language we all have are own sign as well. The middle finger of course is a popular one among people. The sign to stop a person. We use hand gestures with our everyday life. I can't think of a time I'm talking without my hands, it's just a way for me to communicate and relate to the other person. This part in the chapter was interesting to read and am excited for the upcoming chapters myself.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your blog, you make a lot of super valid points. My partner is learning sign language and I've honestly thought about it several times. I'm fluent in Spanish, but I have to say that I started learning it so young I attribute it to just that. These verbal symbols that I've heard over and over and over for the past thirty years. I can tell you that it is very difficult to learn another language at this age, but not impossible which I'm sure you know. The biggest difficulty I'm going to have if I do take on sign language will be muscle memory because I tend to talk with my hands a lot, so stopping my own mannerisms and then absorbing new one will be tricky.
ReplyDelete