I am intrigued by this article. It highlights the dilemma of a three year old deaf boy in the United States. This boy, Hunter Spanjer, has been told by school officials to change his sign name because the handshape resembles shooting guns.
Handshapes, in addition to Deaf Awareness, is the first thing I teach in my Auslan (Australian Sign Language) courses at Honeybee Creations Studio. Without handshapes, we would not have sign language.
Sign language involves using various handshapes combined with movement, orientation, location and facial expression. For instance, the pointer finger, when pointed at you, means 'you'. And, when the pointer finger is pointed at me, it means 'me'. Add a little or lot of facial expression and change the body language, we could have 'you!' or 'me?'
In regards to this article, my response is, this poor little boy is being picked on because he doesn't have dexterity in his fingers to do his sign-name accurately. It seems his sign-name is mean't to be doing the 'two' handshape or the 'wish' handshape with both hands and then shake them. But because Hunter is just three years old, his little fingers are unable to master either of these handshapes accurately. Instead, he is doing the 'eight' handshapes by leaving his thumbs up. And, by leaving his thumbs up, he is causing havoc with school officials. Consequently, he is being asked to change his sign name because his 'eight' handshape with both hands and then shaken, resembles shooting guns. Oh dear!
If I were to penalise every student I have taught sign language to and inaccurately left their thumbs up for a number of handshapes, I would be out of business today.
When learning sign language, everyone almost always leaves their thumbs up. Especially in my beginner Auslan courses. This includes grown up hearing people who do have the luxury of having more dexterity in their fingers than three year olds. I am always telling my big students 'don't forget to tuck your thumbs in' or 'thumbs down please'.
However, with my little students, toddlers to six year olds, I cut them some slack. I let them leave their thumbs up. In their own time, they will eventually learn to 'tuck their thumbs in'. I understand they are developing their fine motor skills and have yet to master holding a pencil well. Meanwhile, I smile inwardly, knowing that my finger gym classes, hence the handshapes we practise, will help them master their fine motor skills sooner.
I say, give this boy a break!
I am sure Hunter would love to be able to say his name if he could. But since he is deaf he can't hear, therefore is likely to be delayed in his speech and language too. Instead, he has eager hands and fingers to communicate. And, he has his deaf identity and pride - his sign-name. Changing his sign-name is equivalent to telling a hearing child to change their name because the letters offend.
School officials want to make a compromise with the parents about Hunter's sign-name. I think the compromise should be about sending school officials to my sign language classes and give them a lesson or two about handshapes. I can almost guarantee they would leave their thumbs up too!
