Using ASL (American Sign Language) as a child

OK, this video is not actually an interpreting "job" and is certainly not current, but here I am "interpreting" to make up for not having any sound on these old home movies. This is me, back in 1963, at age 13, walking in Yellowstone National Park with my pet parakeet "Pixie" on my shoulder. I particularly like this short clip because it combines two important dimensions of my life: American Sign Language and love of birds, and shows that they both go way back to my childhood! This bird's wings are NOT CLIPPED, and he could fly away at any time, but never does. This is from an old 16mm home movie, back before home movies were digital or even included sound, so I narrate the scene in ASL.

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• American Sign Language
• ASL
• child
• parakeet
• Yellowstone

[mogjohns1]

Aww thats cute, even as a kid you fingerspelled fast! LOL What was the birds name?

[DDWiz27]

Well, I think it has more to do with the quality of the video than the speed of the fingerspelling. The bird's name was "Pixie."

[Banerika]

Why did you learn ASL so young? Do you/did you have a deaf relative?

[DDWiz27]

I did not have any Deaf relative or family member. I had a Deaf childhood friend and learned ASL before there were ASL classes or Interpreter Training Programs. I was one of the first professional interpreters NOT to have any Deaf relatives, and feel that one of the contributions I can make to the interpreting community is to demonstrate that those coming from hearing families can also become successful as interpreters.

[Banerika]

That's cool.

[AJFreeway]

thats pretty cool. not many very old vids on youtube. you were a cute kid.

[TFBarans]

What a cutie - both the bird and the little boy signing in ASL