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deafaq · 3 months

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Could you explain a little about the difference between PSE (Pidgin Signed English) and ASL (American Sign Language) or at least point me to a scholarly article on that?

I know SEE (Signed Exact English) is used more in an educational setting to teach English structure and grammar to a young deaf student, but as they get older, it naturally transforms (for lack of a better term on my end) into ASL. I'm just unsure where and how PSE would fit into the Deaf community as a whole.

Thank you.

Hello,

lets get some general linguistic info out there first.

"pidgin" is a linguistic term. Its not its own language, but a means of communication which emerges when two language speakers meet who don't share a common language. The resulting communication usually contains grammar and vocabulary from both languages in a mix of both. Its also simplified. Additionally, its not anyone's first language they learn from their parents.

Pidgin often happened in areas with European traders and/or colonizers and/or slavers. Pidgins can sometimes evolve into "creoles" - meaning they become someone's first language.

So, to PSE, SEE and ASL specifically:

ASL is its own language with grammar and vocabulary, which has no connection to English. It emerged naturally (aka it wasn't created by one guy) and its a native language of USA Deaf community. (and elsewhere)

SEE is a artificial creation. Its mostly ASL vocabulary but with English grammar - with additions for words which do not exist in ASL. Its mostly used in schools.

PSE is combination of both ASL and English. It can emerge in conversation between two people where one person is hearing and other is deaf. Often, the grammar is more "English-y" while signs come from ASL, but the rules are not set in stone like with SEE. Its very individual. The reason for this occurring is usually hearing person with limited knowledge of ASL and deaf person with limited knowledge of English trying to communicate.

Imagine SEE and ASL on opposite side of one spectrum. PSE is somewhere between them and moving, depending on the situation and the speaker.

While in past, term "Pidgin Signed English" was preferred, now its fallen out of favor with linguists. The preferred term is "contact signing" . Sometimes, "Conceptually Accurate Signed English" (CASE) is also used.

I see PSE/contact signing in "action" often - most commonly with hearing teachers + deaf students or hearing social workers who sign + deaf clients. In casual conversation, correct grammar often isn't the most crucial, transfer of information is. Also, unlike with spoken language, you technically use both languages at the same time. So its often person speaking aloud and using sings with it - the English by itself sounds weird (wrong word order or different terms used) and the signs by themselves wouldn't make sense either, but the combination can be understood.

Hope this helped,

Mod T

#deaf #mod t #asl #pse #see #pidgin

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circles-of-gallifrey · 6 days

Text

PSE, but make it gallifreyan and queer 😌

If you're missing a particular flag, I'll be glad to add more :)

For now I'mma do these ten Tumblr let's me post in one go