Recently a landscaper contacted me and mentioned that he was seeking sources for
"landscaping signs" since he found signing to be useful for communicating with
his crew in noisy environments and across large distances. He also indicated
that he was developing instructional videos and classes for "landscaping ASL."
Dear __________, [Name on File]
First of all I'm glad you are seeking authentic signs and sources of signing.
That way you won't end up signing ejaculate when you meant to sign "sprinkler."
As you have noted there is very little online regarding "landscaping signs."
An idea to consider would be to seek out any nearby Deaf organizations (such as
a Deaf School and/or a Deaf Center) that may currently be employing a Deaf
landscaper. You could ask that person to advise you (and pay him
/ her / them for their time just as you like to be paid for your work).
Perhaps Mr. Hansen Touchard might be available to be of service.
Also, a heads up, even though I am being nice and polite in in my response to you -- there are those in the Deaf community who will lash out against a relatively unskilled (non-near-native-level) Hearing person teaching ASL for profit. So I encourage you to approach this as simply a "passion project" that might benefit the world rather than as a potential money-making endeavor.
I think perhaps a good approach might be to simply avoid the word "ASL" (or even the term "language") as you go about developing video titles.
Perhaps stick to something to the effect of "Signing for Landscaping."
There are other groups that have rather well-developed signing systems but that do not claim they are a language nor specifically "ASL."
For example, scuba divers and motorcyclists each have rather extensive sets of signs to assist in and make their communication easier.
True, some people call motorcycle-related signing: "Motorcycle Sign Language" but at least that doesn't claim to be "ASL."
Anyway it is just semantics -- but semantics and word choices influence perceptions. So here are my thoughts:
You and I both know that ASL is indeed excellent for communication environments such as landscaping.
Some people don't take the time to understand a presenter's "true intent" and simply jump to conclusions.
We can help prevent such errors in judgment by carefully choosing our labels.
Dangerous: "Landscaping ASL"
Slightly better: "Landscaping Sign Language"
Even less likely to lead to an angry online Deaf mob: "Signing for Landscapers" or "Signing for Landscaping" or "Landscaper Signing."
I think that if you approach this more as "Signing for Landscaping" (rather than "Landscape ASL") you might become a smaller target. Meaning? I don't see any online threads condemning "signing" motorcyclists with accusations of "cultural appropriation."
What you are doing isn't cultural appropriation but rather "appreciation and application."
Of course, in YOUR situation if you avoid the word "language" people are going to think you are referring to rectangular signs made of wood or fiberglass and filled with pictures or written text. (Which would be "Landscaping Signage" -- heh).
Sigh...sometimes you just do the best you can.
Good luck.
Onward and upward!
Cordially,
- Dr. Bill
William G. Vicars Ed.D.
Notes: I decided to try something. I walked into my wife's office (here at the studio) and signed LAND-DRAW (using the "area / all over" sign and a quick single movement version of DRAW) and without pause she guessed / figured / decided that I meant "landscape" (she knew I was surveying her to see what she thought it meant because we do that sort of thing to each other constantly.
Notes: