Sign language usage during pandemics:
The wearing of a cloth mask obscures visibility of the lower face and
prevents observers from making use of the cues and clues normally used to help
understand a signer's intended meaning.
To compensate for wearing a mask during signing:
1. Be knowledgeable about conscious of your use of multiple-meaning signs.
When the concept you wish to express is normally signed via a multiple meaning
sign that is commonly accompanied by mouthing or a mouth morpheme you should
either use an alternate sign or add fingerspelling when first using the concept
in a particular conversation.
2. If you are still learning ASL then often you will not be able to make
knowledgeable decisions regarding which signs do or don't have multiple meanings
and will instead need to watch your conversation partner carefully for confused
looks (and then clarify more) or ask questions to verify that the person
understood you. You may need to "over communicate" to make sure you are
not miscommunicating. For example you may need to sign the same concept in
two or more different ways.
3. Ask questions of your communication partner to determine whether or not
they understood you.
4. If you partner's responses seem odd or to not make sense do not assume
they are just being funny or weird. Instead consider the possibility that
they interpreted one of your multiple-meaning signs differently than you
intended.
5. Consider purchasing a see-through mask or instead use a see-through
face shield. If you are an interpreter make sure you use a see through
mask when communicating with clients.
Notes:
Notes: