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D Deaf people have special ways of communicating. For example, they can learn to understand what someone is saying by looking at the mouth of the speaker. This is called lip-reading (唇語). Also, speaking is very difficult for the deaf, because they can’t hear their own voices. However, it is possible with special training. According to many deaf people around the world, the most useful and popular way of communicating is with sign language. In many ways, sign language is similar to spoken language. The words of sign language are made with signs. As with words, each sign has a different meaning and can be joined together to form sentences. Signed languages also have their own grammar. The alphabet(字母) of sign language is special hand signs that stand for letters, they make spelling possible. The signs can express the same thoughts, feelings, and ideas as any spoken language. And just as people from different countries speak different languages, most countries have their own sign language. Besides knowing sign language, it is also helpful to know something about how deaf people communicate, since they depend so much on actions, deaf people are generally not very formal(正式的) when they “talk”, and may touch your arm or shoulder a lot to make sure you know what they’re saying. It is not seen as rude in among deaf people to lightly touch someone you do not know to get their attention. It’s also okay to wave your hands or hit the table or floor. There are many ways to learn a few signs. Community colleges often teach introductory (介紹的) classes. For self-learners, bookstores and libraries have books for learning sign language. There are also videos on the Internet. With practice, you’ll soon learn about this useful way of communicating! |
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