A New Language Emerges

At my son's school a lot of the kids are taking ASL and because of this his social life is active.

Over the last few nights as I watch my son walk out of rehearsal I have noticed him signing away with one of his friends. The other kid is hearing and they became friends this year. I knew this kid was learning to sign but what I saw startled me. They were conversing at a normal pace but not in ASL. They didn't appear to be using PSE. In fact for the first time I didn't understand my son. The boy finger-spelled a couple of times and not in the halting way a hearing person who is learning does. Their conversation flowed in the most natural way. They were so engaged. I asked my daughter to look and tell me what they were saying. I usually don't ease drop on my son but this was too weird. She wasn't able to figure it out either.

So maybe my tired eyes deceived me but it look like they created a new language. I will call it VSAASL (Vancouver School Of Arts And Academics Sign Language). Maybe I will contact Oliver Sacks to research it. I am sure he would take a look and tell my I needed to get some rest and the kids were just swatting at mosquitoes. I am sure my son would tell me they were using PSE and I need new glasses.

I love the way this deaf kid and the hearing kids at his school don't let hearing lose get in the way of a good time.