Date: Sun, 12 Aug 2001 18:20:48 -0400
From: B & E Glenday <glenday@sympatico.ca>
To: Balloon List <balloon@balloonhq.com>
Subject: Languages

Great topic! Anything we do to improve communication with our
clients/audiences is positive and helpful.

I can manage a few balloon related words and common pleasantries in
French and Spanish. One of the most useful "languages" I've learned,
however, is American Sign Language, or ASL. I learned to fingerspell the
alphabet, and some animals, colours and a few action words. It is
amazing how one can communicate with a child so used to being cut off
from the hearing world. Unfortunately, I can't share the signs with you
as it is a visual language, but most community colleges have ASL
courses, and it can be learned (at least well enough for our purposes)
through books (and I imagine, through videos). I took a course more than
10 years ago, and have used it on numerous occasions for kids and/or
thier parents who are deaf or hard of hearing.

The best part of trying even a few words in a child's language is the
way their face lights up when they finally hear someone attempt to
communicate with them in thier familiar language. I have met many
tourists and visitors to the country who really appreciate my trying.
Even if you just say hello, don't be shy, give it a try!

Elizabeth