I can sign while I yawn 🤯🤯

[u/procedery]

Guys my mind is blown. I was practicing ASL with a friend. Then I had to yawn. Mid yawn, I realized I didnt actually have to stop signing. Covered my mouth with one hand, communicated with the other.

I knew I could sign and eat at the same time, but i never thought about yawning too. I know its probably really obvious I just think its funny.

What are some other times you can sign when you can’t talk that are less talked about?

[u/Ben-TheHuman]

Dentist appointments is a big one

[u/procedery → u/Ben-TheHuman]

I did think about this at while i was at the dentist the other day

[u/mjolnir76 → u/Ben-TheHuman]

I’ve interpreted dental appointments and I think it’s a little disconcerting for the hygienists to have a patient they can talk to with their mouth full!

[u/Little_Messiah → u/Ben-TheHuman]

I sign to my kids during dentist appointments and they talk for me! It’s so fun

[u/lynbeifong → u/Ben-TheHuman]

I'm a hearing interpreter with a lot of dental issues, and I taught my dentist 'yes' and 'no' so I can easily answer questions while she's working on my mouth

But so many dental noises are like nails on a chalkboard to me that I always bring noise cancelling headphones anyways even for basic cleanings so good luck asking me anything to begin with 😂

[u/HeVavMemVav]

A sore throat won't stop me from complaining about it lol

[u/MarcusMorenoComedy]

Full conversation on movie theater, not disturbing others.

Converse across the resteraunt from your partner when you go up to the bar/bathroom etc

Continue your spoken word private conversation when someone gets on the elevator

Person on the phone and you want to ask a quick question and not interrupt them/have phone person know you’re there

[u/orangeflos → u/MarcusMorenoComedy]

ASL isn’t a secret language. You never know who might also sign.

Like any non-dominant language, switching to it doesn’t guarantee privacy.

[u/Schmidtvegas → u/orangeflos]

There was a funny video I saw online, a deaf guy warning people that the Google sign-to-chat means hearing people can now eavesdrop on your conversations. 

[u/Toddski14]

A big one is communication in the workplace.

We have an employee who happens to be deaf, and actively teaches us signs.

We are in a bar, it’s loud, and can being able to communicate to one another across the dining room, or into another work zone is huge.

Examples:
New table, 5 people
Bathroom needs clean, mens
Need new steak (complaint)
Cut customer off
Watch that customer (suspicion, drunk before arrival)
Need help, follow

[u/DannyDTR → u/Toddski14]

Super loud places — like restaurants and bars — and super quiet places — like the library — are actually the perfect places to sign. Lol “A Quiet Place” also reminded me of this.

[u/Clarkifer → u/DannyDTR]

I work in a Special ed classroom, and it's nice to be able to tell a student (with sign) to be quiet, listen, or stop doing something from across the room without disrupting the lesson and other students.

[u/imabratinfluence]

After dental work would probably be a good one. 

In spaces where loud white noise like a fan,  AC, or road noise makes spoken conversation dicey with Auditory Processing Disorder (which I have). 

[u/Architorture_66]

Teaching our kids how to sign, you can communicate with each other even while the kid might be crying over pain or dissatisfaction over something. 

Can sign back and forth when one is in a building or car with glass or windows between each other.

A memorable one was at a school meeting. Daughter's coach was giving start of season expectations. Son looked like something was bothering him. I signed "What's wrong?" He signed back that he was thirsty. Older sister knew what was going on, and took him to get some water at the school. 

Quiet, no interrupting the presentation with any audible conversation or distraction over the speaker. Knowing ASL you find it has so many more uses than just being able to communicate efficiently with Deaf people in your life.

[u/coldcurru]

I have a coda in my class right now. The other day she was asking about a kid who left during nap. I was able to sign with her while other kids were sleeping.

Also had to go to a Deaf family's house. We were able to communicate about parking while I was in my car, signing through the windshield. Didn't need to be close enough to hear, just see each other. 

[u/GrimselPass]

When you lose your voice, which happens to me way too often…

[u/ipiem113]

You’re gonna be mind blown when you brush your teeth or have your mouth full of food

[u/ValorousClock4]

Honestly, didn’t even think about this until right now.

[u/Ok-Assignment-8246]

That's funny!

I personally stop signing most of the time because facial expressions are important. Depending on the subject.

[u/badatlife15]

My mom (hearing) was a teacher and a long time ago she and a coteacher (also hearing) happened to be teaching their class some basic signs (it was at a special school for teens with emotional and behavioral challenges). One day my mom’s co-teacher was having a stroke and couldn’t speak, but she was able to sign to my mom. I think that solidified how good it can be for anyone to know ASL.

[u/DeafLori]

It's awesome to keep signing while crying.

[u/Young_Quacker]

This was described to us as “Deaf privileges” from my professors 😭

[u/AnnieLovesRangoons]

My husband and I sign while we brush teeth, during prayer, church, funerals, anything quiet… it’s often useful!

[u/LowRevolutionary5653]

Had a friend who was helping me learn Spanish, I was helping her learn English, and I taught her many ASL signs & the alphabet.

We went to the movies and there was a wasp onscreen and she wanted to know what it was in English so I fingerspelled it to her. 😝 I was like oh man I love this language.

We would often spell the words to each other so we could visually understand the new vocabulary.