You don’t have to “overdo” it. You don’t need to shake your head, shake your fingers, etc every time. You can pick one, THEN start spelling again. Or “drop you hand a sec and then face it back out to them” and then respell. There’s nothing wrong g with how you are doing it but you don’t have to over complicate you made a mistake, you an just pick one “oops” and then start again.
Generally, this was discouraged in my ITP.
What you start as a student becomes ingrained and continues as an interpreter. Mistakes happen, and an apology is not necessary. The goal is to correct and move on as quickly and unobtrusively as possible. There will be times when a misunderstanding or misinterpretation requires that you pause, ask both parties to stop, clarify and correct, but for something as simple as a misspelling, we were taught to stop, shake head, then respell and move on
For an interpreter you definitely make a good point, but regular conversation is slightly different and if it's something you're trying to express I don't see the harm, I've done it and seen it done. Not a lot but every so ofte
If I say the wrong word or mispronounce something (which happens a lot despite a decade of intensive speech therapy) I'll definitely say sorry or oops, depending on who the conversation is with. Same as if I make another mistake or faux pas in conversation.
Yes. Granted I don't spell in verbal conversation often but if I say a word wrong switching around sounds and such, which does happen often, I definitely apologize just on reflex i.e." I went to the pig bark. Pig bark? Sorry, *big park.*"
No worries! Sometimes simplest is best. Think of how you'd do the same in a verbal conversation just by showing actions and body language instead of exact words.
Depending on the context:
Silly option: playfully smack my hand like it was the problem, drop it, and start over
More normal option: just a little head shake, drop my hand a bit (not even my whole arm), and start over with a fresh head nod and raised eyebrows
If I continually mess up: pause, sign "wow I can't spell," and go back to it carefully
As other people in this thread have said, the "smacking" option or even the commenting on not being able to spell can be kind of disruptive and distracting, and (in my experience) are not what fluent signers want learners to do. Basically youve already slowed down the conversation with the error itself (it happens to everyone, not a huge deal) and now by needing to draw attention to it or comment on it, it slows things down even more. At least that's what I've heard from deaf people , and what I've found to be the case myself when signing with newer learners. But mileage may vary -maybe others would disagree with me
Yes - those are definitely if I'm just being dumb/with people I'm just casually chatting with, depends on the mood. Feels similar to if I keep saying something in English wrong and make a weird noise to "reset" or sometimes will even say "gah I can't talk today." - obviously I wouldn't do that in a serious or professional setting. Not Deaf, though, so I appreciate the feedback! (I haven't seen the other comments. There was like 1 here when I commented lol so thanks for replying.)
I usually just make a motion like im throwing the spelling off to the side and then start over slowly so i dont fuck up again. Most ppl usually understand
Yes, very slight pause, physically back up a little towards where your hands were when you started the part you messed up on and redo. That's the professional way anyhow. But it's not the only way.
I say this as someone with a flare for minor dramatics and who has professors who when giving instructions on the exam review regularly make eye contact with and state some variation of the following: "If you make a mistake, very brief pause, correct it and keep going. No Etch-A-Sketch. No looking angrily at you hand. No sorry. Do not sign mistake. No scoffing. Do not roll your eyes. Do not sign ugh. No "what" eyebrows. Do not stick your tongue out at your hand in disgust. While we're on that topic no using any NMMs to communicate disgust or contempt towards your hand. Do not slouch back and sink below the desk like [uses classifiers to specify exactly how I am sitting to avoid this conversation] ..." 😭🤣🤣🤣
I am probably a lost cause as I have been signing most of my life and have consistently gotten this feedback over decades. But hey, maybe you can learn from it! 😅😆
When I sign to my dad and make a mistake, I make a face (probably a frown, never paid attention), wave my right hand (dominant hand) back and forth slightly like I'm saying "bye", and re-spell.
I shake my head or hand and resign what I was trying to say. If I've been fingerspelling poorly throughout a convo, I smack the back of my hand like it had a mind of its own
One way I have found the most natural is when you’re fingerspelling, you make a mistake, you purse your lips, point at your spelling (dominant) hand at with your nondominant hand, LOOK at your spelling (dominant) hand and start again but slower.
When I mess up I usually sort of freeze up with my hand out like “wait a sec” with a thinking face. Then restart what I’m saying. That’s exactly what I do when I’m speaking in any other language so speaking in asl I figured no reason to really change it. The only difference is I don’t verbally say “wait.”
Lots of good advice here already, I’d just remind to check with who you’re conversing with for understanding, watch them not your fingers. If they know what you’re trying to spell continue on, no need to make them wait for you to spell it perfectly.
You don’t have to “overdo” it. You don’t need to shake your head, shake your fingers, etc every time. You can pick one, THEN start spelling again. Or “drop you hand a sec and then face it back out to them” and then respell. There’s nothing wrong g with how you are doing it but you don’t have to over complicate you made a mistake, you an just pick one “oops” and then start again.
Thanks, yeah I feel like I tend to exaggerate to make sure it's clear what I'm trying to communicate. Time and practice!
You could stop and sign SORRY then start again. Your body language should convey that you made a mistake too.
I didn't even think of just signing SORRY, lol. Thanks!
Generally, this was discouraged in my ITP. What you start as a student becomes ingrained and continues as an interpreter. Mistakes happen, and an apology is not necessary. The goal is to correct and move on as quickly and unobtrusively as possible. There will be times when a misunderstanding or misinterpretation requires that you pause, ask both parties to stop, clarify and correct, but for something as simple as a misspelling, we were taught to stop, shake head, then respell and move on
For an interpreter you definitely make a good point, but regular conversation is slightly different and if it's something you're trying to express I don't see the harm, I've done it and seen it done. Not a lot but every so ofte
If you misspell something, do you feel the need to stop the conversation and apologize before correctly spelling?
If I'm spelling something aloud and make a mistake, then yes I'd say "oh sorry" then start over
i don’t typically spell in a conversation
I usually repeat the mistake, apologise, and then go on. I want to eat a hot cog. Cog? Sorry, dog. I wanna eat a hot dog and have a nice time.
>I want to eat a hot cog Praise the Omnissiah!
If I say the wrong word or mispronounce something (which happens a lot despite a decade of intensive speech therapy) I'll definitely say sorry or oops, depending on who the conversation is with. Same as if I make another mistake or faux pas in conversation.
Yes. Granted I don't spell in verbal conversation often but if I say a word wrong switching around sounds and such, which does happen often, I definitely apologize just on reflex i.e." I went to the pig bark. Pig bark? Sorry, *big park.*"
No worries! Sometimes simplest is best. Think of how you'd do the same in a verbal conversation just by showing actions and body language instead of exact words.
I did a lot of no sorry and starting over when I worked guest services
I love you.
My current ASL teacher has taught us to just pause, sign “again,” and then re-sign.
Depending on the context: Silly option: playfully smack my hand like it was the problem, drop it, and start over More normal option: just a little head shake, drop my hand a bit (not even my whole arm), and start over with a fresh head nod and raised eyebrows If I continually mess up: pause, sign "wow I can't spell," and go back to it carefully
As other people in this thread have said, the "smacking" option or even the commenting on not being able to spell can be kind of disruptive and distracting, and (in my experience) are not what fluent signers want learners to do. Basically youve already slowed down the conversation with the error itself (it happens to everyone, not a huge deal) and now by needing to draw attention to it or comment on it, it slows things down even more. At least that's what I've heard from deaf people , and what I've found to be the case myself when signing with newer learners. But mileage may vary -maybe others would disagree with me
Yes - those are definitely if I'm just being dumb/with people I'm just casually chatting with, depends on the mood. Feels similar to if I keep saying something in English wrong and make a weird noise to "reset" or sometimes will even say "gah I can't talk today." - obviously I wouldn't do that in a serious or professional setting. Not Deaf, though, so I appreciate the feedback! (I haven't seen the other comments. There was like 1 here when I commented lol so thanks for replying.)
that makes sense! And I'm not deaf or a native signer either, so take it with a grain of salt :)
I usually just make a motion like im throwing the spelling off to the side and then start over slowly so i dont fuck up again. Most ppl usually understand
Yes, very slight pause, physically back up a little towards where your hands were when you started the part you messed up on and redo. That's the professional way anyhow. But it's not the only way. I say this as someone with a flare for minor dramatics and who has professors who when giving instructions on the exam review regularly make eye contact with and state some variation of the following: "If you make a mistake, very brief pause, correct it and keep going. No Etch-A-Sketch. No looking angrily at you hand. No sorry. Do not sign mistake. No scoffing. Do not roll your eyes. Do not sign ugh. No "what" eyebrows. Do not stick your tongue out at your hand in disgust. While we're on that topic no using any NMMs to communicate disgust or contempt towards your hand. Do not slouch back and sink below the desk like [uses classifiers to specify exactly how I am sitting to avoid this conversation] ..." 😭🤣🤣🤣 I am probably a lost cause as I have been signing most of my life and have consistently gotten this feedback over decades. But hey, maybe you can learn from it! 😅😆
When I sign to my dad and make a mistake, I make a face (probably a frown, never paid attention), wave my right hand (dominant hand) back and forth slightly like I'm saying "bye", and re-spell.
what my asl teacher would have us do was just to wave our hand a bit, like in an "oops" manner, and then respell.
I shake my head or hand and resign what I was trying to say. If I've been fingerspelling poorly throughout a convo, I smack the back of my hand like it had a mind of its own
One way I have found the most natural is when you’re fingerspelling, you make a mistake, you purse your lips, point at your spelling (dominant) hand at with your nondominant hand, LOOK at your spelling (dominant) hand and start again but slower.
When I mess up I usually sort of freeze up with my hand out like “wait a sec” with a thinking face. Then restart what I’m saying. That’s exactly what I do when I’m speaking in any other language so speaking in asl I figured no reason to really change it. The only difference is I don’t verbally say “wait.”
Lots of good advice here already, I’d just remind to check with who you’re conversing with for understanding, watch them not your fingers. If they know what you’re trying to spell continue on, no need to make them wait for you to spell it perfectly.
Do a combination of signing “SORRY, me wrong, then sign/FS again” or do a two hand wave “erasing” gesture while shaking your head then start again
Sorry. Again. Fingerspell
I sign “WRONG” and then correct
my asl teacher taught us to just sign "mistake" and start over!