Duet

    I first remember seeing a signer at MTSU during Convocation. A lady to the left podium, standing and repeating everything the speakers said, but not with her words. Rather with her hands so even those who could not hear could understand what the celebration of Convocation was about. After the ceremony my roommate and I went to the presidents picnic, waited in line (for a very long time), and finally got something to eat. With food in hand we walked over to the ice truck so that we could have someplace to lean as we ate. I looked to take a bite of my hot dog and when I looked back up, there they were. An asian girl and a white boy. She was very tan and he had long hair, a beard, and glasses. But this wasn’t what I noticed about them at first. I was intrigued with their conversation. Not with the content, but the delivery. They were signing and I was so natural for them. Going back and forth as swiftly as two friends would talk about a concert they just saw or a joke they had just heard. For some reason this interaction amazed me. It’s not like I haven’t seen something like this before, but this time it just hit me. Still I had no idea what they were talking about. Was it a friendly conversation or a hostile one? Did they already know each other or did they just meet? I couldn’t tell. All I knew is that I didn’t understand them. They were signing extremely fast and understood each other as well as any other two people having a conversation. I stood there watching, trying not to look to intentionally because I didn’t want them to think I was staring at them. I tried, but I couldn’t keep my eyes away. I was just fascinated with the language and really thought it was a beautiful way to communicate. Soon enough a third person came up and that just made even more questions arise. Could he hear? Could he sign? Did he know these people? After I while I could tell he was talking to the boy. I then realized that the boy with the beard could hear even though he was signing to the girl. He then appeared to be translating what the third boy was saying to the girl and vise versa. This amazed me as well and just made me more interested in their conversation. I wondered if my roommate had been watching, but was to involved in their conversation to start my own with him. As I watched some of my previous curiosities were answered. I could tell they were all friendly with each other. Their facial expressions were just like those of two people speaking with each other. Smiling, laughing, and just having a good time. Who needs to hear to communicate I thought. Not these people. All they need is two arms and two hands. This encounter really stuck out to me and remained in my head not only because I find signing to be a beautiful form of communication, but also because after seeing this interaction it really made me want to learn how to sign.