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ASL Corner

SPRING BREAK or SPRING HOLIDAY?

By Dennis Berrigan

In the last issue of this column, I discussed the importance of making the appropriate sign choices. This conversation between two teachers and a young student illustrates a specific example of how sign choice can make a lot of difference in understanding concepts.

Teacher 1: Spring Break starts today. Happy Spring Break!

Student (age 6): (looks perplexed as Teacher 1 gets distracted and
walks away to attend to the distraction)

Teacher 2: (walks towards the student after seeing his perplexed
expression) What’s the matter?

Student: SPRING BREAK? BREAK?

Teacher 2: Yes

Student: (not satisfied, he repeats the question) SPRING BREAK? BREAK?

Teacher 2: (realizing the student’s dilemma, Teacher 2 explains) Oh, yes.
Come over to the blackboard.

Teacher 2: (writes ‘break’ on the board) The word ‘break’ has different
meanings. One meaning is to describe things that are broken,
like a broken pencil, a chair, a window, etc.

Student: (nods in agreement)

Teacher 2: Okay. (pointing to the word on the board) ‘Spring Break’ means
a time for us to be away from school for a week to rest and to
spend time with family and friends. Teachers and students do
not come to school for a week. It is like a vacation. We are
having Spring Break now—no school for a week!

Student: (smiles, feels contented and walks away)

How do you think SPRING BREAK should be signed?

(Sign illustration from Signing: How to Speak with Your Hands by Elaine Costello)