Do deaf people talk to themselves in sign language?

I talk to myself in American Sign Language frequently…usually when I'm writing or doing a translation. It helps me to do my work. I'm sure you've done it as well, right? I also catch my Deaf children talking to themselves in ASL when they're playing. It's damn cute. read more

—Amelia Thomas, Rochester, N.Y. Cognitive scientist Gregory Hickok of the University of California, Irvine, and linguist *Carol Padden of the University of California, San Diego, respond: Absolutely. read more

In the USA within my lifetime, that language is most often American Sign Language (ASL). * [Off Topic] I had been taught that Deaf people do not"talk to themselves" in sign language in the same ways that hearing people may talk to themselves in English. read more

Please do not answer by only dropping a link and do not tell users they should"google it." Include a summary of the link or answer the question yourself. Users are coming to NSQ for straightforward, simple answers or because of the nuance that engaging in conversation supplies. read more