06/10/2022
Signed Exact English or SEE.
"SEE was developed with one objective in mind – to provide the deaf or hard of hearing child with the same English communicating capability as his/her hearing counterpart. The system provides a visual counterpart to match both spoken and written English. It is often used in combination with speech and/or auditory training, and in simultaneous communication programs. The use of SEE does not exclude the use of ASL or other sign languages or sign systems. In fact, roughly 75% of the signs in SEE are the traditional signs that are common to all sign languages or sign systems used in the United States, i.e. ASL, PSE, CASE, Signed English. Those signs in SEE are used to represent only one English word. For example, the word “finish” in other sign languages or systems can also mean “complete” “done” “end” “over”, etc. In SEE, the traditional sign for “finish” is maintained. The synonyms, or “sign family” words, have a separate sign for each word representing the actual spoken and written word in English. With that recognition, the transfer to the printed English form is done naturally. Additionally, the use of the visual features such as facial expression, body language, use of placement and directionality are shared with all the sign languages and sign systems.
The overall philosophy of the SEE Center is for every child to develop skills for communication with every person within his or her community. Establishment of a first language leads to the capacity for the child to build upon that knowledge to learn a second language. This includes ASL: a child who knows English grammar well can learn to adapt to the structure and syntax of ASL and the features unique to that language."
Signing Exact English (SEE) is a sign system that matches signs with the English language. It is one of the first manual English systems to be published (1972). Children who are exposed at an early age to SEE are able to learn English, including the many idiomatic expressions and uses of figurat...
