Television with sign language

@Asylum (47893)
Manchester, England
January 22, 2007 7:21pm CST
I find it totally distracting when the television program that I am trying to watch has a man or woman on screen converting the speech into sign language. I find it impossible to concentrate on the program and I usually turn to another channel. I am completely in favour of sign language being available for the deaf, but there is no reason for it to be displayed on screen as default. Surely this should be an available option in the same way that subtitles are displayed by choice?
9 people like this
33 responses
@gabs8513 (48686)
• United Kingdom
23 Jan 07
Yes I agree with you that there should be an Option for that on the actual Program as you say it is annoying and distracts they should be able to have the option to turn that of if you are not a deaf Person I hope they will come up with something soon on this
2 people like this
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
23 Jan 07
They must have the technology to do this. If we watch a DVD we can select to have subtitles, and often have a choice of 6 or 7 languages. Imagine a DVD where you have to have Norwegian or Spanish subtitles? It would be very difficult to watch.
3 people like this
@gabs8513 (48686)
• United Kingdom
23 Jan 07
Yes you are right so I would say they should be able to do it on the Tv
@toonatoons (3737)
• Philippines
23 Jan 07
i'm sorry you feel this way. but personally, i welcome this move by some tv producers because it allows our deaf brothers and sisters to be able to enjoy the shows as much as we do.
2 people like this
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
23 Jan 07
I have no desire to remove the pleasure for a deaf viewer, they deserve as much television as anyone else. What I do say is that it should not be transmitted on the screen, but available by pressing one of the buttons on the remote. We can watch subtitles on a DVD by selecting them, but they do not appear if we do not want them. If it was a viewer selected option then I would vote for all programs to available with sign language.
2 people like this
@gifana (4833)
• Portugal
23 Jan 07
Then send an email or a letter to Motorola, Sony, Grundig, Phillips, etc. etc. and have them give you the choice on your remote. But beware....the price of TV sets will probably go up.
@kgwat70 (13388)
• United States
23 Jan 07
I have not encountered this situation as of yet but I certainly can understand that it could be a distraction while watching a show. I definitely agree that this should be an option on the tv that you can put it on or take it off so you can concentrate on the show you are watching. It is obviously important for the deaf people but not everybody needs it so it should not be the default setting.
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
23 Jan 07
This was originally popular with a few programs specially aimed at the hard of hearing, and of course it was appropriate then. The current status is that it seems to appear around 1 AM to 4 AM. It is fine for News programs, but makes it almost impossibe to focus on an action program.
2 people like this
@gifana (4833)
• Portugal
23 Jan 07
If it should be considered an option then I would complain to the makers of the TV sets rather than to the television channels.
@isasice (2015)
• Iceland
23 Jan 07
There aren't many programs in Iceland that have sign language in the corner but I know what you are talking about. It was popular for a little while but I haven't seen it for some time now. We do have a special "News in sign language" that is only sign language so there is no need for it in the regular news program. Most Icelandic tv is subtitled for the hearing impaired but has to be accessed through the text tv for those who want it. The text doesn't bother anyone though as a large portion of the tv here is in a foreign language and has subtitles. I agree that it would be best if the sign language was an option but I also know that not all tv stations could afford that feature. Would be interesting to get the views of someone who is hearing impeared.
2 people like this
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
23 Jan 07
We often have the News programs with sign language, which is not a problem because the picture is not the main feature with news and does not require permanent attention. I cannot really see the cost being prohibitive, after all we have teletext and other optional features.
3 people like this
@mjgarcia (725)
• United States
23 Jan 07
My Grandmother is deaf and where she lives they have the option of captioned television. It runs the words at the bottom of the screen. My self, I like seeing them sign - but more for nostalgic reasons.
2 people like this
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
23 Jan 07
This is precisely the type of transmission that I would like to see, where your grandmother has the option to see either subtitles or sign language as an overlaid option. My only objection is that they transmit the sign language without the choice of not having it on screen.
2 people like this
@arvee17 (730)
• Philippines
23 Jan 07
i am sorry but i am in match favor of having some people doing sign language on TV... we are not the only people in the world and lucky for us that we are totally bless with everything... the deaf community need all the need they could get....
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
23 Jan 07
I am not suggesting that the facility should not be offered, just that it should be an option that we can turn on or off. Most DVDs have subtitles but they are viewed by choice.
• Philippines
23 Jan 07
your correct about that they need help that they can get. but captions or subtitles is more reliable to that situation. for me it is the best way to help them.
• South Africa
24 Jan 07
I also get distracted by the signs and instead of listening to the program I end up looking at all the signs they are making. They should make it with a option like subtitles on/off sign language on/off.
1 person likes this
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
24 Jan 07
I was beginning to think that I was the only person that had ever noticed this.
1 person likes this
@sbeauty (5865)
• United States
23 Jan 07
I've got to say (no offense intended) that I find signing on TV about as distracting as I find your avatar when I'm trying to respond to one of your discussions. That little flappy thing you have now is soooooo annoying! And so is the signing on TV. Anything that has the power to pull our attention away from the main topic or point of interest is too distracting and ought to be available only on an as-needed basis.
1 person likes this
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
23 Jan 07
Oh, my poor little flappy thing. The very nature of sign language draws our attention from the main picture. This is fine on news programs where the picture is not the central issue but simply a bonus to illustrate the information, but it really does not help on other programs.
@ichurn (611)
• Philippines
24 Jan 07
The sign language are for those people who are deaf. So I think we should also consider those handicapped people. Try to increase your concentration so that you won't be distracted. The more you are exposed to such shows, the better your concentration will be. I'm not so sure if there is such a setting especially if the feed comes from the television station itself. YOu can ask your local cable provider though.
1 person likes this
@patootie (3592)
23 Jan 07
I am always fascinated to watch deaf interpreters signing at speed and as someone speaks .. and if you watch for long enough you soon start to pick up what is being said .. so much of sign language is pictorial ..I think signing is a lovely expressive language .. As for it being an option rather than always displyed, to date there are no TVs that can show optional pictures that could be used to show signing. Subtitles can be shown as they are a part of the text set up .. but pictures use different data streaming and so it can't be done ..
1 person likes this
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
23 Jan 07
I would not criticise sign language and I must admit that I am impressed with the ingenuity of it, although that does not help if I am watching a television program. I cannot agree that it is not possible, we must have the technology for this.
@mgr1987 (689)
• India
23 Jan 07
tv channels wanted to cover most of the people and so they have sign language.also,some of the people may be interested in judging the sign that is being displayed on the program.it is upto you to decide whether to watch or not.
1 person likes this
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
23 Jan 07
I agree and feel that sign language should be available in more programs than it is at present, but as an added feature for those who want it.
• United States
23 Jan 07
I actually love this. I want my children to be completely aware of the world and disabilities and hope that they pick up some sign language (as they already have) by having this on the screen. I grew up with a deaf brother and am acustomed to these accomidations. I hope people dont make a big enough stink that they take it off the air as it is a service to the deaf community and is a great way to show children diversity and let them learn a new thing. I hope that they can get a function that will turn it off for those that wish but leave it until that time.
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
23 Jan 07
Nobody would want sign language to be taken off the air, this would be a serious step backwards and a rather callous act. What I would prefer is to be able to select whether it is displayed on my screen or not. With the choice of display they could actually offer sign language for more programs. If the only option was to accept it or remove it, then I would have to choose to accept it.
@jbrooks0127 (2324)
• United States
24 Jan 07
I have profound hearing loss. Not something I would wish on anyone and before mu loos I took it so much for granted as everyone does. I can no longer go to a movie unless it is high action and the conversations are not that important to understanding the direction of the movie. So I am very greatful for closed caption on tv. Even that can be a challange to keep up at times. It allows me to watch tv where as I could not. My hearing loss is most distubing in that I can hear but not understand. I must say I have not seen the signing you refer to however I would agree with you that to half someone signing with no option to turn it off would be a great distraction. I do not sign so it would do me no good and I think there are many like me. However if I were totaly deaf I would have a different perspective. Perhaps contacting the station carrying this and voiceing your oppinion may help. They may be able to direct you to someone who could help. Good luck because someone else may have fought long and hard to get it there. But if the could give you an option like they do closed caption it would be great for everyone.
1 person likes this
@blindedfox (3315)
• Philippines
24 Jan 07
Well, just try not to pay attention to the one giving out sign languages. =)
1 person likes this
@TerryZ (22076)
• United States
23 Jan 07
Im with you I also find it distracting. I too am in favor of sign language but not when Im trying to watch something. Thank goodness I dont come across this very often.
@KHyuga (1694)
• Singapore
23 Jan 07
I think you are not feeling for the hearing impaired.
@gifana (4833)
• Portugal
23 Jan 07
So it seems that your are in favor of almost anything as long as your needs are fulfilled. I find that very selfish, inconsiderate and distasteful. Not everyone is perfect and they are entitled to watch the same programs as anyone else. Why should they be discriminated against. It is a wonderful public service and you and I as part of that public should encourage it rather than gripe over it.
@jayarajgr (816)
• India
23 Jan 07
How often you see that? I cant remember the last time I have seen something like that. Can you give me a program name?
1 person likes this
@Bee1955 (3882)
• United States
23 Jan 07
I suggest you read your television's manual on how to turn off ther "closed captioning" device on your TV set. However, if you are referring to documentaries and live religious shows or poliical rallies where they have a paid interpreter stand and translate the speakers' - then you must be tolerant. Many vendors find the human touch more powerful than a screen full of sentences blocking most of the show, or simply it was cheaper than paying for the CCTV to be added.
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
23 Jan 07
I am a very tolerant person and do not suggest that people should have to contend with reading from the screen. I welcome the addition of sign language in order to make more programs accessible to the deaf, but my point is that the option should exist to switch it on or off. I expected a few people to misunderstand my intention, but most people are defending people that I am not attacking.
@inked4life (4224)
• United States
23 Jan 07
I have only ever seen this on news shows and don't really find it too annoying. I find it more distracting when there are subtitles. Now those drive me crazy.
1 person likes this
@Debs_place (10520)
• United States
24 Jan 07
I am sorry, but that is cold, a deaf person can't change channels or turn it on and off. An interpreter in the corner of the screen is no more distracting then any of the adds that many of the channels use. Personally, I think it is a great way to learn sign if you decide to use it in a constructive manner.
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
24 Jan 07
A deaf person is just as capable of turning a feature on or off as I am.
@tad1fan (3367)
• Canada
23 Jan 07
I don't like the sign language either but I love my closed-captioning,all my kids learned how to read by it and it helps when your house is noisy,if you can't hear,read
1 person likes this