Pidgin Signed English

Reported by: Blessy Jel Guillergan

WHAT IS IT?
 A kind of sign language when one does not sign pure ASL with its own grammar or use signed exact English.
 A more recent term is “contact signing”
 Pidgin is the term for any language that naturally develops between people who use different languages.
 PSE is not a true language and lacks rules.
 It is viewed by sign linguistics experts as a way to “bridge” the gap between native ASL speakers and native
English speakers.
 It contains a mix of ASL rules and English grammar.
 The signs used in PSE come from ASL, but they are not used in an ASL way, but rather in a more normal English
pattern.

HISTORY
 The Pidgin is no one’s native language.
 Pidgins are used all over the world.
- a linguist named David Decamp (1971) estimates that 2-3 million people use some form of Pidgin every
day in at least some language situations.
 PSE is best described as a combination of English and American Sign Language.
 A simplified language derived from two or more languages is called a Pidgin.
 PSE is probably the most widely used communication mode in the US among deaf and hearing persons who
work with them.

GOALS
 PSE serves as a communication link between two groups that are hampered by a language barrier.
 PSE combines the signs, facial expression and body language of ASL with the word order of the English language
to help deaf people and hearing people communicate easily with each other.

RELATION/APPLICATION TO DEAF EDUCATION

 PSE is considered a contact language. In the case of “contact sign”, the two parent languages are English and ASL
 PSE is actually its own entity an has influences from both languages.
 PSE is not to be taught. It is, instead, the natural result of bilingual interaction. The sole purpose of PSE is
communication
 PSE is can be more English in its presentation or more like ASL, depending on the skill of the signers.
 PSE is a commonly accepted form of communication between deaf and hearing people.
 PSE is used between deaf signers as well.

WHO USES PSE?

 People who are hard of hearing or deaf use PSE later in life.
-this is because they grew up learning spoken English and it’s harder for them to transfer ASL grammar.
PROs of PSE

 Children who have learned English can easily transfer to PSE.

 It is widely used in mainstream schools.
 Parents are able to learn sign language while still using English syntax and grammar.
 Talking while signing can be possible.
CONs of PSE

 It may be hard to sign and talk.

 PSE is a mix of ASL and English so it could become confusing.
 Culturally deaf sign who may know English grammar and syntax could find PSE confusing.
CONNECTIONS TO RESEARCH
Research Title: Evaluating the Importance of Facial Expression in American Sign Language and Pidgin Signed English
Animations

Authors: Huenerfauth, Matt; Lu, Pengfei; Rosenberg, Andrew

Research into PSE:

 Ceil Lucas of Gallaudet University’s Department of ASL, Linguistics, and Interpretation together with Clayton
Valli.
 Their work is in more detail in the 1992 book “Language Contact in the American Deaf Community”
 They pointed out differences between PSE and spoken pidgins and proposed the term “contact signing” instead.

PSE VS ASL
Sentence: “I am working at the store where I stocked items on shelves all day”

ASL: “All day me work over there store do shelf shelf shelf thing put away on shelves.”

Deaf PSE: “Me work store all day thing shelf put away on shelves.”

Hearing PSE: “I working at store put away things on shelf all day.”

References:

Berke, J. (2018). Pidgin Sign(ed) English Bridges ASL and English. Retrieved from www.verywellhealth.com/sign-
language-pse-1046856

Huenerfauth, M. & Lu, P. & Rosenberg, A. (2011). Evaluating the Importance of Facial Expression in American Sign
Language and Pidgin Signed English Animations. Retrieved from
www.researchgate.net/publication/229078283_evaluating_importance_of_facial_expression_in_American_sign_langua
ge_and_pidgin_signed_English_animations

Grushkin, D. (2019). How is Pidgin Signed English distinct from American Sign Language. Retrieved from
www.quora.com/How-is-Pidgin-Signed-English-distinct-from-American-Sign-Language

Scheetz, N. (2012). Deaf Education in the 21st Century. Pearson Education Inc.: New Jersey

Reyes, K. (2016). Pidgin Signed English [Prezi Presentation]. Retrieved from www.prezi.com/3q9codgypkxi/pidgin-
signed-englsh/