What do you need to do?

Use signs that show respect and give evidence of kindness, that are readily understood, that impart variety to your presentation, and that convey appropriate vigor and feeling. Use signs as deaf people naturally use them.

Why is it important?

It shows respect for the message you are delivering and reveals much about your attitude toward the people to whom you are signing. It influences how others react to what you say.

1 WHETHER an artist draws a sketch in black and white or paints in color, he usually enhances the picture with varying shades to create a rich image. Similarly, sign language consists of a “palette” of signs that can help us deliver our message with clarity and emotional impact. Indeed, signs are powerful tools of communication. But in order for our signs to accomplish a specific purpose, we need to choose them carefully. A sign that may be appropriate on one occasion may have the wrong effect when circumstances are different. Improperly used, a colorful expression may become “a harsh word.” For example, consider the sign “ignorant.” A person can speak of himself as ignorant, simply meaning that he does not know how to do something. However, using the same sign to describe another person would be perceived as insulting. Use of such expressions may simply be thoughtless, reflecting a lack of consideration. Some terms have a double meaning, one of which is offensive or belittling. (Prov. 12:18; 15:1) On the other hand, “a good word”​—a word that imparts encouragement—​brings joy to the heart of the one to whom it is spoken. (Prov. 12:25) Finding the right signs requires effort, even for a wise person. Solomon, the Bible tells us, was aware of the need to search out “delightful words” and “accurate words of truth.”​—Eccl. 12:10.

2 In some languages, certain expressions are used when addressing those who are older or who occupy a position of authority, while different expressions are used when addressing one’s peers or those who are younger. For example, in Korean Sign Language, a gesture with the hand outstretched may be used when asking an older person a question; the gesture is not used when asking a younger one. Ignoring such courtesies is considered rude. In the matter of showing honor, the Bible sets a higher standard than what may be required by law or local custom. It urges Christians to “honor men of all sorts.” (1 Pet. 2:17) Those who do this from the heart speak to people of all ages in a manner that shows respect.

3 Of course, many people who are not true Christians use language that is rude and vulgar. They may feel that rough language adds emphasis to what they say. Or their use of it may simply reflect a woefully deficient vocabulary. If someone habitually used such speech before learning Jehovah’s ways, he may find that it is difficult to break the habit. Yet, it is possible. God’s spirit can help a person change speech patterns. However, the individual must also be willing to build a vocabulary filled with good signs​—signs that impart what is favorable, signs that build up—​and then use these regularly.​—Rom. 12:2; Eph. 4:29; Col. 3:8.

4 Language Easily Understood. A fundamental requirement of good speech is that it be easily understood. (1 Cor. 14:9) If the signs that you use are not readily understood by your audience, you become to them like someone speaking a foreign tongue.

5 Some signs have a specialized meaning among people in a particular profession. Such terms may be used by them every day. But your use of them in the wrong setting may hinder your ability to communicate. Furthermore, even though everyday vocabulary is used, if you get unnecessarily bogged down in details, your listeners may simply turn their minds to other matters.

6 A considerate speaker chooses signs that are understandable even to those whose education is quite limited. In imitation of Jehovah, he shows consideration for “the poor.” (Job 34:19) If the speaker does find it necessary to use an unfamiliar sign, then he should use it in connection with simple phrases that make the meaning clear.

7 Simple signs that are well chosen convey ideas with great power. Short sentences and simple phrases are easy to grasp. They can be interspersed with some longer sentences so that the delivery does not become choppy. But for thoughts that you especially want your audience to remember, favor signs that are simple and sentences that are concise.

8 Variety and Accuracy in Expression. There is no lack of good signs. Rather than use the same expressions for every situation, employ a variety of signs. Then your presentation will be both colorful and meaningful. How can you enlarge your vocabulary?

9 When watching theocratic videos, make a note of any signs that you do not fully understand, and ask someone who knows the language well to explain them. Select a few of those signs, and make a conscious effort to use them when appropriate. Be careful to sign them correctly and to use them in a context where they will be readily understood and not simply attract attention. Enlarging your vocabulary will add “color,” or variety, to your speech. But there is need for caution​—when a person signs words incorrectly or misuses them, others may conclude that he really does not know what he is talking about. Therefore, it is important to truly understand the meaning of signs and use them correctly. For example, the sign “willing” has a much different meaning than the sign “acquiesce.” Try making a list of similar signs, and then ask someone who knows the language well what the differences are and when would be the appropriate time to use each sign.

10 Our purpose in enlarging our vocabulary is to inform, not to make an impression on our listeners. Complex speech and technical signs tend to draw attention to the speaker. Our desire should be to share valuable information and to make it interesting for those who see it. Remember the Bible proverb: “The tongue of the wise makes good use of knowledge.” (Prov. 15:2) The use of good signs, fitting signs that are easily understood, helps make our presentation refreshing and stimulating rather than dull and uninteresting.

11 As you enlarge your vocabulary, give careful attention to using the right sign. Two signs may have similar but different meanings for use under different circumstances. If you recognize this, you will be able to improve the clarity of what you say and avoid offending your listeners. Carefully watch people who sign well. Notice how they convey not only varied expressions for the same idea but also different shades of meaning for a sign. This is very helpful when you are seeking the right sign for a particular circumstance. Before adding a sign to your vocabulary, be sure that you know what it means, how to sign it correctly, and when it should be used. This will help you not only to convey it clearly but also to understand others correctly when they use it.

12 Aside from learning new signs, you can also add variety by inflecting the signs you use. Signs can be manipulated to convey a range of different meanings. Descriptive information can be layered onto a sign by adjusting its movement and other characteristics, rather than using additional signs unnecessarily. Nearly every sign can be modulated, or inflected, to convey variations in meaning.

13 For example, consider the sign “improve.” This sign can be inflected in many ways to convey different meanings. It can show gradual improvement, rapid improvement, failure to improve despite effort, or even deterioration. Another example is the sign “pray.” It can convey earnest prayer by its intensity or frequent prayer by its motion.

14 While you can experiment with inflection, be careful not to exaggerate or use signs in an unnatural way. If you are unsure, ask a native signer what he thinks. Most sign languages are inflectional. Therefore, it is important to develop the ability to modulate signs to convey a wide range of meaning.

15 In addition to this, use role shifts, classifiers, and other ways of expressing concepts that you have learned through association with deaf people. But be careful not to go beyond the natural use of the language.

16 Expressions that are specific convey a clearer picture than do those that are general. A speaker might say: “At that time, many people got sick.” Or he could say: “After World War I, within a few months, some 21,000,000 people died from the Spanish influenza.” What a difference it makes when the speaker states clearly what he means by “at that time,” “many people,” and “got sick”! Expressing yourself in this way calls for knowledge of facts related to your subject as well as a careful choice of signs.

17 Use of the right sign can also help you get to the point without being verbose. Too many signs tend to bury thoughts. Simplicity makes it easier for others to grasp and retain important facts. It helps convey accurate knowledge. The teaching of Jesus Christ was outstanding for its simplicity of language. Learn from him. (See the examples recorded at Matthew 5:3-12 and Mark 10:17-21.) Practice expressing yourself concisely in well-chosen signs.

18 Signs That Convey Vigor, Feeling, Color. As you enlarge your vocabulary, think not only of new signs but also of signs that have particular characteristics. Consider, for instance, verbs that express vigor; adjectives that convey color; and expressions that show warmth, have a note of kindness, or convey earnestness.

19 The Bible is filled with examples of such meaningful language. Through the prophet Amos, Jehovah urged: “Search for what is good, and not what is bad . . . Hate what is bad, and love what is good.” (Amos 5:14, 15) Describing Jehovah’s voice, the psalmist sang: “The voice of Jehovah makes the wilderness shudder . . . And strips bare the forests.” (Ps. 29:8, 9) Job expressed his determination to be faithful to his wife by saying: “I have made a covenant with my eyes.” (Job 31:1) Emphasizing the gravity of Israel’s wrongdoing, Jehovah asked: “Will a mere human rob God? But you are robbing me.” (Mal. 3:8)

20 Sometimes signs in the Bible are inflected to convey additional information. For example, in describing a test of faith in Babylon, Daniel vividly reported that “Nebuchadnezzar became so furious” because Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego would not worship his image, so he ordered that they be bound and thrown into “the burning fiery furnace.” Helping us to realize the intensity of the heat, Daniel reported that the king had his men “heat the furnace seven times hotter than usual”​—so hot that when they neared the furnace, the king’s men were killed. (Dan. 3:19-22)

21 Classifiers are used in the Bible to add color as well. Speaking to people in Jerusalem a few days before his death, Jesus said with deep feeling: “How often I wanted to gather your children together the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings! But you did not want it. Look! Your house is abandoned to you.”(Matt. 23:37, 38) Through the prophet Isaiah, Jehovah declared judgment against the king of Babylon, saying: “Even the Grave underneath is stirred up to meet you when you come. Because of you, it awakens those powerless in death ... All of them speak up and say to you, ‘Have you also become weak like us? Have you become like us?’”​—Isa. 14:9, 10.

22 Well-chosen signs can convey vivid mental impressions to your listeners. If you use signs that appeal to the senses, your listeners will “see” and “touch” the things about which you speak, and they will “taste” and “smell” the foods to which you refer. The audience will become engrossed in what you are saying because you help them to live it with you. However, do not go to extremes and use too many descriptive signs; use as many as are required to help your audience understand the concept.

23 Signs that vividly convey ideas can cause people to laugh or to cry. They can inspire hope, infusing a downhearted person with a desire to live and stirring within him love for his Creator. People around the earth have been profoundly affected by the hope engendered by the words in such Bible passages as Psalm 37:10, 11, 34; John 3:16; and Revelation 21:4, 5.

24 As you watch the Bible and the publications of “the faithful and discreet slave,” you will observe a wide variety of signs and phrases. (Matt. 24:45) Select ones that delight you, and make them part of your working vocabulary.

25 Conforming to the Rules of Grammar. Some people realize that their speech may not always be in line with the rules of grammar. But what can they do about it?

26 If you are still in school, take advantage of the opportunity now to learn good grammar and careful choice of signs. If you are unsure of the reason for a particular grammatical rule, ask your teacher. Do not do only enough to get by. You have motivation that other students may not have. You want to be an effective minister of the good news.

27 What if you are older and grew up speaking a language other than sign language? Or perhaps you lacked opportunity for much formal education in your own language. Do not be discouraged. Rather, make a genuine effort to improve, doing so for the sake of the good news. Much that we know about grammar we learn by watching others sign. So watch carefully when seasoned speakers give their talks. When you watch the Bible and Bible-based publications, be conscious of the sentence structure, the signs that are used together, and the context in which they are used. Model your own signing after these good examples.

28 Popular entertainers may use expressions and modes of speech that clash with grammatical usage. People tend to imitate such individuals. Drug dealers and others whose whole pattern of life is criminal or immoral often have their own signs, with definitions that are quite different from the customary meaning. It is not wise for Christians to imitate any of these people. To do so would identify us with those elements of the world and their way of life.​—John 17:16.

29 Make it a practice to use good speech every day. If you allow your speech to become sloppy in everyday conversation, do not expect to be able to speak well on special occasions. But if you use speech of good quality in the ordinary circumstances of life, it will come easily and naturally to you when on the platform or when witnessing to others about the truth.

HOW TO IMPROVE

From the suggestions in this lesson, select just one point on which you want to work. Make that your goal for a month or more.

Have your goal in mind when you are watching theocratic videos. Keep it in mind when you watch capable speakers. Make note of expressions that you want to incorporate in your own speech. Within a day or two, use each one that you write down.

In addition to building your vocabulary, practice techniques such as modulating or inflecting key signs to express a range of meaning so that you can express ideas in fewer signs.

EXERCISE: As you prepare for either the Watchtower Study or the Congregation Bible Study in sign language this week, select a few signs that you cannot easily define. Discuss their meaning with someone who has a good knowledge of the language.

Signs that I want to add to my active vocabulary

For variety and accuracy

․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․

․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․

․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․

․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․

․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․

․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․

To convey vigor, feeling, or color

․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․

․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․

․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․

․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․

․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․

․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․

․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․

․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․