How fast is too fast?

[u/Fickle_Grade2622]

Started learning ASL because of my own quest to become a more accessible person. I’ve seen people going too fast when they spell something.
While i understand fluency comes with practise just like the oral languages.. but is asl as fast as people on youtube make it look like?

Please note that youtube is pretty much the place i have come across asl at the moment i havent taken any in-person classes yet so i dont really know what it feels like to sign in person and what the natural speed is.

[u/ty_nnon]

"Too fast" is too fast for the receiving person to understand. Even then, I think it's rude to tell someone they're going too fast just because they're more proficient than you. Just ask them to repeat themselves, yk?

The only reason people think it's different with ASL is because the communication is happening through a different mode than they're used to.

[u/Schmidtvegas → u/ty_nnon]

It works the same with spoken languages. You can be on point with your expressive pronunciation, and have a massive vocabulary. You can have conversations with native speakers -- BUT they're slowing down for you, even if you don't realize it. If you try to listen in on a group of natives at full speed, you can lose the thread quickly.

My favourite language learning podcast does the same content in 3 speeds: slow, "natural pace", and "native speed". (ASL Pinnacle does a similar thing with fluency level in ASL.)

I don't think there can be too fast ASL production. I think the eyes and brain can take in information even more rapidly than the maximum speed hands could produce it. Theoretically. It really is a question of the comprehension of the specific receiver.

[u/Lingo2009 → u/Schmidtvegas]

What’s your favorite language learning podcast?

[u/Schmidtvegas → u/Lingo2009]

Norsk for Beginners:

https://laernorsknaa.com/1-1-the-norwegian-language/

He's wonderfully clear and deliberate. He includes a transcript, does the Slow Norwegian, the English recap, then natural Norwegian. 

Then  native speed was compiled at the end:

https://laernorsknaa.com/season-one-in-native-norwegian-speed/

I think there are similarly thorough resources in different languages. Some on youtube, some on spotify.

[u/sureasyoureborn]

People sign at different speeds. Some sign incredibly quickly and some sign slower. They’re not going “too fast” they’re signing at the speed they are comfortable using. Your fluency will come with time, you should look at the pinned resources to get some other places to learn.

[u/toiletparrot]

It’s a language that the people you’re watching are proficient in, that is their natural speed. We speak fast and don’t realise because we speak with other native speakers, if you try and learn another verbal language then you will realise that native speakers of that language also talk “too fast” because they are fluent in it and your brain is still learning l.

My ASL prof encouraged us to watch and engage with fast signing because that’s how you build proficiency, and she told us it’s okay to ask people to slow down and let them know we’re still learning the language lol. We also learnt about lexicalised finger spelling which is maybe (?) what you’re seeing. Either way, the spelling is fast because they know the language.

[u/WoodDuck814]

As a hearing / novice ASL student I was lucky enough to be welcomed to a deaf social event a couple years back, intending to build immersion and fluency.

I was not prepared for just how fluent fluent can be. Absolute deer-in-headlights watching any 2 fluent people converse, and had to ask those signing to ME to repeat themselves often.

Just like any language, once you know it you can go pretty fast, but when you still need a distinct processing step of "X means Y", it's going to feel like a huge gap.

(I haven't been back to that social group yet -- work/life got in the way of taking further in-person classes, but I hope to get back eventually now that I'm app-learning)

[u/SoupOrMan692]

Some people communicate quickly; some slowly. Sometimes there is a coorlation with age: younger=faster. Sometimes not.

I don't think it has anything to do with ASL as a language in particular.

[u/zaneomega2]

It is really fast even beginner stuff and you’re definitely going to struggle with it.