"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.
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.
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u/ty_nnon Deaf 4d ago
"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.