A Husband Refused to Translate and it Shows How Significant it Really is to Learn ASL


Among the most fulfilling aspects of human existence is definitely the capacity to correspond with other people through language. Being in a position to communicate with other individuals in their own language is a really tremendous treasure. In their personal and professional lives, bilingual speakers have the unique benefit of relating with a broader array of individuals than monolingual people.

Even so, for a number of people learning an additional language can be considered a burden due to their already hectic professional and personal daily schedules. Or perhaps, they might be uninterested in growing their social network to add in people of varied communities and backgrounds. This is basically the circumstance for a lady that refuses to learn American Sign language (ASL) to communicate with her Deaf father-in-law, despite the appeals of her partner, who’s proficient in the language. (Story shared by Redditor Pretend_Dragonfly_68 on "Am I the A******? (AITA) subReddit)

Because his father is Deaf, the husband knows how to communicate in ASL ever since he was younger. And although he and his wife visit his dad two times a month, she's in no way shown any regard in learning ASL. And so instead of just using ASL with her father-in-law, the wife always has the husband interpret for her. After a period with this process, the husband is becoming more and more disappointed regarding his wife’s refusal to learn ASL and has considered decisive action to exhibit his displeasure - refuses to interpret when his wife is in the location.

The reality that the wife prefers regular ASL translation and won’t put in the effort to learn the language has resulted in unwanted friction within the marriage. This issue can be easily addressed if she consciously learn ASL online or through in-person trainings. In order to avoid this type of situation, the wife should adjust her thought process and make the effort to learn ASL. Other than being crucial to the success of any married couple, understanding how to convey one’s thoughts and feelings is also crucial for dealing with each other’s family members who are Deaf or Hard of hearing. Fluency in ASL is usually the the factor in inclusivity inside the family, just like it is in the much wider society.

As in the example shown above, a language barrier can certainly present itself when only one party knows a specific language, in this instance, ASL, to communicate with the extended family. This, in turn, can cause disputes or tensions and sometimes a communication meltdown involving the partners in a relationship. Moreover, this kind of failure to converse usually leads to detrimental behavior patterns in which the partners relate to one another in an increasingly unkind and unsuccessful manner.


Here are a few good reasons why partners need to learn ASL:


1. A couple that maintains effective communication tends to make a very happy family.

2. Eloquence in ASL will help married couples correspond with more people within their family.

3. Spending time with each other utilizing ASL is definitely an inspirational bonding experience for children and adults, both Deaf and hearing alike.

4. To the family members of a D/HoH person, learning & using ASL can help to construct bridges of communication and trust which will last a life time.

Learning ASL online is rather easy, making learning fun & quick for partners.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xL8zk8--SS8