On a sign: At this regulars' table, people listen with their eyes

Created: 03/27/2022, 17:36

By: Michael Seeholzer

“It always starts with hello” – at the signing table in Grafing (from left) sit Kolja Schulin, Roland Kühnlein, Susanna Weber-Kühnlein, Florian Eberl, Stylianos Malefakis.

New visitors – including those who can hear – are cordially invited.

As at every regulars' table, people chatter and laugh about everything and everything.

© Peter Kees

The sign language regulars' table in Grafing is not just aimed at the deaf, but at anyone who wants to come.

The hurdles are smaller than you might think.

Grafing

- There is a regulars' table for the deaf in Grafing, which meets every 1st Wednesday of the month in "Il Ristorante" on the market square.

It was organized by Kolja Schulin.

In an interview, the 37-year-old tells who pops in there and what they then talk about.

- Mr Schulin, how did the sign language round table come about and how long has it been there?

Such regulars' tables have been around in Munich for a long time.

Since I had more practice in sign language and didn't always want to travel to Munich, I founded the meeting place last autumn with the two interpreters from the region.

Many regulars' table visitors felt the same, and Corona put quite a few events and regulars' tables to sleep.

There was a great need to exchange ideas in sign language with others.

A regulars' table in sign language - but not just for the deaf

- In preparation for our conversation, we talked to each other by phone.

That means there is at least one person at the regulars' table who is not deaf.

Are there different degrees?

At this regulars' table are: Completely deaf, hard of hearing with hearing aids, who can talk in quiet surroundings without any problems, and hearing people who have learned sign language.

This also includes interpreters, people who work and live with deaf people, or whose family members are deaf.

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Sign language: own vocabulary, own grammar

- The regular carpenters communicate using sign language.

How long does it take to learn and become fluent?

That's a nice question: it's a foreign language that has its own vocabulary and grammar.

Anyone can get involved quickly.

Let's take a vacation in Italy or you're in China.

You automatically work here with your hands and feet” to reach your goal.

Sign language is of course more complex, but if you get involved with it, it is a very beautiful foreign language.

One learns it quickly, the other needs a lot of time and a lot of practice.

But you need two years.

- When is the easiest way to learn this type of communication?

There are many exciting books that report that all parents should first start with baby sign language with their children, because this can be implemented by the child before spoken language.

So the sooner the better.

But there is nothing wrong with learning sign language even in old age.

People speak differently in Munich than in Stuttgart or Hamburg

- Are there also dialects and different languages ​​in the sign language, or is it international?

Yes, there are dialects.

People speak differently in Munich than in Stuttgart and again differently in Hamburg.

But the advantage is, it's a figurative language.

So a car in Munich is the wobbly steering wheel and in China too.

This means that deaf people can communicate internationally much faster than hearing people.

But there is also the international sign language: The International Sign. But not everyone masters this form.

“Would you like a pizza?” asks Roland Kühnlein (right).

Susanna Weber-Kühnlein would rather share one and replies: "Half!" © Peter Kees

The topics are not particularly different from other regulars' tables

- What is currently the dominant topic at the regulars' table in Grafing, and do the topics differ at all from a regulars' table discussion at which hearing people sit?

That's the beauty.

They are normal people, so normal topics too: Corona, war, but also leisure time, culture, vacation, personal concerns and much, much more.

- How many regular visitors come to the regulars' table in Grafing and where are the next similar regulars' tables?

We are a little over 20 people.

There are always 10 to 15 people there.

There are similar regulars' tables in Wasserburg and Munich.

We don't know anything about this in the district.

- Jokes are often told at the regulars' table.

What's it like at the regulars' table for the deaf?

Are there perhaps even jokes being told about the deaf - or is this question improper?

Of course there are also funny stories and jokes.

But they are often unfamiliar to hearing people and therefore not that funny.

In the case of hearing people, you don't tell stories where the point is that he is hearing.

I think it's the same with the deaf.

They have their jokes and are also very communicative, but I haven't come across any jokes that have a punch line aimed at deafness.

"It always starts with hello."

- Anyone who masters sign language has a special qualification.

Can the regular carpenters in Grafing use this professionally, for example as interpreters at town hall meetings?

There is the profession of sign language interpreter, with training and examination and all the trimmings.

There are even two of them in Grafing and one in Bad Aibling.

Even more in Munich.

You can find and book them online.

At events like this, you have to think about ordering an interpreter.

Definitely a beautiful thing and an appreciation of all people.

- "Here sit those who always sit here" is often written on signs in pubs.

How is it at the round table for the deaf, can you just sit down there?

Of course, come and ask!

Communication is always possible.

If you don't know how to start a conversation, it always starts with hello.

Just wave your hand and say hello.

Finished.

You can find more current news from the district of Ebersberg at Merkur.de/Ebersberg.

(Personal information: Kolya Schulin)

“I work at the vocational training center in Munich with a focus on hearing and speech.

This means that anyone with a handicap in communication can do their initial training with us for the first job market.

In plain language: Young people who are hard of hearing, deaf or hearing autistic people can do an apprenticeship with us, for example as a painter, office clerk, industrial mechanic or automotive mechatronics technician.

I'm one of three instructors in the automotive department.

So I work with people who use sign language.”