Words without sound

Babies can tell you they're hungry before they can say a word: here's how

Imagine trying to order your morning coffee when the barista behind the counter doesn't understand a word or a gesture you're making. That's what many deaf people have to deal with every single day. But awareness is changing things: The more all of us learn about sign language and deaf culture, the more welcoming the world gets. Did you know that concerts have interpreters who convey the words and mood of a performance? Or that babies can sign basic words months before they can speak a single one? Here are 10 things about sign language that will surprise you.

Seen it or not, there’s someone off to the side of the stage, signing along with the music with incredible energy. These folks are sign language interpreters, and their job at live events is to make the whole experience accessible to deaf audience members. They not only translate the words, but they also convey the performance rhythm, mood, and emotion.

Imagine you're at a Rolling Stones concert and you're deaf. Without an interpreter, you'd feel the bass in your chest but miss everything else. With one interpreter, you get the full show.

Hearing babies can learn to sign basic words, even months before they develop the muscle control needed to speak. The fine motor skills required for simple signs develop earlier than the complex coordination needed for speech. "Baby sign language" programs have become popular with hearing parents who want to communicate with their infants before they can talk.

Imagine your 10-month-old signing "more" or "milk" instead of just screaming. Parents who've tried it say it dramatically reduces frustration on both sides, and some research suggests it may actually boost spoken language development.

There is no single, worldwide sign language. American Sign Language (ASL) is completely different from British Sign Language (BSL), even though both countries speak English. And there are hundreds of sign languages across the globe, each one developed naturally within its own deaf community, with its own vocabulary, grammar, and even regional slang.

If you learned ASL fluently and then flew to Japan, you'd be starting from scratch with Japanese Sign Language. A deaf traveler visiting a new country has to navigate a whole new language, just like anyone else.

Back in 1817, a French educator named Laurent Clerc traveled to the United States with Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet to help establish the American School for the Deaf in Hartford, Connecticut. Clerc brought French Sign Language with him, and it blended with the various signing systems already used by American deaf communities: that mix eventually became American Sign Language.

In spoken language, tone of voice tells you whether someone is asking a question or making a statement, whether they're being sarcastic or sincere. In ASL, facial expressions carry that same grammatical weight. Raised eyebrows can signal a yes/no question. A furrowed brow can indicate a "wh-" question, such as "who" or "where." Without the right face, the meaning can change completely.

Imagine signing "You're going to the store?" with a totally flat expression, without indicating if you’re making a statement or asking a question. To a fluent ASL user, that could read as a very different kind of sentence altogether.

In ASL, signers use the space in front of them almost like a stage. You can assign a spot in the air to a person or object, and then refer back to that spot throughout the conversation to mean "he," "she," "it," or "they." It's a pronoun system built entirely out of space and motion.

Picture telling a story about a disagreement between your neighbor and your boss. You'd set up your neighbor on the left side of the signing space and your boss on the right. Then, every time you refer to each of them, you simply point or direct signs toward those spots.

Many people assume sign language is just English translated into hand gestures, but ASL has its own completely independent grammar. The word order and the sentence structure are different, and many concepts that require multiple words in English can be expressed in ASL with a single sign.

If you wanted to say "I gave the book to her" in ASL, the signs, facial expressions, and spatial positioning would work together in a way that has no direct equivalent in an English sentence structure.

Just like spoken English has regional accents (think Boston versus Georgia versus Texas), ASL has regional variations too. The sign for a particular word in New York might look noticeably different from how it's signed in Los Angeles or Atlanta. Historically, schools for the deaf were major hubs where local signing styles developed and were passed down through generations of students.

There are also cultural variations within the deaf community itself. Black ASL, for instance, developed separately during the era of school segregation in the American South and has its own distinct features, signs, and style that differ from mainstream ASL.

Finger-spelling is the system used in ASL to spell out words letter by letter using hand shapes, one shape for each letter of the alphabet. It comes in handy for proper names, technical terms, or any word that doesn't have its own established sign. Fluent ASL users can finger-spell surprisingly fast, and experienced signers can read it just as quickly.

For a long time, scientists assumed that language was processed by the brain purely through sound. Sign language turned that idea on its head. Studies have shown that ASL is processed in the same areas of the brain as spoken languages. The brain, it turns out, is wired for language, not just speech. It doesn't care whether the signal comes through the ears or the eyes.

This means a child who learns ASL from birth shows the same developmental milestones as a child learning a spoken language. And deaf individuals who suffer a stroke affecting the left hemisphere can lose signing ability the same way hearing people lose speech.

Cop slang

If you ever wondered what these 12 police codes mean, read this article

Image: Matt Popovich

Police codes might sound like a secret language, but many are surprisingly straightforward once you know what they mean. From the famous "10-4" to numbers you’ve probably heard in TV dramas, these codes help officers communicate quickly and clearly over the radio. Take a look at 12 common U.S. police codes and their real meanings.

Image: Jametlene Reskp

When an officer calls in "10-8," it means they’re back on duty and ready for assignments. Dispatchers know they can now be sent to handle calls.

This code is often used after completing a task, returning from a break, or becoming available again. It helps keep communication clear and efficient.

Image: Michael Förtsch

If a message is unclear or missed, the code "10-9" is used to request that it be repeated. It’s a quick way to prevent misunderstandings over the radio.

Whether the issue is static, overlapping chatter, or noise in the field, this code helps ensure that important details aren’t lost.

Image: Fred Moon

The phrase "What’s your 20?" comes straight from this code, meaning "What’s your location?" It’s one of the most recognizable phrases in police radio.

It’s used for officer check-ins, coordinating units, or simply finding out where someone is at any given moment.

Image: Martin Podsiad

When a "10-33" is issued, it signals an urgent situation that requires all radio traffic to stop except for emergency updates.

This clears the airwaves so vital information can get through without delay, often during critical incidents.

Image: Clark Van Der Beken

A "10-50" reports a motor vehicle accident, from minor fender benders to serious collisions. Officers use it to request backup or other resources.

Variants of the code may specify whether injuries are involved, helping dispatchers send the right assistance quickly.

Image: fr0ggy5

When a disabled or wrecked vehicle needs towing, officers call in a "10-51." It’s a request for a wrecker or tow truck.

This code helps keep traffic flowing safely and clears hazards from roadways after accidents or breakdowns.

Image: Kenny Eliason

"10-76" tells dispatch and other units that an officer is on the way to a location or call.

This lets everyone know that help is on the way and gives an idea of how soon assistance will arrive.

Image: Martin Podsiad

After an officer arrives at a location, "10-97" is called in to confirm they are on the scene.

This code is useful for keeping track of personnel and ensuring that backup knows exactly who is present.

Image: Jenn

In California’s Penal Code, "187" refers to the section defining homicide. The term has become widely known through movies, TV, and music.

Even outside California, "187" is often recognized as shorthand for murder in law enforcement slang.

Image: Brian Lundquist

"211" is another California Penal Code section, this one referring to robbery. Like "187," it has become widely recognized in popular culture.

It signals a theft involving force or fear, often triggering an urgent police response.

Image: Look Again Digital

The "415" code covers various public disturbances, such as fights, loud music, and unruly gatherings.

It’s a flexible code that can apply to anything disrupting public order, big or small.

Image: Erik Mclean

We close our list with one of the most "popular" codes. In some states, "502" is used as shorthand for a DUI offense, meaning operating a vehicle while impaired by alcohol or drugs.

It’s a serious charge that can result in arrest, fines, and license suspension.