SimCom is basically when you try to talk and sign at the same time. Most people think its a great version of doubling in language just they couldn’t be further from the truth. SimCom is like, “let me speak English while doing ASL (American Sign Language),” like multitasking but with languages. Sounds cool, right? But… it’s actually harder than it sounds.
First, ASL is nothing like English. It has its own grammar, structure, and even words that don’t exist in English. Using SimCom is like trying to juggle two completely different things while running a marathon. You’re speaking English, but you’re also trying to do all these signs at the same time while having to think about what you’re going to say in your spoken language and how to translate it in sign.
Also, since ASL and English don’t work the same way, the stuff you say in English might not even match the sign you’re doing making it impossible to double. You’ll probably end up simplifying both, so no one really gets the full, perfect message. Plus, if you’re not a pro, it’s super hard to keep the signs and words in sync. It’s like trying to walk and chew gum, but like… a lot harder.
So why do people do it at all? Convenience. If there are Deaf people and hearing people in the same room, SimCom is a way to like, sort of communicate with both, even though it’s not that great for the Deaf person who’s used to full-on ASL. It’s like trying to talk to someone in Spanish while throwing in a few random French words. It’s messy.
Also, SimCom isn’t always super accurate. If you’re signing and speaking at the same time, it’s really easy to mess something up, like missing a key word or confusing the grammar. I mean, you’re doing two things at once—that’s stressful, okay?
And pro tip, just because you’re doing SimCom doesn’t mean you’re bilingual. It just means you’re trying to keep both balls in the air and hoping no one notices you dropped one. Like, it’s fine, but it’s not the best solution.