Deaf Culture & Libraries
| home |
| introduction |
| site map |
| Deaf Culture |
| deaf/Deaf |
| ASL |
| technology |
| Deaf Arts |
| libraries |
| links |
| sources |
Deaf culture ° deaf/Deaf ° ASL ° technology ° arts
What is American Sign Language
(ASL)?
A central part of North American Deaf Culture, ASL is a fully-developped language with its own grammar rules which incorporates not only hand gestures but also body language and facial expressions. 12
Although some people mistakenly beleive that ASL is simply the representation of spoken English using signs, the two language are actually very different in structure. The grammar of ASL may take a long time to master for people who did not grow up with it.13 The expression of the English language by using sign equivalents of words is sometimes used, but this is called "signed English" and is completely different from ASL.14 To find out more about sentence structure in ASL, look at some examples from the Sound and Fury Website. Fingerspelling is often used to spell out unfamiliar names or proper nouns - find out how to fingerspell your name (requires flash).
Is ASL international?
The short answer is no. ASL is specific to North America: in Jordan people use Jordianian Sign Language, in Finland they use Finnish Sign Language (Viittomakieli). Canada alone has four different sign languages that were traditionally used,15 although ASL is most common outside of Quebec where people use Langue des Signes Quebecois (LSQ).16 To find out about different sign languages (and dialects) around the world, see Gallaudet University's list of Sign Languages of the World. Having seen that list, it isn't hard to imagine people from different countries often cannot understand each other, much like hearing people from different countries would have difficulty understanding one another.
Suggested Resources:
A central part of North American Deaf Culture, ASL is a fully-developped language with its own grammar rules which incorporates not only hand gestures but also body language and facial expressions. 12
Although some people mistakenly beleive that ASL is simply the representation of spoken English using signs, the two language are actually very different in structure. The grammar of ASL may take a long time to master for people who did not grow up with it.13 The expression of the English language by using sign equivalents of words is sometimes used, but this is called "signed English" and is completely different from ASL.14 To find out more about sentence structure in ASL, look at some examples from the Sound and Fury Website. Fingerspelling is often used to spell out unfamiliar names or proper nouns - find out how to fingerspell your name (requires flash).
Is ASL international?
The short answer is no. ASL is specific to North America: in Jordan people use Jordianian Sign Language, in Finland they use Finnish Sign Language (Viittomakieli). Canada alone has four different sign languages that were traditionally used,15 although ASL is most common outside of Quebec where people use Langue des Signes Quebecois (LSQ).16 To find out about different sign languages (and dialects) around the world, see Gallaudet University's list of Sign Languages of the World. Having seen that list, it isn't hard to imagine people from different countries often cannot understand each other, much like hearing people from different countries would have difficulty understanding one another.
Suggested Resources:
- Michigan University's American Sign Language Browser gives video clips for an entire dictionary of ASL signs
- ASL University is a free on-line course where individuals can teach themselves ASL, or teachers can use the materials to support in-person courses free of charge. Has an ASL dictionary with photos and drawings (see drawing above).