Gourt > Science > Social Sciences > Linguistics > Languages > Natural > Sign Languages > American Sign Language (4)
American Sign Language (ASL) is the dominant sign language of the Deaf community in the United States, in the English-speaking parts of Canada, and in parts of Mexico. Although the United Kingdom and the United States share English as a spoken and written language, British Sign Language (BSL) is quite different from ASL, and not mutually intelligible.
ASL is also used (sometimes alongside indigenous sign languages) in the Philippines, Singapore, Hong Kong, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Puerto Rico, Côte d'Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Chad, Gabon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Central African Republic, Mauritania, Kenya, Madagascar, and Zimbabwe. Like other sign languages, its grammar and syntax are distinct from any spoken language in its area of influence. While there has been no reliable survey of the number of people who use ASL as their primary language, estimates range from 500,000 to 2 million in the U.S.A. alone *. American Sign Language has been said (by Trudy Suggs in her book) to be the third-most-used language in the United States after English and Spanish.
History of ASL
In the United States, as in most of the world, hearing families with deaf children often employ ad-hoc home sign for simple communications. Today though, ASL classes are offered in many secondary and postsecondary schools. ASL is a language distinct from spoken English—replete with its own syntax and grammar and supporting its own culture. The origin of modern ASL is ultimately tied to the confluence of many events and circumstances, including historical attempts at deaf education; possibly the sign used by the indigenous nations of North America; the unique situation present on a small island in Massachusetts; the attempts of a father to enlist a local minister to help educate his deaf daughter; and in no small part the ingenuity and genius of people (in this case deaf people) for language itself. More on [ American Sign Language ]
Sign Languages :: Dictionaries
http://tinyurl.com/yja96w7 Basic ASL, 100 first signs: American Sign Language (ASL)
so_white (so_white) Sat, 07 Nov 2009 06:23:06 -0000
http://tinyurl.com/yja96w7 Basic ASL, 100 first signs: American Sign Language (ASL)
Want to communicate with your hands? Learn sign language: The American Sign Language classes will be two hours .. http://bit.ly/29TLCR
shacharlotte (shawn charlotte) Sat, 07 Nov 2009 03:36:10 -0000
Want to communicate with your hands? Learn sign language: The American Sign Language classes will be two hours .. http://bit.ly/29TLCR
Rocket Languages- American Sign Language.: Earn A Minimum Of 70% Per Sale Of Our Rocket Sign Language Product! .. http://bit.ly/10KYLY
cbafm1 (cbafm1) Sat, 07 Nov 2009 03:32:16 -0000
Rocket Languages- American Sign Language.: Earn A Minimum Of 70% Per Sale Of Our Rocket Sign Language Product! .. http://bit.ly/10KYLY
American School for the Deaf is Hiring: Community sign language class instruc... (West Hartford, CT) http://bit.ly/blUnm #Jobs #TweetMyJOBS
tmj_ct_usa_jobs (TMJ-CT-USA Jobs) Sat, 07 Nov 2009 02:17:31 -0000
American School for the Deaf is Hiring: Community sign language class instruc... (West Hartford, CT) http://bit.ly/blUnm #Jobs #TweetMyJOBS
Want to communicate with your hands? Learn sign language: The American Sign Language classes will be two hours .. http://bit.ly/1GUaN
TWYH (Kristen) Sat, 07 Nov 2009 01:12:08 -0000
Want to communicate with your hands? Learn sign language: The American Sign Language classes will be two hours .. http://bit.ly/1GUaN
@SchwinnSwan I only speak English, Italian, French, German, & American Sign Language. Oh, did I wuin your wittle attempt to put me down?
tzikeh (tzikeh) Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:48:27 -0000
@SchwinnSwan I only speak English, Italian, French, German, & American Sign Language. Oh, did I wuin your wittle attempt to put me down?
A Town for Signers - A new town plan for sign language users: deaf, hard of hearing and hearing people, to be located in McCook County, South Dakota. Includes FAQs and news.
Meta Description: [ deaf, sign language, ASL, town, city, village, integration, accessible, hearing-impaired, hard of hearing ]
About American Sign Language - Article by Karen Nakamura. Includes linguistics of ASL, the status as a foreign language, and warnings against exclusive use of dictonaries to learn ASL.
American Sign Language - American Sign Language information, lessons, and dictionary. Learn ASL history, ASL grammar, Deaf culture, and related terminology.
Meta Description: [ Sign Language, free lesson plans, ASL dictionary and resources. Information on Deaf culture, baby signing, phrases, and vocab like hello, thank you, I love you, etc. Dr. Bill Vicars. ]
American Sign Language (ASL) is a Foreign Language - A thorough petition/research paper/argumentative paper with references. Petitioning for the consideration of ASL as a foreign language. A good starting point for anyone trying to convince their school that ASL meets the requirements of a foreign language.
American Sign Language and the Deaf Culture - Introduction to the topic by Jennifer Barnard. Features history and description of basic grammar.
Meta Description: [ 2ip.com - The world's #1 free web services, providing free web space, hosting, website, email, and domain name services - HOME ]
American Sign Language Fingerspelling - American Sign Language and Fingerspelling resource for ASL students, teachers, and parents of Deaf children
Meta Description: [ American Sign Language (ASL) Free Fingerspelling Practice Site ]
American Sign Language Linguistic Research Project - Linguistic research on ASL structure at Boston University. Includes information about publications and development of software to facilitate linguistic annotation and analysis of video data.
ASL Access - Volunteer non-profit organization that places ASL videos in public libraries. Purchase ASL videos for donations.
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ASL and Deaf Culture Periodicals - A list of periodicals related to Deaf Culture and ASL Studies periodicals. Links, locations, and when possible, where the periodicals are indexed are also given.
Meta Description: [ Library of Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) and National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID) ]
ASL Browser - Online video clip dictionary of ASL signs
ASL Glosses - Dedicated to American Sign Language interpreters who interpret music. It is a resource/reference point for those in need of music put into the native language of the Deaf community.
Meta Description: [ Yahoo! Groups offers free mailing lists, photo & file sharing, group calendars and more. Discuss hot topics, share interests, join online communities. ]
ASL Info - Portal features discussion forums, links, news, and events in or around the Tampa, Florida.
Meta Description: [ An extensive collection of information on American Sign Language (ASL) and Deaf Culture. Also includes a message board, deaf time-line and much more. ]
ASL Webring - Form to submit sites to webring for pages directly related to American Sign Language subjects.
Meta Description: [ American Sign Language (ASL) Web Ring ]
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CICS Language Solutions - Nationwide provider of Language Services in more than 150 different languages. Offers interpreting and translating, on-site interpreting, telephone interpreting, video interpreting and document translating services.
Deaf Web - Directory of organizations and web sites which serve the sign language community, based in Washington state, but has many general deaf-related resources.
Meta Description: [ News and publications, services, recreational and social organizations, jobs, email addresses, support for parents, government agencies, assistive technology, a kids page and lots more for Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Deaf-Blind people. While the focus of the information is on the state of Washing... ]
Deaf Zone - Information on the ADA, captioning, education, and deaf humor.
Japanese ASL Signers' Society - Tokyo-based ASL club. In Japanese and English.
Sign Language 101 - A homeschooling list-serve for families who wish to use American Sign Language in their course offerings. Courses cover history, alphabet, numbers, animals, foods, people, colors and signs used in everyday conversation.
Meta Description: [ Sign_Language: American Sign Language - ASL ]
Sign Language Studies - A journal that focuses on the study of sign language and the people who use it. Quarterly archives of the journal are available online from Fall 2000.
Signing Time - American Sign Language instruction for children of all ages.
Meta Description: [ Signing Time, as seen on PBS, is an American Sign Language program with sign language videos, books and other products promoting ASL and baby sign language to help build communication skills in a fun and easy way. Signing Time is a sign language video series that teaches American Sign Language (A... ]
Silent Weekend Home Page - A total immersion program for ASL students through Columbus State Community College. Deaf and hearing participate.
Meta Description: [ A gathering for Columbus State interpreting students, interpreters, and Deaf people to come together and enjoy the beauty of communicating without talking ]
Vital Signs - Books and videos on Deaf culture and a memoir. Emergency responder and health provider education.
Yamada Language Center - Directory, resources and links to ASL websites compiled by the University of Oregon.
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