American Sign Language

American Sign Language is a
language that incorporates mime,
and picture-like images to express
and convey abstract ideas and
concepts. Also, ASL uses space
and movement to convey meaning.
Did you know that
90% of Deaf have
hearing parents?
ASL is used in
Canada and the
U.S.
ASL is most
similar to French
Sign Language
ASL and the culture are
transmitted from generation
to generation primarily
through residential schools
and Deaf adults.
Did you know that
facial expression,
head movements, and
eye gaze in ASL is
primarily grammatical?
While watching
another person sign,
it is appropriate to
focus on the signers
face.
Fingerspelling is mainly
used to give names of
people, places, and
identify brands or movie
titles.
Deaf people prefer
to be called “Deaf”
not hearing impaired
and NEVER deaf and
dumb!
The most effective
way to communicate
with a Deaf person is to
use sign language or an
interpreter.
You should always use
your dominant hand to
sign. If you are
ambidextrous, choose one
hand as your dominant
hand and be consistent.
Fingerspelled loan signs are two to
five letter, commonly used words
that have their own unique patterns
of movement. These movements are
different from regular
fingerspelling. Instead, these words
have become ASL signs. Examples:
dog, OK, car, bus, bank, early,….
When you see a
fingerspelled word you should
try to see the shape and
movement pattern of the
word rather than try to see
each letter.
When you fingerspell a
word try to keep you
hand slightly to the right
of your face and below
your chin. Avoid
bouncing each letter.
Fingerspelling is not a substitute
for a sign. If you don’t know a
sign for a word, first try to act
it out, point to it, describe,
gesture, draw. Fingerspelling
should be used as a last resort.
Remember to use spatial organizing
when talking about people, places,
or things (referents) that are not
in the immediate environment.
Establish a specific location for
“referents”, name it, and then you
can refer to it again by pointing
to the same location.
To answer a question with a
negative response you can:
shake your head not, sign “no”,
answer the question with the
correct information, or you can
sign “none”.
The typical
grammar for ASL is
time, topic, and
comment.

Did you know that in the
Deaf Culture when you
arrive late to a meeting it
is expected that you stop
and explain why you were
late?
How would you get a Deaf
person’s attention? Simply,
wave to the person or touch
the person. Other commonly
used modes are to flash the
lights or stomp on the floor.
What would you do if you need to
pass between two people signing? It
is socially appropriate to walk
between the signers. As you are
doing so slightly bow your head and
sign “excuse me”. If it is a group
of people signing it is best to go
around the group.
Did you know that when two Deaf
people meet for the first time
they usually share information
about what school they attended.
This helps them to establish their
ties with the Deaf community.
Deaf people strengthen their
social bonds by participating
in Deaf clubs and activities
such as, athletic
tournaments, churches,
picnics, and other social
events.

When you meet a Deaf person for
the first time they will want to know:
1. your first and last name
2. whether you are deaf, hard of
hearing, or hearing
3. who is teaching you the language
and culture
4. where you are studying
why you are learning ASL
Name signs should be
EARNED by a Deaf
person; hearing people
should not invent their
own name signs.
Only a small percentage of hearing
parents learn sign language.
Consequently, Deaf children develop
strategies for communicating with
people who do not sign. Some
strategies are: pen and paper,
gesturing, lipreading, speech, adapting
signs to other (home signs) or using an
interpreter.

Some strategies to help you communicate
with a Deaf person:
1. Let the Deaf person know you can sign
2. Let the Deaf person set the communication
pattern to be used
3. Avoid talking (voicing) in the presence of a
Deaf person without signing
Avoid “eyedropping” on other people signing
When signing
numbers, 1-5
should be signed
palm in.
In 1817, the
American School
for the Deaf was
started in
Hartford, Conn.
In 1864 the first
university for the
Deaf was established:
Gallaudet University
Sign Language hand formations
Hand
Hand
Hand
Hand
shape
location
movement
orientation
Bellringer
Many schools use a philosophy called
Total Communication (TC). This means
every type of communication including
ASL, lip reading, and oral speech are
taught.
Bellringer
The first school for the deaf,
the Institut Roual des
Sourds-Muets; (Royal
Institute for the Deaf and
mute) was established in
Paris during the 18th century.
Bellringer
Laurent Clerc became
the first United States
deaf sign language
teacher.
Bellringer
ASL is now the
fourth most used
language in the
United States.

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