Chapters 1-10 For Hearing People Only

Chapter 1 What is ASL?

Gives the history as to how sign language came about as well as how it came to the United States. There is a connection to French Sign Language. Found it interesting how it was brought to the US. Spoke about how Gallaudet began working with a deaf neighboring girl, and her parents enabled him to go over seas and learn  sign language. Gallaudet and another man, Clerc, came to US and begin a school for deaf people. Gallaudet’s children continued the work their father started, his son was the first president of Gallaudet University. I found it interesting that there was a large population in the Martha Vineyard area that were deaf and it was genetic.

Chapter 2 Is there one sign language for all countries?

The answer to this question is NO! There are even variations of sign language from city to city in parts of Europe. ASL is used in Canada…didn’t know that. There is sign language all over the world, and many have connections to FSL. What is an acceptable sign in one language….can be an obscenity in another language. There is a kind of International sign language – Gestuno – that has general signs.

Chapter 3 Is there any similarity between Braille and ASL?

No! ASL seeing the sign and braille is feeling raised bumps for letters. ASL is motion to represent something with some spelling.

Chapter 4 Wasn’t French Sign Language invented by the Abbe de l Epee?

No….it was invented by deaf people. He founded a school for deaf. Knew it was important to the deaf. Connected with one of the men who brought FSL to US and inturn created ASL.

Chapter 5 Why Isn’t ASL like British Sign Language?

They were developed from different sources. British is from deaf from British Isles, New Zealand, and Australia where ASL is from the French. BSL uses two hands for alphabet as ASL uses one hand. Loved the part that Princess Diana worked to learn sign language to speak to deaf British people. She was an amazing person.

Chapter 6 Can you explain the sentence structure of ASL? Is it a result of it’s French background?

60% of ASL is from the FSL. The face is use quite a bit in signing.

Chapter 7 Is ASL a written language? Can it be translated to written English?

There is no written form. It is movement for words. No need to write as you cannot learn it from pictures. You have to watch and participate to learn the language.

Chapter 8 How do deaf people learn to sign language?

They learn it from each other. 90% of deaf use sign language as they learned it at schools for deaf and thus each other. Best way to learn it is to live it daily. Live person to person communication is the best way.

Chapter 9 Can people who are deaf from birth appreciate jokes and puns that involve homonyms?

Not really. Humor for deaf is visually based: mime, gesture, cinematic effects and sign play are what is funny for them. Trying to translate puns and wordplay with signs or fingerspelling doesn’t work well. I never even thought of how humor would be different to a deaf person.

Chapter 10 Are there such things as accents among signers from different area of the country or world?

Yes. Every one signs differently….in there own style. Depending on what part of the country you live in you may have a slightly different sign for the same word. There is sign language for white and blue collared people. Sometimes it is difficult to “understand” the signs in different parts. I just figured every one who signs ASL used the same motions.