What Is American Sign Language
There are just over half a million deaf people in America, almost all of which speak ASL. There are a great number of friends and family of these people who also speak it and this language is fast becoming the third spoken language in the US. This language was developed by deaf people to make their lives easier and more normal.
ASL is a complicated, unique, versatile and very effective language to use. It combines French Signing and Native ASL to give it a unique twist on the normal signing people use. The French have their own sign language which has been passed down from generation to generation and is the oldest form there is.
How it arrived in the US is still unknown but many say it appeared in 1815 when a minister went to Europe to investigate sign language. Although he travelled to England they were unwilling to teach him their methods so he travelled on to Paris. Here they taught him everything they knew regarding their methods of sign language. He then returned to America and opened a school for deaf people to learn sign language, he taught them French sign language and they soon added their own signs as well.
ASL continues to grow and is used by many people; the language is ever changing to keep up with the world we live in. There are now sign’s for internet and blogging and the language needs to be kept fresh by adding new signs as they are needed. Just like any other language the way people use sign language can be totally different. The dialect and speed of the signing differs between cultures and regions, for example people from the south sign slower.
They most important factors of sign language are gestures and expressions, these are both used often. Gestures are the way a deaf person uses their hands to say a word, there are many words that are similar but using one hand rather than two will mean something different. Not all gestures have a word and not all words have a gesture. Pointing is used often and can mean several different things in ASL; you can learn this language in a short space of time which is why many people begin to learn it. The easiest way to learn sign language is to do a course, and interact with people who are using it.
Learning sign language even if you aren’t deaf can be a great help in today’s society, it will give you a better understanding of the deaf culture. As it is spoken so often these days any future employees may welcome someone who can communicate with all of the team. You will be able to speak not only with your voice but your hands as well, making you a very helpful person to have around. Whatever your reason for learning this new language it will be useful to have; it could open up a new career path or simply enable you to understand people around you.
