Learning
American Sign Language

When you are learning American Sign Language, you'll be enriching your understanding not only of deaf culture, but of language itself. You'll quickly find that the benefits of learning sign language far outweigh the challenges.

Surroundings

Learning American Sign Language, you discover that it is truly a universal means of communication. It can connect the hearing and the non-hearing in a way that spoken words cannot. It is therefore a treasure which can only be fully appreciated over time.

Defining What We Mean

To begin with, it can be helpful to define our terms as precisely as possible. American Sign Language is, by nature, quite complex. It includes not only hand movements, but also key facial expressions and body postures. It is considered to be the primary language of a number of hearing-impaired North Americans. Only three other languages are used more frequently in the United States than sign language is.

It should also be noted that sign language tends to differ from country to country and from region to region. Therefore, you may notice subtle differences in sign language depending on where you live. Still, American Sign Language tends to be quite similar to French Sign Language, the language from which it was derived.

The Issue of Fluency

Once you begin learning American Sign Language, you may wonder how long it will be until you are proficient in it. The fact of the matter is that sign language, just like any other developed skill, requires a great deal of practice. In fact, the more you practice, the more proficient you will become. While you may never be as comfortable using sign language as you are using the English language, you may find that, over time, using it does get appreciably easier.

It's also important to recognize the fact that American Sign Language has its own rules, including rules for grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure. You may also be surprised to learn that this language contains its own idiomatic expressions and jargon. The use of sign language may also vary according to one's ethnicity, age, and gender.

Learning American Sign Language is to explore largely unchartered territory. There is no denying that it is an adventure — and, certainly, it is a rewarding one. Once you master sign language, you may actually find that it is easier for you to communicate in other languages as well. But it doesn't take a veteran linguist to learn sign language. All it takes is a sincere desire to learn.

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