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

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 deaf/hard of hearing North Americans. Only two 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

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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