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ASL Overview

"Contrary to common belief, ASL [American Sign Language] is not derived from any
spoken language, nor is it a visual code representing English. It is a unique and distinct
language, one that does not depend on speech or sound. ASL has its own grammar,
sentence construction, idiomatic usage, slang, style, and regional variations-- the
characteristics that define any language."

--The American Sign Language Handshape Dictionary, p.9

Manual Alphabet and fingerspelling

The ASL manual alphabet consists of twenty-six simple one-handed signs which
represent the twenty-six letters of the English alphabet. The manual alphabet is used in
fingerspelling (words are spelled out letter by letter) and also in conjunction with some
signs. For example, the sign for "group" also means "family" when the sign is performed
with the hands in the "F" position.

Fingerspelling is most commonly used for proper names and other words for which no
widely recognized sign exists. As with any form of sign language, words should be
mouthed or spoken to help the observer understand.

Sign Structure

In addition to fingerspelling, ASL uses a system of hand signs accompanied by lip


movement, facial expression, and body language which convey whole words and
sometimes phrases. Signs are composed of three aspects--the tab, dez, and sig, which
stand for tabula, designator, and signation, respectively. Tab refers to a sign’s location in
the signing space (for example, the forehead), dez indicates the shape or positioning of
the hand or hands ("B" hand), and sig explains the action of the sign (palm out, tap
forehead twice). The tab, dez, and sig together make up one sign--"firefighter", in this
case. Changing just one aspect of a sign, even slightly, can create an entirely new sign.
For example, changing the sig of "firefighter" to one sharp tap with the palm facing left
yields the sign for "bastard". (Sign Language Structure, p. 39)

Just like English, French, or German, ASL uses nouns, verbs, and their modifiers to form
sentences. However, ASL grammar lacks many of the conventions of English grammar,
such as importance of word order, use of articles before nouns, and use of the verb "to
be". In the latter two instances, omitted words are often mouthed, but it is not considered
incorrect to leave them out entirely. The "to" in verb infinitives is also omitted-- "I want
see you," is perfectly correct; the "to" is unnecessary.

Nouns

Nouns in ASL follow many grammatical rules foreign to speakers of English. Adjectives
generally follow nouns in ASL (one of few word order rules), a tradition which came
from Old French Sign Language, the French system on which much of ASL is based.
(Most adjectives still follow nouns in modern French.) Plural nouns are indicated by
repeating the sign (reduplication) or quantifying it ("man three", or "man several").
Reduplication can also be used to intensify words, for example "to search long and hard"
is formed by reduplicating "search". Body language and facial expression also contribute
a great deal to a sign. "Work" can be tedious or enjoyable depending on a signer’s bodily
expression and the speed with which the sign is performed.

Pronouns

Pronouns are not generally used in ASL, although signs do exist for situations when it is
necessary to refer to people. In most cases, a name is fingerspelled once, and then the
person in question is pointed to whenever it is necessary to refer to him or her. If the
person is not present, the name is fingerspelled, and an empty spot is designated which
represents that person. If two people are being discussed, each is represented by a
different empty space. (American Sign Language Dictionary CD-ROM)

Verbs

Likewise, ASL verbs lack many of the rules common to English and other languages.
Verbs are often closely related to nouns, and may differ only in range and/or
reduplication of movement. For example, the signs for "food" and "eat" are nearly
identical. The only difference in the two signs is that "food" (the noun) is performed
twice, and "eat" (the verb) once. Other examples of this verb/noun pairing are fly/plane
and think/mind. (The ASL Handshape Dictionary)

Verb tenses are expressed by modifying words, such as "past", "finish", "not yet", or
"tomorrow". Whereas in English we would ask, "Have you ever been to New York?", the
ASL phrase has no equivalent for "have been", and translates literally as "Finish touch
New York?". Directionality is also used in conjunction with many verbs to express a
more complete thought. Verbs such as "give", "meet", or "help", imply direction and can
be used to represent subject, verb, and (indirect) object all at once. For example, a signer
could offer to help someone by extending the sign for "help" towards that person, or
conversely, ask for help by performing the sign in his own direction. (American Sign
Language Dictionary CD-ROM)

Nuances

The short, simple phrases common to ASL and lack of "traditional" English word order
might contribute to the myth that ASL is a primitive means of communication, incapable
of expressing subtle differences or abstract ideas, but this is not the case. Intensity of
color, for example, can be expressed by strengthening the execution of the sign, and by
showing an expression of deep concentration. Just as subtle tones in vocal pitch and
volume carry meaning in a spoken language, fluent speakers of ASL can detect small
variations in a sign’s duration, range of motion, and of course, body language which
convey subtle meanings.

Special emphasis can also be given to a sign (the equivalent of underlining a word in a
written document) by switching the dominant hand with which the sign is performed. For
a right-handed person, the right hand is the dominant hand and the left, passive. One-
handed signs are performed with only the dominant hand, and two-handed signs often
involve the dominant hand performing an action while the passive hand remains
relatively still. If a right-handed person uses her left hand (or vice versa), it places special
emphasis on that word.

ASL also has a special indication for abbreviations and acronyms. While fingerspelling
FBI, for example, a signer would move his hand in a small circle, indicating that the word
was an abbreviation and should not be read as a regular word. (American Sign Language
Dictionary CD-ROM) These are just some of the seemingly insignificant features that
make ASL a complete and complex language, just as inaccessible to the non-speaker as
any spoken foreign language would be.
Etymologies and Origins

In many cases, signs for related words or concepts are very similar, having developed out
of one root sign. The resulting signs are more specific, and often belong to a particular
subcategory of language, such as the many religious signs listed below.

Sign Root Sign(s) Changes


daughter girl + baby --
wife girl + marry --
sister girl + same --
pollution smell + mix --
ministry work + initial m*
+ initial f (for
minister lecture
friar)
Passover cracker + initial p
+ initial g (for
Gospel news
good)
testament commandment + initial t
preceded by h
holy, hallowed clean
**
divine clean preceded by d
righteous clean preceded by r
pure clean preceded by p
sanctify clean preceded by s
sacrifice offer preceded by s
repent change + initial r
reason think + initial r
theory imagination + initial t
fiction/fantasy imagination + initial f
usually/used to habit + initial u
tradition habit + initial t
organization group + initial o
department group + initial d
society group + initial s
team group + initial t
association group + initial a
principal over + initial p
business work + initial b
duty work + initial d
function work + initial f
environment situation + initial e
circumstance situation + initial c
free save + initial f
deliver save + initial d
liberty save + initial l
independent save + initial i
communicate conversation/talk + initial c
dialogue conversation/talk + initial d
interview conversation/talk + initial i
interpret change + initial i
translate change + initial t
constitution law + initial c
rules/regulations law + initial r
principles/parliamentary law + initial p
will (legal) law + initial w
board member + initial b
senate member + initial s
congress member + initial c
legislature member + initial l

While some signs may seem somewhat arbitrary, many ASL signs have interesting
origins and histories. The following examples are religious signs with interesting
historical origins:

Meaning Description of Sign Origin


Catholic indicate cross on forehead Catholic practice of crossing one’s self
Baptist move "a" hands right and down mimics motion of baptism by immersion
indicate arc from underside of represents flowing sleeve of Episcopal
Episcopal
wrist to elbow robes
Methodist rub palms together religious fervor of early Methodists
with hands clasped, thumbs rotate Quaker practice of twiddling one’s thumb
Quaker
around each other while waiting for the Spirit
church "c" rests on back of "s" hand church built upon a rock
strike "p" near elbow ("cracker" +
Passover unleavened bread at Passover
initial p)
"g" hand traces around side of
priest represents priestly collar
neck
nun "n" hand traces upper face indicates shape of nun’s veil
touch right middle fingertip to left
Jesus indicates nail holes from crucifixion
palm, reverse
History of ASL

Despite theories and speculation that all of human language has its roots in signed
gestures and hand signals that served as an early form of communication, it is impossible
to say for sure whether or not language developed in this manner. The history of sign
language cannot therefore claim for itself the origins of all spoken language, but its roots
do extend farther back then most people would imagine.

TIMELINE
5th century B.C.-- According to the American Sign Language Dictionary on CD-ROM,
the ancient Greek philosopher Socrates thought it perfectly logical for deaf people to
communicate using their hands, heads, and other body parts, being naturally deprived of
the use of their hearing.

4th century B.C.-- Aristotle made the observation that people who are deaf are often
also dumb, a statement that translated poorly into other languages, apparently causing the
unwarranted association of deafness with stupidity and unteachability which lasted for
many centuries to come.

1520-1584-- Pedro Ponce de Léon created a system of gestures to aid in the education
of the deaf, working mainly with the de Velasco family of Spain.

1579-1629-- De Léon’s system was falsely credited to Juan Pablo Martin Bonet, who is
often thought to be the father of sign language.

1680-- George Dalgreno developed a manual alphabet called the Didascalocophus.


Dalgreno’s alphabet required two hands and assigned each letter a spot on the fingers or
palm of the right hand, which were pointed to by the left index finger or thumb.

1715-1780-- Jacob Rodriguez Pereira is credited with spreading de Léon’s alphabet


across Europe, adapting it slightly to incorporate thirty handshapes which corresponded
to sounds.

Late 18th century-- Up to this point in history, any attempts to educate the deaf were
done on a small, private scale-- both de Léon and Pereira instructed children of noble
families (where recessive genes tended to appear). This tendency changed with the
creation of a National Institution for Deaf-Mutes in France, one of the first schools to
attempt instruction of the deaf. The Abbé de l’Epée, the founder of the French Institute,
thought that the simple series of handshapes already in common use by the deaf (known
as Old French Sign Language, or OFSL) could be modified to use "correct" French
grammar. L’Epée advocated the usage of affixes and created a system that essentially
reproduced spoken French with the hands.

1793-- William Thornton, an American, wrote an article calling attention to the fact that
there were no schools for deaf children in America, almost two hundred years since the
landing of the Pilgrims.

1808-- The Abbé Sicard, l’Epée’s successor, who preferred OFSL and its lack of
traditional French grammar, compiled a two-volume dictionary of handsigns.

1815-- Thomas Gallaudet, an American, went to Europe with the hopes of learning a
method of teaching deaf children. He studied at the National Institute for Deaf-Mutes
under Laurent Clerc (1785-1869).

1817-- Clerc and Gallaudet founded the Connecticut Asylum for the Education and
Instruction of Deaf and Dumb Persons in West Hartford, Connecticut (now known as the
American School of the Deaf). This was the first permanent public American school for
the deaf. Clerc was America’s first deaf teacher of the deaf, and is responsible for
bringing OFSL to America, where it would play a large part in the development of
American Sign Language. (Sixty percent of ASL signs come from OFSL.)

1853-- The New England Gallaudet Association of the Deaf was founded to address
concerns of education of deaf children, discrimination, and a general lack of public
understanding about deafness.

1864-- The National Deaf-Mute College (now Gallaudet University) was founded by
Gallaudet’s son Edward, who was fluent in ASL as well as English. The school was
authorized by Abraham Lincoln to confer college degrees. Women were first admitted to
the college in 1887. (By comparison, Middlebury College began accepting women in
1883.)

1864-- Bernard Engelsman, a teacher from Vienna, founded the first pure oral school in
America (teaching speech instead of sign), which later became known as the New York
Institution for the Improved Instruction of Deaf Mutes.

1880-- An international convention of educators of the deaf met in Milan, Italy. They
outlawed the use of sign language for educational purposes, despite the protests of the 5
Americans present.

1880s-- The founding of the National Deaf-Mute College (and other schools for the
deaf) represented a major step in the legitimization of sign language as an accepted
means of communication. However, despite Gallaudet’s work, sign was deemed
inappropriate and was replaced by the oral method (speaking and lip-reading). Alexander
Graham Bell was one of the oral method's biggest proponents, claiming that deaf people
should not be allowed to marry other deaf or hearing impaired persons, as their genes
would perpetuate deafness. This marked the beginning of a period commonly known as
the "Dark Ages", when sign language was not taught, and was considered inappropriate.

1950s-- William Stokoe, a professor at Gallaudet University became interested in the


use of sign language among students. His book, Sign Language Structure, examined sign
language and showed that it stands up to the "tests" of a language, with its own grammar,
sentance structure, etc. Sign finally began to reemerge as a legitimate language.

1960s-- Total Communication, the idea that deaf students can learn from a combination
of sign language and oral methods (speech and lip-reading) emerged and was embraced
as a new philosophy of teaching.

1967-- The National Theatre of the Deaf was founded. Performances include both
speaking and signing actors, who work together to perform for mixed deaf and hearing
audiences.

1980-- Closed Captioning was available for the first time on television.

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