American Sign Language (ASL) is a unique language used primarily by the deaf and hard of hearing community in North America, with up to two million users in the US. It is a separate area of specialization in linguistics, complete with specific semantics, syntax, phonology, pragmatics, and morphology. ASL is a visual and manual language that uses facial expressions, body language, gestures, palm orientation, and hand shapes. Signs can be classified as transparent, translucent, or opaque, and there are various ways to learn ASL, including structured language programs and self-study lessons. ASL has also been used in research projects with non-human primates and as a communication aid for children before verbal skills develop.
American Sign Language, also known as ASL or Ameslan, is the sign language primarily used by the deaf and hard of hearing community in North America. As many as two million people in the United States use ASL as their primary method of communication, making it the fourth most widely used language in the country. In other parts of the world, it is used in conjunction with French Sign Language, British Sign Language, and other regional sign languages.
One of the biggest misconceptions about American Sign Language is that it is simply English adapted for the deaf or hard of hearing. It is actually its unique language complete with specific semantics, syntax, phonology, pragmatics and morphology. In linguistics, ASL is considered a separate area of specialization.
American Sign Language is a unique communication system because it is both a visual language and a manual language. Instead of expressing themselves through sound, a speaker using ASL uses a combination of facial expressions, body language, gestures, palm orientation, and hand shapes. Learning the subtleties of communication in this way can often take years of intensive study.
In this language, signs can be classified as transparent, translucent or opaque. The transparent signs have meanings that are easily understood even by people who have not mastered the basics of the language. Translucent signs are understood by lay speakers once the meaning has been explained. By comparison, a sign that is classified as opaque has a meaning that is not often guessed by someone who is not fluent in American Sign Language. Most of the signs needed to communicate clearly using ASL are classified as opaque.
There are several ways people can learn American Sign Language. Because up to 90 percent of all children born deaf have hearing parents, a variety of highly structured language programs are available throughout North America. Many of these programs also encourage family and friends to learn the language to develop better communication with the child. American Sign Language classes are also used to meet foreign language study requirements in many high schools, colleges and universities. For those looking for a less structured approach, there are a number of websites offering self-study lessons in basic ASL.
American Sign Language has many other uses besides communication within the deaf and hard of hearing community. It has been taught to chimpanzees, gorillas and other non-human primates as part of various research projects. Many parents also teach their children a modified version of sign language to aid in communication before verbal skills develop.
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