Sign Language

By Jamie Berke, About.com Guide to Deafness

American Sign Language (ASL), is a visual language with its own syntax and grammar, and is the underlying pillar of deaf culture. When used in combination with English, sign language can help both hearing and deaf children to learn. Hearing and deaf people who socialize in the deaf community may need to know sign language. These resources will help you learn and enjoy sign language.

1. What is Sign Language?
2. Learning Sign Language
3. Signing with Hearing Children
4. Deaf Culture

What is Sign Language?

One reason some hearing people resist learning sign language is because they think they need to become fluent in it. It is not necessary to become fluent in sign language unless your intention is to work with deaf people. Most hearing and deaf people can benefit from learning just enough sign language to be able to communicate. At a minimum, the sign language alphabet should be learned.

• Why Should I Learn Sign Language?
• Basic Facts of Sign Language
• Sign Language Alphabet
• Using Sign Language and English Together
• Signed English

Learning Sign Language

People have multiple resources for learning sign language. They can learn through classroom training, online training, video materials, and books. However, these are resources and are not a substitute for the best way to learn sign language. The best way to master sign language is by interacting with other sign language users.

• Sign Language Classes
• Sign Language Dictionaries
• Sign Language Word Reference Guide
• Sign Language Books
• Sources of Sign Language Videos

Signing with Hearing Children

There's no question about it. Sign Language benefits both hearing and deaf children, particularly when they are babies. The use of sign language with babies and toddlers has been shown to reduce frustration at a time when babies are old enough to know what they want but still unable to talk. Early exposure to a visual language also pays off later, in school.

• What is Baby Signing?
• Baby Sign Language Books
• Baby Sign Language DVDs
• Signing with Older Children
• Children's Sign Language Books

Deaf Culture

As you learn sign language, you will inevitably be exposed to deaf culture. The deaf community has developed its own cultural hallmarks in art, theater, and film. Deaf culture has expanded to incorporate the Internet as well, with deaf sites, deaf films being posted online, and deaf blog sites. The deaf community's culture continues to evolve and adapt.

• Pathological View of Deafness versus Cultural View of Deafness
• Deaf Cinema
• Deaf Humor

• Deaf Theatre
• Deaf Art
• Deaf Comic Strips and Cartoons