American Sign Language - Revision history

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	American Sign Language (ASL) is a complete, natural language that has the same linguistic properties as spoken languages, with grammar that differs from English. ASL is expressed by movements of the hands and face. It is the primary language of many North Americans who are deaf and hard of hearing, and is used by many hearing people as well.		American Sign Language
	~~[[File:American Sign Language ASL.svg\|thumb\|American Sign Language]]~~
	~~Is sign language the same in other countries?~~

	~~There is no universal sign language. Different sign languages are used in different countries or regions. For example, British~~ Sign Language ~~(BSL) is a different language from ASL, and Americans who know~~ ASL ~~may not understand BSL~~. ~~Some countries adopt features~~ of ~~ASL in their sign languages~~.		[[File:American Sign Language ASL.svg\|thumb\|An illustration of the American Sign Language alphabet.]]

	~~Where did~~ ASL ~~originate?~~		American Sign Language (ASL) is a complete, natural language that serves as the predominant sign language of Deaf communities in the United States and most of Anglophone Canada. ASL is a visual language, with its own unique grammar and syntax, distinct from English.

	~~No person or committee invented ASL.~~ The ~~exact beginnings~~ of ASL ~~are not clear, but some suggest that it arose more than 200 years ago from~~ the ~~intermixing of local sign languages and~~ French Sign Language (LSF~~, or Langue des Signes Française~~)~~. Today’s ASL includes some elements of LSF plus the original~~ local sign languages~~; over time, these have melded~~ and ~~changed into a rich~~, ~~complex~~, and ~~mature language. Modern~~ ASL ~~and modern LSF are distinct languages. While they still contain some similar signs, they can no longer be understood by each other’s users~~.		== History ==
			The origins of ASL can be traced back to the early 19th century. It was influenced by French Sign Language (LSF) and various local sign languages and gestures used by Deaf communities in the United States. The establishment of the American School for the Deaf in Hartford, Connecticut, in 1817 played a significant role in the development and standardization of ASL.

	~~How does~~ ASL ~~compare with spoken~~ language?		== Linguistic Features ==
			ASL is a spatial language that uses handshapes, movements, and facial expressions to convey meaning. It has its own grammar, which includes:

	ASL is ~~a language completely separate and distinct~~ from English. It contains all the fundamental features of language, with its own rules for pronunciation, word formation, and word order. While every language has ways of signaling different functions, such as asking a question rather than making a statement, languages differ in how this is done. For example, ~~English speakers may ask a question by raising~~ the ~~pitch of their voices and by adjusting word order;~~ ASL ~~users ask a question by raising their eyebrows~~, ~~widening their eyes, and tilting their bodies forward~~.		* '''Syntax''': ASL syntax is different from English. For example, the typical sentence structure in ASL is Subject-Verb-Object (SVO), but it can also be Topic-Comment.
	~~[[File~~:~~American Sign Language Alphabet.gif\|thumb\|~~ASL ~~Alphabet]]~~		* '''Morphology''': ASL uses inflection to convey tense, aspect, and other grammatical features.
	~~Just as with other languages, specific ways of expressing ideas in ASL vary as much as ASL users themselves. In addition~~ to individual differences in expression, ASL has regional accents and dialects; just as certain English words are spoken differently in different parts of the country, ASL has regional variations in the rhythm of signing, pronunciation, ~~slang~~, and ~~signs used~~. ~~Other sociological factors, including age~~ and ~~gender~~, ~~can affect ASL usage~~ and ~~contribute to its variety, just as with spoken languages~~.		* '''Non-manual markers''': Facial expressions and body movements are integral to ASL grammar, providing context and emotional tone.

	~~Fingerspelling is part of~~ ASL ~~and~~ is used ~~to spell out English words~~. In the ~~fingerspelled alphabet, each letter corresponds to a distinct handshape. Fingerspelling~~ is ~~often~~ used ~~for proper names or to indicate~~ the ~~English word for something~~.		== Usage ==
			ASL is used by approximately 500,000 people in the United States and Canada. It is the primary language of many Deaf North Americans and is also used by hearing individuals who are part of the Deaf community, such as family members and interpreters.

	~~How do most children learn~~ ASL?		== Education and Interpretation ==
			ASL is taught in many schools and universities across the United States. It is also used in various settings, including:

	~~Parents are often the source of~~ a ~~child’s early acquisition~~ of ~~language, but~~ for ~~children who are deaf, additional people may be models for language acquisition~~. ~~A deaf child born to parents who are deaf~~ and ~~who already use ASL will begin to acquire ASL as naturally as a~~ hearing ~~child picks up spoken language from hearing parents. However~~, ~~for a deaf child with hearing parents who have no prior experience with ASL~~, ~~language may be acquired differently. In fact~~, 9 out of 10 children who are born deaf are born to parents who hear. Some hearing parents choose to introduce sign language to their deaf children. Hearing parents who choose to have their child learn sign language often learn it along with their child. Children who are deaf and have hearing parents often learn sign language through deaf peers and ~~become fluent~~.		* '''Education''': ASL is used as a medium of instruction in schools for the Deaf.
			* '''Interpreting''': Professional ASL interpreters facilitate communication between Deaf and hearing individuals in various settings, such as medical appointments, legal proceedings, and public events.

	~~Why emphasize early~~ language ~~learning?~~		[[File:Sign language interpreter.jpg\|thumb\|An ASL interpreter facilitating communication.]]

	~~Parents should expose~~ a ~~deaf or hard-~~of~~-hearing child to language as soon as possible~~. ~~The earlier a child is exposed to and begins to acquire language,~~ the ~~better that child’s language~~, ~~cognitive~~, and ~~social development will become. Research suggests that the first few years~~ of ~~life are~~ the ~~most crucial to a child’s development of language skills~~, and even the early months of life can be important for establishing successful communication with caregivers. Thanks to screening programs in place at almost all hospitals in the United States and its territories, ~~newborn babies are tested for hearing before they leave the hospital. If a baby has hearing loss, this screening gives parents~~ an ~~opportunity to learn about communication options. Parents can then start their child’s language learning process during this~~ important ~~early stage of development~~.		== Cultural Significance ==
			ASL is not just a means of communication; it is a vital part of Deaf culture. It embodies the values, traditions, and identity of the Deaf community. ASL literature, including poetry and storytelling, is an important cultural expression.

	~~What research does~~ the ~~NIDCD support on ASL and other sign languages?~~		== Also see ==
			* [[Deaf culture]]
			* [[Sign language]]
			* [[Manual alphabet]]
			* [[Gallaudet University]]
			* [[National Association of the Deaf]]

	~~The NIDCD supports research on ASL~~, ~~including its acquisition and characterization~~. ~~Funded research includes studies to understand sign language’s grammar~~, ~~acquisition~~, ~~and development~~, and ~~use of sign language when spoken language access is compromised by trauma or degenerative disease~~, ~~or when speech is difficult to acquire due to early hearing loss or injury to the nervous system~~.		== References ==
			* Lane, Harlan, et al. "A Journey into the Deaf-World." DawnSignPress, 1996.
			* Padden, Carol, and Tom Humphries. "Inside Deaf Culture." Harvard University Press, 2005.

	Study of sign language can also help scientists understand the neurobiology of language development. In one study, researchers reported that the building of complex phrases, whether signed or spoken, engaged the same brain areas. Better understanding of the neurobiology of language could provide a translational foundation for treating injury to the language system, for employing signs or gestures in therapy for children or adults, and for diagnosing language impairment in individuals who are deaf.		{{Sign languages}}
	{{~~stub~~}}		{{Deaf culture}}
	{{~~dictionary-stub1~~}}
			[[Category:Sign languages]]
			[[Category:Deaf culture]]
			[[Category:Languages of the United States]]

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American Sign Language (ASL) is a complete, natural language that has the same linguistic properties as spoken languages, with grammar that differs from English. ASL is expressed by movements of the hands and face. It is the primary language of many North Americans who are deaf and hard of hearing, and is used by many hearing people as well.
[[File:American Sign Language ASL.svg|thumb|American Sign Language]]
Is sign language the same in other countries?

There is no universal sign language. Different sign languages are used in different countries or regions. For example, British Sign Language (BSL) is a different language from ASL, and Americans who know ASL may not understand BSL. Some countries adopt features of ASL in their sign languages.

Where did ASL originate?

No person or committee invented ASL. The exact beginnings of ASL are not clear, but some suggest that it arose more than 200 years ago from the intermixing of local sign languages and French Sign Language (LSF, or Langue des Signes Française). Today’s ASL includes some elements of LSF plus the original local sign languages; over time, these have melded and changed into a rich, complex, and mature language. Modern ASL and modern LSF are distinct languages. While they still contain some similar signs, they can no longer be understood by each other’s users.

How does ASL compare with spoken language?

ASL is a language completely separate and distinct from English. It contains all the fundamental features of language, with its own rules for pronunciation, word formation, and word order. While every language has ways of signaling different functions, such as asking a question rather than making a statement, languages differ in how this is done. For example, English speakers may ask a question by raising the pitch of their voices and by adjusting word order; ASL users ask a question by raising their eyebrows, widening their eyes, and tilting their bodies forward.
[[File:American Sign Language Alphabet.gif|thumb|ASL Alphabet]]
Just as with other languages, specific ways of expressing ideas in ASL vary as much as ASL users themselves. In addition to individual differences in expression, ASL has regional accents and dialects; just as certain English words are spoken differently in different parts of the country, ASL has regional variations in the rhythm of signing, pronunciation, slang, and signs used. Other sociological factors, including age and gender, can affect ASL usage and contribute to its variety, just as with spoken languages.

Fingerspelling is part of ASL and is used to spell out English words. In the fingerspelled alphabet, each letter corresponds to a distinct handshape. Fingerspelling is often used for proper names or to indicate the English word for something.

How do most children learn ASL?

Parents are often the source of a child’s early acquisition of language, but for children who are deaf, additional people may be models for language acquisition. A deaf child born to parents who are deaf and who already use ASL will begin to acquire ASL as naturally as a hearing child picks up spoken language from hearing parents. However, for a deaf child with hearing parents who have no prior experience with ASL, language may be acquired differently. In fact, 9 out of 10 children who are born deaf are born to parents who hear. Some hearing parents choose to introduce sign language to their deaf children. Hearing parents who choose to have their child learn sign language often learn it along with their child. Children who are deaf and have hearing parents often learn sign language through deaf peers and become fluent.

Why emphasize early language learning?

Parents should expose a deaf or hard-of-hearing child to language as soon as possible. The earlier a child is exposed to and begins to acquire language, the better that child’s language, cognitive, and social development will become. Research suggests that the first few years of life are the most crucial to a child’s development of language skills, and even the early months of life can be important for establishing successful communication with caregivers. Thanks to screening programs in place at almost all hospitals in the United States and its territories, newborn babies are tested for hearing before they leave the hospital. If a baby has hearing loss, this screening gives parents an opportunity to learn about communication options. Parents can then start their child’s language learning process during this important early stage of development.

What research does the NIDCD support on ASL and other sign languages?

The NIDCD supports research on ASL, including its acquisition and characterization. Funded research includes studies to understand sign language’s grammar, acquisition, and development, and use of sign language when spoken language access is compromised by trauma or degenerative disease, or when speech is difficult to acquire due to early hearing loss or injury to the nervous system.

Study of sign language can also help scientists understand the neurobiology of language development. In one study, researchers reported that the building of complex phrases, whether signed or spoken, engaged the same brain areas. Better understanding of the neurobiology of language could provide a translational foundation for treating injury to the language system, for employing signs or gestures in therapy for children or adults, and for diagnosing language impairment in individuals who are deaf.
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{{dictionary-stub1}}