American Sign Language
American Sign Language (ASL)
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.
Pronunciation
As a visual language, ASL does not have a traditional pronunciation that can be represented through text. Instead, it is pronounced through specific hand shapes, movements, and facial expressions.
Etymology
The term "American Sign Language" was first used by Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet, a prominent figure in the history of American Deaf education, who helped to develop the language and promote its use.
Related Terms
- Sign Language: A visual language that uses hand shapes, facial expression, gestures and body language. ASL is a type of sign language.
- Deaf Culture: The social beliefs, behaviors, art, literary traditions, history, values, and shared institutions of communities that are influenced by deafness and which use sign languages as the main means of communication.
- Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet: An American educator who co-founded the first institution in North America to provide advanced education for the deaf and hard of hearing.
- Manual Alphabet: A system of handshapes representing letters used in spelling words in sign language.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on American Sign Language
- Wikipedia's article - American Sign Language
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