American Sign Language is such a beautiful, intricate language. As always, learning a second language is a good skill to have.
It’s not as easy to learn through an app and it’s also not the most common language offered in high schools. Here are some nuggets of knowledge for those of you who know nothing, want to learn, or are learning!
ASL and CASE are very different
ASL is American Sign Language and CASE is Conceptuality Accurate Signed English. CASE is signing every word in English, whereas in ASL you don't talk and sign at the same time and the sentence structure is different. So be careful when learning to know the differences!
Knowing the alphabet doesn't mean you know ASL
Learning the alphabet is definitely a good start! However, just fingerspelling every word isn't the same thing. Deaf people love when you learn and try, but learn some signs or it will be a long frustrating conversation!
Fingerspelling can get complicated
Spelling words in ASL isn't just signing each letter. There's a flow and sometimes words bounce, slide, or you turn your hand around. Reading fast fingerspelling can be even harder.
The more you sign with Deaf people, the better you'll get
Same thing applies with any language, you'll only get better the more you talk to fluent speakers. It's okay to feel really lost a lot of the time too.
Facial expressions are really important
Sometimes to negate words in ASL you simply sign the word and shake your head no. Eyebrows and mouth are very important when signing different words and phrases as well.
Alexander Graham Bell...
Inventor of the telephone, yes... However, he also thought that Deaf people shouldn't sign and only learn to communicate orally because English is the native language in America. Hmm... read more here.
Numbers are hard
Numbers in any foreign language are confusing. In ASL signing telephone numbers, prices, grades, ect. are all different.
Don't stare at conversations
Staring across the room and watching ASL conversations is considered eavesdropping. Also, just in general, don't stare.
