what is ASL? Ch. 2

What is American Sign language? Chapter #2

American Sign Language (ASL) is a gestural-visual language that is used and created by Deaf people. Since ASL uses body movements and their eyes to communicate instead of sound the language is structured to fit the needs of the eyes to understand what is being signed. Around 250, 000 to 500, 000 Americans and Canadians of all ages use ASL.

Gestures means many movement of the body that occur for communication. People used to think that the body movements of ASL were incorrect. Now, it is known that ASL has their own special rules for behaviour which are known as signs. Specific movements like hand shapes, eye, arms, face, head movements all serve as words and grammar of the language.

Languages do not have to be vocal-auditory and use sound. There have been debates about the first languages in history on the vocal apparatus regarding speech did not exist until later on. In pre-historic times the people had used gestural languages.

Citation: (Shenk-Baker, Charlotte., & Cokely, Dennis. 1980, p. 47 & 48)


Reflection #2

I personally, have always thought of ASL as a language, and not just signs that help Deaf people to communicate its much more than that. Maybe thats just because Im a CODA and I learned ASL/SEE before I learned to speak and write in English. It saddens me to think that people look down upon ASL and how many people dont really take the time to analyze the language. Im sure if more people really took the time to learn some ASL or understood how ASL is used a little better, more and more people would realize how great it is to have a gestural-visual language. In my opinion, I prefer ASL to spoken English. Its much easier for me to communicate in ASL and express myself better than in spoken English. There is also the point of ASL and Deaf Culture to be more direct and to the point and having to keep eye contact with the person you are speaking with, which is two of the things I love about ASL. You can either have a 5 minute conversation about your day, maybe throw in some stories and go on with your day. Whereas, with hearing culture, I find too many people use filler words, for example, um, like and run around the point they are trying to make. Which makes the conversation much longer and a little difficult. Also, there is that task of keeping someones attention. Hearing people, are very easily distracted. I myself sometimes, find myself distracted whether by noise, or if I have a bunch of thoughts going on in my head.

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