Hello!

This week I have been focusing on basic, conversational ASL signs. This includes:

  • Hello
  • My name is…
  • Yes
  • No
  • Happy
  • Sad

These are just some examples of signs that I think will be beneficial to know. This week, I have also been learning about important things to know about ASL. This video by Learn How to Sign on YouTube, explains 10 things that beginners should know about American Sign Language. I learned that ASL is different around the world (hence it being called American Sign Language) and it is not the same as English as it has its own form of grammar. ASL also goes beyond the hand signals! Facial expressions, signing space, and use of your dominant hand are just as important. The video also explains the parameters of sign which are:

  1. Hand shape
  2. Palm Orientation
  3. Location
  4. Movement
  5. Non-manual signals

Hand shape is the importance of the correctness of form while palm orientation refers to where your hand is facing. Location is where the sign is being performed and placed. Movement signifies the importance of clarity of movement in a sign (ex. Is it a circular movement? Patting movement? Rubbing movement?). Lastly, non-manual signals is the body movement and facial expressions that coincide with sign language.

I am continuing to try to understand how sentence structure works in ASL. This video by the same channel does a great job of explaining the basics.

Next post I will demonstrate some of my new signs and hopefully start incorporating appropriate facial expressions and body language.

ASL Sentence Structure Explained | American Sign Language for Beginners. (2021). YouTube. Retrieved October 3, 2023, from https://youtu.be/fDV9Al8Fgjk?si=Zyw4UkU9gcxpRbV3. 

Learning ASL? Learn This FIRST!!! (10 Things You Need to Know About ASL). (2020). YouTube. Retrieved October 1, 2023, from https://youtu.be/6w1ZDaE-whc?si=At8qo6FgDsLd-jUT.