We all know that letters represent the sounds our mouths make when we are speaking. But what if you can't hear? You could write everything out and read the words, but that would severely slow down your ability to communicate. The solution, of course, is to invent a visual form of letters and words to represent sounds and objects. American Sign Language, or ASL, is a complex form of manual communication in which one's hands, limbs, head, facial expressions and body language are used to communicate language without sound. ASL is a complete language all its own and functions differently than spoken English in matters of grammar and vocabulary, but for many hearing impaired people in English speaking countries and territories it is the predominant way they communicate with one another. Interestingly, although the United States and United Kingdom share English, British Sign Language, or BSL, is completely different and the two languages are mutually exclusive. Surprisingly, French Sign Language is closer to ASL. In the old pirate stories, today's letter was the key to finding a treasure. For the deaf community, ASL is a treasure trove of expression.
@kerristephens Thank you Kerri! @lizzy_lu123 Thanks Lisa! Appreciate the view!! @kimmistephens Thanks Kimmi! Discovered this one while indulging in a guilty pleasure (DQ Blizzard). Awesome outreach!
@karenann Thanks Karenann- believe it or not, this is a color shot! Gray, overcast day, aluminum pole and no sun makes for a dark photo, but perfect lighting for X.
Indeed, and it is such a lovely language. While in college I had two years of sign language, and during that time they taught Signed English. It's hard to make the switch. I've had a few friends who were hearing impaired, and they worked with me, but it is difficult for us "hearing" people to grasp, because we want to stick to the correct grammar, and ASL doesn't quite fit into that structure, though once you learn it, it makes more sense.
@potsbypam Thank you Pam! @httpgeffed Thanks Colleen- I'm not sure how to do that, but I'd be happy to send it to you- I want to make my granddaughter a poster, maybe I'll just make two! @nicolecampbell Thank you Nicole! @woot Thank you Davide! @cimes1 Thank you Carole Lol! @summerfield Thank you Vikki- there have been a couple that I wanted to post but would have had to process in order to make the letter stand out- and I really was trying to keep this series sooc. It made me have to look even harder! @digitalrn Thanks Rick. It really is a beautiful language and one I'd wanted to learn many years ago, but my path went a different way.
@alia_801 Thanks Alia- yeah this one I discovered when I was being a "bad" girl. I went to a well-known ice cream place and bought a super-thick milkshake to spoil myself. A no-no when you're not supposed to be having much sugar, but a yes-yes! when your an ice cream nut like me. Guilty pleasure, I know, but I REALLY went there to find letters for the alphabet. lol
February 28th, 2012
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@lizzy_lu123 Thanks Lisa! Appreciate the view!!
@kimmistephens Thanks Kimmi! Discovered this one while indulging in a guilty pleasure (DQ Blizzard). Awesome outreach!
@httpgeffed Thanks Colleen- I'm not sure how to do that, but I'd be happy to send it to you- I want to make my granddaughter a poster, maybe I'll just make two!
@nicolecampbell Thank you Nicole!
@woot Thank you Davide!
@cimes1 Thank you Carole Lol!
@summerfield Thank you Vikki- there have been a couple that I wanted to post but would have had to process in order to make the letter stand out- and I really was trying to keep this series sooc. It made me have to look even harder!
@digitalrn Thanks Rick. It really is a beautiful language and one I'd wanted to learn many years ago, but my path went a different way.