What is sign language? Let's learn about American Sign Language (ASL)?

Have you ever played charades with your friends without saying a word? Or have you ever said something to someone far away? We all communicate without words sometimes. But did you know that there are people who use it as a full-fledged language, with their own grammar and vocabulary? That's what we call sign language .

So what is this American Sign Language (ASL)?

Simply put, sign language is a complete language that uses our hands, fingers, facial expressions, and body movements to express ideas, rather than using spoken words. It is mostly used by people who are deaf or hard of hearing .

There are over 150 sign languages ​​documented by researchers around the world. Some experts say the number could be between 300 and 450. However, there is no definitive record of this.

Of these, American Sign Language (ASL) is the most widely used sign language in the United States and Canada. The most important thing to remember is that ASL is not a sign language of English. It is an independent language, with its own grammar, syntax, and vocabulary, completely different from English.

Is ASL a universal language?

No. This is a misconception that many people have. Just as the languages ​​we speak vary from country to country, sign language also varies from country to country. For example, someone who uses ASL in the United States cannot understand British Sign Language (BSL) used in Britain. The signs and grammar of the two languages ​​are different.

Not only that, just as there are slight differences between the way people in the south and the way people in the uplands speak our Sinhala language, ASL also has regional dialects . Some signs and expressions may vary depending on the region, age, and gender of use.

How does ASL work?

The structure of ASL is very different from the English or Sinhala languages ​​we speak. Hand shapes, movements, facial expressions, and even body postures are very important in expressing ideas.

Fingerspelling

In ASL, all 26 letters of the English alphabet can be shown using one hand. This is called the American Manual Alphabet . Sometimes, if there is no specific sign for a word (for example, a person's name, the name of a city, a brand name), the word is shown letter by letter with the fingers in this way. This method is called Fingerspelling .

Difference in sentence structure

The grammar of ASL is amazing. Just like we change the tone of our voice when we ask a question in English, in ASL we ask a question by raising our eyebrows, widening our eyes, and leaning forward slightly. The order of the words in a sentence is also different.

Can you see the difference? In ASL, time is usually mentioned first in a sentence. Also, words like “a”, “an”, and “the” are not marked separately.

Why is ASL important?

ASL is not just a means of communication, it is part of the culture and identity of the hearing-impaired community.

1. Full Expression: Methods like lip reading are often one-sided. That is, while a deaf person can understand what you are saying by looking at your lips, you cannot understand what they are saying by looking at their lips. But through ASL, both parties can fully express their feelings and thoughts.

2. Breaking down social barriers: Language is a bridge that connects people. ASL helps people with hearing impairments connect with others in society, develop healthy social skills , and feel less isolated.

3. For early childhood development: If you are a parent of a hearing-impaired child, experts advise exposing your child to language as early as possible . The earlier a child starts learning a language, the better their brain development and overall development will be. ASL is a language that can be learned by very young children, even in the first year of life.

Who else uses sign language?

In addition to the hearing impaired community, other people use sign language.

• People who have difficulty speaking .
• Some children and adults with conditions such as autism .
• People with Auditory Processing Disorder .
• Hearing parents can help their toddlers learn to talk by making it easier to communicate. Before they can speak clearly, a toddler can use signs to say things like “I want milk,” “I want more,” and “No.” This can greatly reduce frustration for both the child and the parent.

Is it possible to learn ASL?

Anyone can learn ASL. It's like learning any other foreign language. There are many courses, university programs, and online resources available in countries like the United States.

The most important thing is to use the right sources when learning this. Because ASL is not just a bunch of hand signs, it's a living language. Therefore, the most effective way to learn is to connect with that community and learn the exact way they use it.

Sign language, American Sign Language, ASL, communication, deaf community, child development, language learning