Level 1

 *American Sign Language got it’s basis from French Sign Language  *ASL is a language with it’s own grammar and syntax.  *ASL is capable of expressing any abstract idea  *ASL utilizes space and movement to convey meaning  *ASL uses facial expressions, head movements, and eye gaze to convey grammatical information

 *Standardization of ASL began in 1817 when Laurent Clerc and Thomas Gallaudet established the first Deaf school in the US.  *ASL was passed on from generation to generation mainly by the environment of dorm life at residential schools for the Deaf.  *ASL is used by approximately one-half million Deaf people in the US and Canada.  *Deaf people regard ASL at their natural language.

 *Gallaudet University is the only Deaf University in the US, it was established  *In 1988 there was a protest at Gallaudet to have a Deaf president, it lasted 8 days.  *The first Deaf President at Gallaudet was I. King Jordan.  *Deaf people believe that they are not disabled, they just communicate in a different way.  *Deaf people prefer to be called “Deaf” as opposed to “handicapped.”

 *Non-manual behaviors in sign language are the grammar of the sentences. They also convey emotions.  *A yes/no question requires a simple yes or no answer. To make a yes/no question you need to do the following:  a. raise eyebrows  b. lean head forward  c. hold the last sign in the sentence

 *A wh- question asks who, what, when, where and how. To ask a wh- question a signer needs to do the following:  a. lower eyebrows  b. lean head forward  c. hold the last sign in the sentence (usually a wh- word sign)  *When watching a signer it is best to focus on the signer’s face, avoid looking directly at their hands.

 *When signing, you should always use your dominant hand.  *One-handed signs are formed with only one hand. *Always use your dominant hand to sign these. Examples: where, who, blue  *Two-handed symmetrical signs require equal use of both dominant and nondominant hands in symmetrical movements. Examples: what, live, machine

 *In two-handed non-symmetrical signs the dominant hand moves while the nondominant hand remains stationary. Examples: coffee, school, sit

 Spatial Agreement  *Showing a location relies on movements and non-manual behaviors that correlate with the actual environment.  *Eye Gaze/Location Agreement: Eye gaze should agree with the route you trace. Visualize the places along the route and shift your eye gaze to “look at” the places you describe. You should also tilt your head to the right as you indicate a location on the left and tilt your head to the left as you indicate a location on your right.

 *Conveying Distance: You can indicate relative distance with specific non-manual behaviors. These non- manuals are the same whether you’re talking about where to turn in a hallway or the distance between cities.  *To show a location that is far away:  a. tilt head  b. squint eyes  c. open mouth slightly  trace route, extend arm fully

 *To show moderate distance:  a. tilt head  b. purse lips slightly  c. trace route, extend arm moderately  *To show a location that is near:  a. tilt head  b. “cs” behavior (cheek to shoulder), clench teeth, turn head to the dominant side, with cheek almost touching shoulder  c. trace route, keep hand close to body

 *Fingerspelling is used, in general, to give:  Names of people  Names of cities and states  Titles of movies or books  Brand names  *Fingerspelling is also used for fingerspelled loan signs. They are 2-5 letter words that are commonly used. Examples would be: car, bus, OK

 *Strategies for Fingerspelling:  a. When you see a fingerspelled word, try to see the shape and movement pattern. Read the whole word, just like you would a printed word.  b. Be sure to keep your hand slightly to the right of your face and below your chin, keep your elbow down and close to your body.  c. Avoid bouncing each letter.