American Sign Language Directory

American Sign Language is a complex range of hand and facial gestures used among deaf and hearing-impaired communities throughout the United States and Canada. It is a rich, colorful, and diverse language, which is quite distinctive from spoken or written English. This direcory is a basic introduction to the vocabulary, grammar, and etiquette of ASL. It begins with numbers and the letters of the alphabet, before moving on to a range of common words and simple phrases. It is a suitable guide for all newcomers to the language, and includes: * An introduction to the fourth most commonly used language in the United States. * A starters guide to the principles of ASL. * Graphic illustrations showing the handshapes, movements, and facial gestures for each word, letter, or number. --- from book's back cover