{"id":1854,"date":"2022-08-29T00:11:49","date_gmt":"2022-08-29T00:11:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dayinterpreting.com\/blog\/?p=1854"},"modified":"2022-08-24T15:16:11","modified_gmt":"2022-08-24T15:16:11","slug":"understanding-sign-language-a-crash-course","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dayinterpreting.com\/blog\/understanding-sign-language-a-crash-course\/","title":{"rendered":"Understanding Sign Language: A Crash Course"},"content":{"rendered":"

Understanding sign language can help you communicate with the deaf and hard-of-hearing community. But just like any spoken language, sign comprises a range of techniques, and contrary to popular belief, it\u2019s not a universal language, but ASL (American Sign Language) is a good starting point for beginners. Are you wondering how to learn sign language?<\/p>\n

Thanks to the internet, however, it\u2019s easier than ever to learn sign language. Outside of the traditional classroom setup, there are numerous ways to learn this hands-on language.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Understanding the Sign Language Alphabet<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Learning the sign alphabet (also called the manual alphabet) is usually the best place to start your learning journey.<\/p>\n

The ASL sign language alphabet consists of 26 unique signs that represent the English alphabet. Some signs mimic the shape of the letter they represent, and for the most part, these are easy to get to grips with. Once you know the individual letters, you can use them to form words. This is referred to as fingerspelling, and it\u2019s a great way to communicate if you\u2019re not yet familiar with the real signs of particular words.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Beyond a Basic Understanding of Sign Language<\/strong><\/h2>\n

YouTube<\/strong><\/h3>\n

YouTube tutorials are great for learning sign language. There are dozens of teachers that give free lessons on ASL, and some of the best places to start include:<\/p>\n

Dr. Bill Vicars<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 This ASL expert holds numerous degrees in deaf-centric studies, and his love for languages is evident in his tutorials.<\/p>\n

Expert Village<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 You can find just about any tutorial on Expert Village, including practical and informative ASL lessons for beginners. They also feature extensive coverage on common phrases and the sign language alphabet.<\/p>\n

Laura Berg Life<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 What used to be known as \u201cMy Smart Hands\u201d is a channel dedicated to teaching ASL to adults and children alike. The videos on this channel provide guidance on common phrases and feature a section answering viewer questions.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Resources on the Internet<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Although video tutorials are great for learning sign language, you\u2019ll also find a plethora of web-based resources that teach people the basics of ASL. Here\u2019s a look at some of the best websites for learning sign:<\/p>\n

ASL Pro<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 ASL Pro might have an old-school interface, but the free tool is home to an abundance of quizzes, fingerspelling practices, and a detailed dictionary with video examples of signing hundreds of words.<\/p>\n

Start ASL<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 Start ASL offers a wide variety of courses on learning sign language. The free three-level course offers workbooks and activities as well as fingerspelling lessons. For those who need something more advanced, the pad courses (online and offline versions are available) are ideal since they were created by professional ASL instructors.<\/p>\n

SignASL.org<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 SignASL.org is an online ASL dictionary and an excellent resource for finding words and phrases and their corresponding signs. Once you search a specific word or phrase, the site displays a selection of videos and other learning resources from trusted sites you can use to learn the basics.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Apps to Help You Understand Sign Language<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Most of us are inseparable from our smartphones, so it only makes sense that we use them to our advantage. ASL learning apps are great for when you need to quickly lookup a phrase or word\u2019s sign and allows you to study anywhere, at any time. Here are some apps we recommend:<\/p>\n

ASL Coach<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 ASL Coach is a free iOS app that\u2019s straightforward and easy to use. It focuses on the ASL alphabet and has a range of other exciting features.<\/p>\n

ASL: Fingerspelling<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 Designed by Lifeprint, an ASL resource, this iOS app can help you perfect the art of fingerspelling, as the name suggests.<\/p>\n

Marlee Signs<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 Marlee Matlin, the Oscar-winning deaf actress, features on this app that teaches ASL with videos and fingerspelling lessons.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Now You Better Understand Sign Language!<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Learning sign language can be an enriching experience. As you advance through your journey, you might find that you have a natural-born talent that can help you pursue a career in\u00a0sign language interpreting<\/a>\u00a0or the likes. For more guidance on the topic of ASL and interpreting, be sure to check out our\u00a0blog<\/a>!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Understanding sign language can help you communicate with the deaf and hard-of-hearing community. But just like any spoken language, sign comprises a range of techniques, and contrary to popular belief, it\u2019s not a universal language, but ASL (American Sign Language) is a good starting point for beginners. Are you wondering how to learn sign language? […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":1859,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1854","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-interpreting"],"yoast_head":"\nUnderstanding Sign Language: A Crash Course - Day Interpreting Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Understanding sign language can help you communicate with the deaf and hard-of-hearing community. 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