Getting to Know American Sign Language
American Sign Language, also known as ASL, is a form of communication that contains a complete vocabulary and grammar but is expressed through physical movements of the hands and arms rather than speech. ASL offers an option for deaf, hearing-impaired, and hearing individuals to communicate with each other. In this blog, we will discuss a few interesting facts about ASL.
Interesting Facts About American Sign Language
- “Sign Language” isn’t universal. However, individuals who don’t “speak” any language or speak a variety of languages can learn ASL; other sign languages are used worldwide.
- Even within ASL, there are both “slang” movements and slight regional distinctions in how letters and words are formed.
- While “Fingerspelling” is possible, ASL uses an entirely different grammar, “pronunciation,” and word order while signing each letter in an English word. If an interpreter is translating English into ASL, they will change the order, verb tense, or word choice to move from the spoken language to the signed language.
- 9 out of 10 children born deaf are born to parents who can hear. Still, even if parents are not initially fluent in sign language, their children often learn ASL fluently due to the incredible ability of young children to learn languages.
American Sign Language is just one example of our world’s incredible variety of languages. Below are some exciting facts about sign language:
- In total, over 200 sign languages are being used today.
- New sign languages often evolve in schools for the deaf or hard of hearing or other communities where a visual language offers a benefit.
- While dialects within a single language may approach the distinction of being different languages, 6909 recognized languages are currently spoken worldwide!
Need help interpreting ASL for your business? For years, we have worked with qualified ASL professionals at BIG Language Solutions to help our customers bridge oral communication gaps. We understand the unique needs of our clients across a wide range of industries. We provide ASL interpretation on-site or via video remote interpretation (VRI). So don’t wait; contact us today to learn more about our ASL interpretation services.
