Best way to start learning sign language?

ASL is unlike all other, spoken languages. It must be approached in a unique way. First it is imperative to recognize that ASL is every bit a foreign language. It is not based on English. You do not simply Sign English words according to English word order (syntax) nor do you use English grammar. We do use many English words, but we tend to use them very differently than you do. (COW can be used to mean "not interested".) There is no such thing as "English Sign Language". Generating a stream of Signed English nouns and verbs pulled from a dictionary is not a language. That is gibberish. You cannot do that with French or German, and you cannot do it with ASL, either. You won't get far using this approach; people will only be able to partially understand you. Too, there is FAR more to ASL than just making Signs. There are many indispensible techniques that must be integrated in order for Signs to make sense. These must be demonstrated to be understood. ASL is a very unique, complex foreign language that has its own syntax. It is essentially the opposite of English. (ASL is officially categorized as an OSV language. [Object, Subject, Verb.] English is SVO.) ASL has its own semantics, slang, idioms, expressions, and so forth. Learning it requires a very serious, regular commitment. It takes at least as many years to master ASL as it does any other language. Here are some random examples of simple, proper ASL. MOVIE WE GO HOUSE TOM LIKE CAR JON WANT It becomes more complex very quickly. (I cannot teach you without the ability to show you.) CANDY RED ILLEGAL (Don't eat the red candy.) HORSE COW (I am not interested in horses.) WHO SAY WHO? (Who in the world said that?) DEAF LATE SHE (She was not born Deaf.) IF GO HE NOT CAN (I can go whether he does or not.) PARENT BOY WANT WRONG GIRL (The parents wanted a boy but they got a girl.) TRAIN-ZOOM DO-DO? (If you miss what is said, what will do you?) MOTHER IX SHE IX FACE STRONG! (She resembles her Mother.) RACK CL:BB 2h BOOK PUT-up CL:A DRIVE MMM WRONG CAR CL:3 swerve, HAIR! If you hope to ever get past 101, Signing as a toddler would, you must have skilled models and teachers. And you will need to have your errors corrected. This is best achieved in the form of accredited college classes with Deaf professors. (You can also hire a Deaf tutour-- maybe one willing to Skype with you.) Students also benefit greatly from working together in the classroom. There are countless "ASL" sites and media, largely created by misinformed Hearing, and I cannot recommend most of them. Save your money! What they teach is corrupted and not really ASL nor is it what most Deaf adults really use. You will quickly notice that they all say conflicting things. That is because ASL is highly regional. You'll be learning Sign variations that your local Deaf adults will not accept. If you use these media, you will only get misled, confused, and create bad habits that are extremely hard to break. (I know; as a tutour, I get mixed-up "self-taughts" everyday. Recovery for them is very slow and difficult.) Go to . Dr. Bill, a brilliant Deaf man who has a PhD in linguistics and who teaches ASL at university, has free virtual classes that you can take-- in order. It is very important to start with the ASL basics and build according to a plan that introduces various aspects of the language and how it works-- to include ASL grammar and syntax. You should learn what a wise teacher has organized for you rather than chasing random Signs that you want to know. You will not know how to apply them properly, anyway. You can also take $5 modules with Rob at . Both of these professors are Deaf, experienced, capable, credentialed, licensed teachers. Most "Signing" on the web is pure rubbish. Always take anything that you find on-line with the largest grain of salt that you can find! Start with the two sites above, get a lay of the land, then you can venture out-- when you can discern fact from fiction. Read all of the college ASL text books that you can find. (Newbies should avoid "Sign" books available at retail.) You can usually find many at Study all that you can by celebrated scholars such as William Stokoe and Tom Humphries-Carol Padden. (The latter is a husband-wife team. [They are Deaf.]) Focus on grammar and Deaf culture. Take care to form proper handshapes, and place and move your Signs correctly. The very slightest deviations change and/or corrupt meaning. Go for quality rather than quantity. You must always get local Deaf-adult approval for every Sign that you want to use. Most Deafs will not accept "outside" Signs or practices. Wise people know that, if you want to know about ASL, the language of Deaf people, consult Deaf people-- not Hearing. And it is never smart to use a "teacher" who is not credentialed. © .

What state certifications for sign language interpreters are recognized in Colorado?

the EIPA is the most valuable one

What is the best baby sign language book?

I tried to find the best book for you, And this is what I suggest.. Number 1 Best seller.. Teach Your Baby to Sign: An Illustrated Guide to Simple Sign Language for Babies The Baby Signing Book: Includes 350 ASL Signs for Babies and Toddlers The "Sign, Sing, and Play" Kit (Baby Sign Language Basics) Hope this help.. Good luck.

What is the most spoken sign language in the world?

well sign language isn't technically "spoken" but beyond that, it is Chinese sign language which has about 20 million people who use it in China, Malaysia, and Taiwan. American sign language only has about 2 million in the US and some more in other countries. British sign language has about 50,000 signers.

Is sign language considered to be a second language?

Yes, American Sign Language is officially recognized as a foreign language. It has different structure, idioms and a separate community that utilizes the language. Weather or not your colleges recognize that, is a completely different story, you do however have grounds on which to fight it if you wish to use it as a second language instead of an elective since the USA has deemed it a second language.

How to demonstrate sign language in a speech?

i would be inclined to start with saying something about your sister and the fact that it seems to be or is the best way you can both communicate. then perhaps tell them how easy or hard, whichever the case is/was for you, you could then perhaps demonstrate a couple of examples of simple sentences like 'i love you', "are you hot/cold", 'do you want a drink etc'. to round off perhaps tell them how invaluable it has been and the importance of communicating rather than ignoring people less fortunate than ourselves. in a way we all do some form of sign language, particularly if you are in a foreign country by pointing to something (such as fruit/vegetable, maps etc) then the quantity by putting up our fingers and the same can go for the cost. look around at people and you will find this is so even when we speak the same audible language. hope this has been some help. good luck

Is American sign language considered a second language that a lot of college's require?

Some colleges will give foreign language credit for sign language and others won't. Most colleges require two years of college-level foreign language, but you take a placement test at the beginning which can exempt you from part or all of it. BYU may or may not have accommodations for you to "test out" of sign language, but may not if they don't offer courses in it. So you may end up having to take another language when you get there, but many students who take two years of high school Spanish have to start over in college anyway, or in any case they will usually have to take a year of it in college. So even if they don't take your credits, you wouldn't be far behind, and if you want to learn ASL and have the opportunity to do so, you should go ahead because it's not offered at a lot of colleges. As for how it will look on your college application, one language in high school is as good as another. It will look even better if you're also involved in a sign language club or volunteer with the deaf community in your area.

Sign Language?

A good read. The first school for deaf people was the Institut Royal des Sourds-Muets (or the Royal Institute for the Deaf and Mute). This institute taught French sign language, or presently known as FSL. In the 19th century educators were starting to oppose sign language being taught to the deaf. Supporters of this idea questioned that if the deaf were taught to speak they could be less isolated from everyone else. This method, the method of teaching the deaf individuals to speak, was called oralism. By the 20th century many educators of the deaf were using this method called oralism, in fact all deaf education in the United States and France was oralism. But oralism not consisted of teaching the deaf to speak but also teaching the deaf to read lips, in a sad fact they often went to the extreme as punishing deaf children when they signed among themselves. Linguist William C. Stokoe was to thank for today’s booming 500,000 individuals that speak sign language today, because he worked to place sign language education back into the schools and succeeded. Linguists have found similarities between spoken language and sign language.

Sign language?

"it says ages 6 months+.."

sign language?

No. There are separate signs for each language. That's why they call it "American Sign Language" I am fluent in American Sign Language, or ASL. You can easily offend someone from another country by using a simple sign in American Sign Language. I have met other people who sign that are from America and they have shown me a few signs that mean different words!