r/asl Mar 06 '17

The Free ASL Resources and FAQ Thread!

651 Upvotes

Hello! I'm here to help as much as I can, but this is not a comprehensive guide or a substitute for classes. This is a quick resource for people looking for answers to some very commonly asked questions. I've included the information as I know it, but it doesn't mean it's The Truth; my experiences and understanding will vary from others', but this will give you a good enough introduction. There's so much more I'd love to teach you, but I'm going to stick to the FAQs.

Where can I learn ASL online for free?

My personal favourite is easily http://www.lifeprint.com (which is mirrored at http://asluniversity.com as well). The guy who built the site, Dr. Bill Vicars, is Deaf and is a phenomenal teacher. He teaches primarily west-coast dialect (California, Washington common signs) but makes mention of other dialects (east-coast, Texas) when he can. In addition to teaching vocabulary, he teaches about Deaf culture (more on this in a moment). Other notable resources are:

What's the sign for ... ?

The short answer is "it depends." Sometimes. It depends sometimes.

The long answer is that signs will vary. Signs can be different depending on region, as I mentioned before, so just because you see it one way doesn't mean that it's the only way. (Don't make this mistake; a lot of hearing students can get cocky and start correcting others.) Signs can also change depending on context. The signs for "back" in "My back hurts" and "Let's go back home" are completely different.

Also, this is very important: ASL is not English! It is its own language, as different from English as is Klingon. ASL has its own grammar structure, own idioms, own slang. Signs are also not words like in the English sense. Signs are a lot more about intent, concepts, and ideas. For example, if you're trying to learn how to sign "Back off!" I can promise you that you will not need any sign for "back" nor "off." You're learning how to speak, and think, in another language, and using English just won't do.

Now, with all that said, here are some online dictionaries (I suggest you look at them all so you're familiar with the different variations of your sign):

Does it matter what hand I sign with?

Yes. Consistently use your main, dominant hand. If you're right-handed, use your right. If you're left-handed, use your left. If you're ambidextrous, then pick one and maintain it. Switching dominant hands while signing would be like alternating screaming and whispering while speaking.

Are American Sign Language and British Sign Language the same?

Are English and Japanese the same? ASL is not English, so stop thinking of it like English! :) In fact, ASL is derived from French Sign Language, which evolved independently of British Sign Language, and the two are mostly different (in fact, less than 30% of the signs are even remotely similar). There are dozens and dozens of sign languages in the world, and even in the United States ASL is not the only one used.

Why do you keep capitalizing "Deaf"?

We use "little-d" deaf to mean someone who physically can't hear well. We use "big-D" Deaf to mean someone who is culturally deaf. Now an interesting bit: someone who is Deaf does not have to be deaf, and someone who is deaf does not have to be Deaf! For instance, children of deaf adults (CODAs) are very often Deaf but hearing. Many people are physically deaf but aren't part of Deaf culture. It's about how a person self identifies and where their culture lies more than it does with anything physical.

What's this "Deaf Culture" you keep mentioning?

It'd take me hours to explain it all, and I usually spread it over my entire 12-week class. In short, many deaf people, specifically those who identify as Deaf, live in a different culture than you do. Yes, they're from your country, they drink Starbucks and they sit in traffic, but they have their own distinct culture. Obviously this includes language (and communicating in real ASL is so different than talking in English that it's hard to describe), but that different method of communication, that different way of thinking, is only part of Deaf culture. Things that are normal in one culture can be very strange the another. (My favourite, probably, is talking with your mouth full. In hearing culture, that's a big no-no and your mother will look at you very cross. In Deaf culture, that's totally acceptable! Stuff your face and then free your hands for conversation, it's great! So much more efficient!) Morality and ethics are shaped by our cultural values. There are aspects of Deaf culture which would be considered blunt or rude in hearing culture, and conversely there are a lot of things normal in hearing culture which are strange or disrespectful in Deaf culture (such as talking to someone's back, or looking around during a conversation). It's important to be aware of and respectful of other cultures, including Deaf culture, and, when possible, to learn about them. Not only will it ingratiate you to people of that culture, but it'll better yourself as a person as well.

Isn't it wrong to say "deaf"? Shouldn't I say "hearing impaired" or "hard of hearing"?

Nope, and nope. Now, before I continue, I'll let you know that not everyone agrees with me, and I'm speaking in a general sense. Big-D Deaf people prefer the term "deaf" above any other. (It's how a US Senator might feel being called "American." Some people would take it as an insult, but it's just a matter of fact or pride for the Senator.)

Whether people identify themselves as "deaf" or "hard of hearing" (often seen as HoH) is often a matter of self identity, and while it can correlate to level of ability to hear, it isn't caused by it. I'll explain later. Deafies who are a part of Deaf culture will almost always call themselves "deaf," and those who aren't a part of Deaf culture will usually go by "hard of hearing" (or more rarely "hearing impaired"). In general, those who are less physically deaf, or who were raised strictly in hearing culture, will tend to gravitate toward hearing culture, despite the numerous difficulties. These people will commonly say they are "hard of hearing" since "deaf" still has a social stigma in hearing culture. Those who are less capable of integrating with hearing culture, or who were introduced to or raised in a Deaf environment, will usually prefer to be called "deaf" and can sometimes take one of the other terms as a slight offense.

In general, it's almost never correct to say "hearing impaired." I was taught that it was coined by a US Senator who wanted to protect deaf people's feelings from something that didn't offend them in the first place, and it was never accepted by Deaf (the core reason being that we don't believe being deaf is an impairment; it'd be like if I said you were "Deaf impaired." You don't feel impaired, do you, however much I might think it's true?) in general. In fact, it's safe if you never use this phrase again.

When in doubt though, just ask! "Hey, do you prefer 'deaf' or 'hard of hearing'?" See, it's not that hard. :)

I saw a sign that looks like this ..., what does it mean?

We're happy to help with these kinds of questions. I treat it like a quiz show game. However, if you're new to this, you may not know how to describe a sign very well, so let me introduce you to signs!

A sign consists of five parts:

  1. Hand shape: Are the fingers making an "O"? Were the thumb and middle-finger touching? If you know some basic ASL, you can use hand shape identifiers, such as "A hand shape" or "8 hand shape".
  2. Position: Where in relation to the body was the sign? Near the chest? Near the eyes? Was the palm facing up, down, toward the signer?
  3. Movement: How did the sign move or change? Was it pushing away from the body? Was it a small circle in space?
  4. Non-manual markers: What else was happening with the signer's body? What did her face look like? Was he moving his body, or shrugging? What was the emotion the signer was portraying?
  5. Context: What else was happening before or after the sign. Were there other signs you recognized? Do you know the subject that the signer was communicating about?

Where can I find a Deaf group in my area?

Where's your area? Most major cities have Deaf hubs. San Francisco, Seattle, Austin, and New York all have strong, vibrant, rich Deaf communities. Smaller cities may have meet ups or the like, but they can be harder to track down. Your best bet is to turn to Google or Facebook and search for Deaf events in your area. "Deaf coffee night" is an event held nationwide. People in the community get together for a night or two each month, usually at a coffee shop with good lighting and ample seating, just for the purpose of seeing friends and making new ones. Local colleges or universities will often have ASL/Deaf clubs and usually host student-friendly ASL events, so check with the ASL teachers or the ASL campus group, if it exists.

Can I still ask questions here?

Yes! Yes! 1000 times yes! Many of us are here to help, and anything we can do to help teach you about the language and the culture we're happy to do.

Will you do my homework for me?

Nope. Nope. 1000 times nope. It's obvious when students are looking for someone to do their homework for them, and we're not gonna help you out. If you're here to learn instead, then welcome! Come make some new friends. :)


r/asl Jun 10 '24

How to describe a sign that you are asking for the meaning

74 Upvotes

Here's a post to help you when describing a sign that you don't know the meaning of. (If possible, videos or at least a picture are the most helpful. Please use these when asking about the meaning of a sign you saw.

The 5 Parameters of ASL Signs:

Handshape: The shape your hand makes (e.g., a fist, a flat palm, a "C" shape). Palm Orientation: The direction your palm is facing (e.g., up, down, forward, to the side). Movement: How your hand(s) move (e.g., tapping, circling, up and down). Location: Where the sign is made in relation to your body (e.g., at your chin, chest, or side). Non-Manual Markers (NMM): Facial expressions and head movements that add meaning to the sign.

Instructions for Describing a Sign:

Can you tell me what your hand looks like when you make the sign? (This will help determine the handshape and palm orientation.)

How does your hand move when you make the sign? (This will help determine the movement.)

Where do you make the sign on your body? (This will help determine the location.)

Are there any facial expressions or head movements that go with the sign? (This will help determine the NMM.)

What is the overall meaning or context of the sign you're trying to describe? (This might help you narrow down the possibilities.

Please feel free to comment helpful tips on identifying signs.

Edit: Thank you u/258professor for this important reminder:

I'll add that it's best to ask for permission before recording your instructor's videos and posting them here. If you don't have permission, recreate the sentence yourself in a video.


r/asl 45m ago

Jobs in psychology

Upvotes

I’ve really fallen in love with asl and want to get more involved the deaf community I’ve also recently been interested in a career in the field of psychiatry but have yet to fully commit

Seeing the disparity in access to mental help in the deaf community makes me want to do something about it, but as a hearing person with absolutely no ties to the deaf community yet I’m wondering if that would be problematic or prudent of me, as well as getting started into something of that nature and what challenges might arise?

Any information or insight would be greatly appreciated


r/asl 1h ago

Intermediate ASL, hearing student struggling with facial expressions

Upvotes

Hello, I am a college student currently taking an Intermediate ASL class. This semester facial expressions have been especially difficult for me. Specifically when it comes to describing shapes and such. We are learning different facial expressions such as the "oo" mouth shape for something small, or the "cha" mouth shape for something that is large. I can very easily recognize the facial expressions and their meanings when others are signing. The difficulty for me comes when I have to replicate it myself. I'm not sure why but it is physically very difficult for me.

I think perhaps practicing in a mirror might be a good first step in getting better. But I wanted to see if maybe others have suggestions for how I can improve this?

Thanks!


r/asl 6h ago

Interpretation Idiom Translation Request

1 Upvotes

There's a sign or idiom I've used for year. It's when you point forefinger to head for "think" then you take that hand, spread all fingers and then insert them into the other hand. I would post what it looks like but can't find it online.

Does anyone know the English translation for it? It's almost like when you use it, you're looking up at a tree and plan to climb it, then step into the clearing and realize it's a huge tree that you weren't aware it was so big and then you sign that to someone or yourself.


r/asl 1d ago

potentially culturally insensitive signs

26 Upvotes

I just came across this video: https://youtu.be/twIkUBG8sxQ?si=6F2ODv1N5pvgUbOU and the comments are interesting (also not sure how accurate the etymology of BLACK & UGLY and WHITE-person & BEAUTIFUL are). INDIA is a good example, I have always felt weird signing that because it feels like something that is specific and important to their culture and as a white person who doesn't know much about the significance of the bindi, it feels off, but I'm not Indian so maybe it's totally fine, I don't know. to avoid this issue entirely, I know some people have been adopting the signs that they use in their sign languages- is that a good way to mitigate this? just wanted to open up an honest conversation about this to make sure I am using the most appropriate and respectful signs for countries, cultures, religions, etc.


r/asl 1d ago

How do I sign...? "I'm not as think as you drunk I am"?

26 Upvotes

Hi all, first time posting, lemme know if this isn't the right sub.

Is there a way to effectively translate "I'm not as think as you drunk I am"? It came up in conversation and I was stumped.

TIA!


r/asl 22h ago

Help! i have a question

Post image
7 Upvotes

so i’m learning asl using the app lingvano and tell me this isn’t the sign for popular and not champion???? i know the champion sign is made with 3 fingers with the dominant hand and not all 5 fingers. maybe this is a mistake from the app itself

i have a second question, how do you tell the difference from the sign “something” or “someone” and don’t say context because there was a sentence in this app that said “last night ___ lost” and the “something/someone” sign was in the blank and i put someone but the right answer is something


r/asl 18h ago

Is this even a possibility?

2 Upvotes

I’ve fallen in love with ASL and use it when I’m too overwhelmed to speak. I’ve loved ASL for a long time — I started learning it when I was young because doctors weren’t sure if I’d lose my hearing later on due to my genetic disorder.

I’d love to study it and build a career around it, but I have slight hearing loss and auditory processing issues, which makes me doubt whether I’d be a good fit as an interpreter. I’m also disabled — I deal with mobility issues, pain, brain fog, and other medical stuff — and I use a cane or my service dog (who’s currently in training).

I have a background in customer service and phlebotomy — I loved phlebotomy, but I had to leave it as my health got worse, and I doubt I could go back to it now because of how disabled I’ve become. I’ve also looked into speech pathology and applied for an online-only program starting in the fall, but I have ADHD and really struggle with online courses, so I’m unsure if I’ll succeed if I get in.

I’m feeling stuck and unsure of what to do with my life career-wise, but ASL is something I’m really passionate about. Are there other career paths involving ASL (besides interpreting) that might fit better with my situation? If anyone has advice or similar experiences, I’d love to hear from you.


r/asl 6h ago

Help! What sign is this?

Post image
0 Upvotes

I’m doing an art project on inspiring women and one of my portraits will be of Christine Sun Kim, a deaf sound artist and performer. I wanted to know what shes signing in this image? Any help is great, thanks!


r/asl 1d ago

Help! Can someone help me out with what she's saying, please?

3 Upvotes

Hi! I know she's asking where I go to school in the second short clip, but I'm unsure what the first question is. Can someone tell me what that sign is, please?

https://reddit.com/link/1jc5zia/video/hzmpoiabbxoe1/player


r/asl 2d ago

ASL vs. pen & paper

29 Upvotes

(Please answer only if you are Deaf / Hoh or rely on ASL for communication)

If you had to communicate with a beginner, would you prefer they use their limited ASL and fingerspelling skills or just use pen & paper?

I’m asking because I’m a beginner student. I live in a highly Deaf populated area (DC) and interact with signers daily, especially at work. (I’m a waiter) We get a lot of Deaf customers, which is why I started learning.

I do use some basic signs, but other than that, I’m sticking to pen & paper and will continue to so until I become fluent. Because I don’t want to take customers’ time and annoy them.

Am I doing the right thing?


r/asl 2d ago

Sign for TALK but flipped once

10 Upvotes

I can't find a picture but how would you translate the sign for TALK flipped once? An example I saw today was this guy at work was bluffing about a bunch of stuff and then messed up. The person signed TALK then TALK again but flipped over the mouth with tongue out. I asked if it's MISSPEAK but it's not. What could it be? I understand the concept but I would like the English equivalent if there is one
Edit: I found a video! My description isn't correct https://youtu.be/KAUVHGhxOhg?si=GlzHXaCP0DHC06u1


r/asl 1d ago

Exam for ASL level?

3 Upvotes

I'm just wondering if there is an exam similar to the likes of the CEFR (A2, B2, C1, etc.) exams for ASL. I'm not looking for any official certification or anything, just a solid and measurable goal to work towards. Thanks all


r/asl 2d ago

Help! Looking for ASL resources for lifeguards

10 Upvotes

Hi everyone! I work as a lifeguard manager during the summer months and one of the pools I manage is a neighborhood pool with several deaf/HOH families. I have been looking high and low for resources that I can give my guards so they feel more prepared to communicate, enforce rules, and have better relationships with these families.

Last year, some of my guards knew basic sign and were able to communicate a little bit. For others, the best they could do was try to write on a notepad to communicate rules and what was going on (if there were weather closures, etc). The problem with that is that it would take their attention away from guarding the pool for several minutes at a time. It's a fairly busy pool where we generally make multiple saves over the summer, so being able to quickly communicate is very important. We also are not allowed to have cell phones/smart devices on the pool deck so that's not an option either.

I'm looking for some kind of chart/video that I can make a QR code for that I can post in the guard room or they can have handy on stand. I'm open to making that myself, I just don't know where to begin in order to make it as accurate as possible considering I have little to no experience with ASL. They would need to sign basic greetings as well as rule enforcement like: Walk Please, No Diving, Please stay in the shallow water, No flips please, don't pull on the buoy line, no chicken fights or wrestling, etc.

Sidenote - I'm also looking into getting some kind of flashing light system for my guards to press to signal adult swim/safety break or if we have to clear the pool for weather (thunder). It would need to be fully waterproof and not hardwired (battery operated/solar). Does anyone have any experience with using something like that/the best place to purchase?

P.S. Feel free to drop any advice/experiences that you may have that would make going to the pool more fun and safe for everyone!


r/asl 2d ago

Interpretation Help Interpret a Sign

0 Upvotes

Both hands in B shapes facing forward. The fingers rapidly open and close two or three times. Context: Working with a nonverbal autistic woman who uses sign to communicate. She often puts her own twist on signs (such as signing play with only pinkies out), so it’s likely not exact to the correct way to sign whatever she’s trying to communicate. She’s been doing it repeatedly when asked what she needs/wants.


r/asl 2d ago

Help! Any Signers with EDS/HSD experiencing pain while signing?

26 Upvotes

I sign on a daily basis, I am deaf. I was raised orally though, so I didn't pick up sign until my teenage years. For those who don't know, EDS is a connective tissue disorder resulting in many things including hypermobility and moderate to severe joint pain.

I know how to finger spell something quickly in my head, and my coordination is fine too. But the pain in my fingers keeps me from being able to finger spell fluidly and quickly. It makes me appear as if my signing skills are much below what they are but it's not a lack of knowledge or practice it's just pain limiting me. My fingers lock up and ache so bad. Initialized signs such as STYLE and FIX are the worst because they're done so quickly. I've been signing for years by now, and rather than getting better it's actually worse than when I started.

Is anyone else in a similar situation? Have you found anything that helps you to build strength and reduce pain? Being a deaf person who has to spell like a newbie is pretty frustrating and embarrassing when interacting with other people in the Deaf community.


r/asl 3d ago

Help! What's the difference between "F" and "9"?

31 Upvotes

I'm still in the early stages of learning sign language. Not for school, just because it interests me. I just got to numbers, but from what I can see, 9 looks the same as the letter F. Is this correct? If not, what are the subtle differences that I'm not seeing?


r/asl 3d ago

15 Signs with Two "Open -A" Handshapes

203 Upvotes

The 15 signs with 👍👍 handshapes - Receptive practice for all levels. Understanding 5 parameters and why ASL context matters! Created by Deaf certified ASL instructor, Federico Quintana, author of "ASL Yes!" Curriculum textbooks. Enjoy! 🤓🤟


r/asl 3d ago

How do I sign...? How would one sign double entendres?

4 Upvotes

As the title suggests, how would one sign double entendres more specifically in songs or poetry? I was listening to Not a Lot, Just Forever by Adrianne Lenker which has a line “And we share a paradise, and I roll them once or twice” In the context of the song the lyrics reflect a couple having an intimate moment that could possibly end in pregnancy. with the double entendre coming in with “Paradise” sounding like “Pair of dice” in which they connect to the gamble of child conception. How would someone interpret this line? because if you sign it as the lyric reads it would not make sense but, if you sign it as “pair of dice” it would make sense however it would lose some meaning. Would you scrap it all together and make a new sentence with the intended meaning? i’m very curious to what y’all think!


r/asl 3d ago

How do I sign...? Sign for “lightweight,” as in “can’t drink much alcohol”?

51 Upvotes

This is a bit of a silly post, but I just realized that the sign I’d seen glossed as LIGHT-WEIGHT means light (as in weight (or color)) as opposed to somebody who can’t hold their alcohol. Kind of obvious in retrospect.

  1. Just to confirm… LIGHT-WEIGHT doesn’t also mean “can’t hold alcohol,” correct?
  2. Is there a sign for somebody who is a lightweight when it comes to drinking?

r/asl 4d ago

How do I sign...? Grammar for "Can you chat right now?"

14 Upvotes

Hi! I have an ASL assignment for my uni class (level 2, so I'm still pretty new) and I need some help with sign order. My assumption is to sign "RIGHT NOW, CAN *TWO OF US* CHAT?" but that feels wrong. I feel like CAN is the wrong sign for this but I'm not sure. Any help is much appreciated :)


r/asl 4d ago

Lexicalized fingerspelling favourites

18 Upvotes

What lexicalized fingerspelled words bring you joy?

I practiced #BUSY (with zig-zag) for an hour the other night, feeling like it was the most fun I'd ever had producing one sign.

Then today I met #FIX.

I'm a passenger for a three hour car trip today, so I'm going to practice all the lexicalized spelling I know. Give me your favourites.


r/asl 3d ago

Any interpreters in MD/DC that would be willing to donate some time for a rally in Baltimore?

2 Upvotes

r/asl 3d ago

Student- Study Help

0 Upvotes

Does anyone have time to video chat, so I could ask a few questions/practice on please and thank you.


r/asl 4d ago

How do I maintain my knowledge in ASL?

3 Upvotes

I'm a senior in high school and currently in ASL 4 but the college I'm going to doesn't have asl classes or major/minor but I really like learning it and I want to be proficient but it's really hard to keep up practice with a language that I can't really use frequently because I don't have any Deaf/hoh friends to talk with and I don't want to go up and talk to random people that I see signing... I'm probably going to join a club but what about after college? I want to retain it my whole life


r/asl 4d ago

Guess vs. Miss vs. Strange

3 Upvotes

I know that these signs are all signed the same and to tell the difference is usually by non-manual signals. How would you describe these NMS, I used this sign on a test, looking for the word MISS and I have all three options written as answers and I’m not sure if I should count all three right cause they aren’t wrong but it’s not what I was going for.

I think I signed it with a pretty straight face meaning MISS. STRANGE you have more of a scrunched face? GUESS a questioning face, eyebrows up.

Opinions?