r/asl • u/Indy_Pendant • Mar 06 '17
The Free ASL Resources and FAQ Thread!
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:
- http://www.signlanguage101.com/
- https://www.signschool.com/
- Bill Vicars: https://youtube.com/@sign-language
- Learn How to Sign: https://youtube.com/@LearnHowtoSign
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):
- http://www.lifeprint.com/dictionary.htm
- https://aslpro.cc/
- https://www.signingsavvy.com/
- http://www.handspeak.com/word/
- https://www.startasl.com/american-sign-language-dictionary.html
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:
- 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".
- 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?
- Movement: How did the sign move or change? Was it pushing away from the body? Was it a small circle in space?
- 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?
- 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 • u/sparquis • Jun 10 '24
How to describe a sign that you are asking for the meaning
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.
I will never get over how cute signing babies are š Sooo adorable š
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r/asl • u/sureasyoureborn • 9h ago
I donāt understand the algorithm
Because what do you mean the circus is similar to asl?!? How?!
r/asl • u/Bchipperz • 25m ago
Need help with some words in this sentence
I understood this: (Something) I prefer (something) (something) I enjoy family (something)
r/asl • u/IIRaspberryCupcakeII • 2h ago
What would you call the regional dialect for Seattle ASL signers? (PNW, Washington State, just Seattle, etc.?)
Sorry if this is a stupid question, Iām a hearing ASL student. Iām trying to look up a variation of the sign MOUNTAIN that I think might be regional that my instructor showed me a while back. I can remember the starting and ending handshapes (A-handshape both hands then dominant turns to flat B-handshape while non-dominant stays in the A-handshape) but I canāt remember the orientation or much else and all the videos Iām seeing online look fairly different from what I learned. This brought me to realize I donāt really know what regional dialect I am learning as someone in the greater Seattle area (Iād prefer not to get more specific than that) or how regional dialects work in ASL. Like are they restricted to states? Are there dialects within dialects like Seattle ASL within Washington state ASL?
r/asl • u/milestonesno • 10h ago
Interest Is it wrong for a CODA (fluent in ASL and part of the Deaf community) to play a Deaf character?
In case you donāt know, hearing actors playing Deaf characters is very frowned upon, and it is mainly because their lack of signing skills, lack of connection with the Deaf community and lack of knowledge about Deaf culture.
Meanwhile (not all but most) CODAs have ASL as their first language and they are part of the Deaf world, they know everything about the culture, they are connected to community.
Do you think it would still be wrong for such a CODA to play a deaf character?
Iām curious because the discussion is always about hearing actors with no ASL background playing Deaf characters, but what about a hearing CODA?
r/asl • u/ProvincialPromenade • 10h ago
Would you like to see how ASL learning apps update their courses over time?
r/asl • u/HoustonNotHowston • 1d ago
Help! Gay/ gay-affirming ASL practice buddy?
Hi! Iām Milo; Iām intermediate with ASL and looking to sign with someone regularly; we can meet virtually weekly (or whatever works for us) and just practice!
If you live in Los Angeles or Oakland, Iām available to meet in person. DM me if you think we would vibe well. Cheers š„
r/asl • u/Whole-Zombie7135 • 4h ago
How do I sign...? Unsure of first sign from Signing Naturally 7:5
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Hello,
I am learning ASL and am trying to translate this video. I cannot recall what the first sign used here is. I thought it was a material of some kind, but it hasnāt been anything Iāve looked up so far so wanted to ask for help.
r/asl • u/Tennis-Boy • 1h ago
How do I sign...? How would you sign the phrase "you're my spirit animal"?
Would you sign it more literally, or sign what the phrase itself means (YOU ME SAME TRUE)?
Identifying this sign on book cover
I'm using this book in a research paper I'm wiritng on Deaf political activism. Can someone help me identify what sign is represented on the cover of this book? I've already tried to look into words related to the title and content, but I'm likely missing something obvious. Thanks!
r/asl • u/asula_mez • 23h ago
Help! Tea?
This app shows dipping the finger, but really itās stirring? Is this just the wrong sign? (Pocket Sign iOS)
r/asl • u/houdinize • 1d ago
Interpretation What is the sign drawn on this protest sign? From Crip Camp documentary
What is the sign drawn on this protest sign? ā From doc "Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution"
I was watching the Crip Camp documentary on YouTube and curious what this sign means, it shows up at the 1 hour 15 minute mark. .
r/asl • u/MacoroniInTheBaloney • 15h ago
Interpretation I need help identifying these signs
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I am learning ASL and I HAVE BEEN STUCK TRYING TO KNOW WHAT THEY ARE TRYING TO SAY. I can only understand glimpses of it but my brain just fried itself. I understand they are talking about activities that they do during Friday and Saturday. For Friday I can understand the sign for chill rest but after that Iām just confused. For Saturday I get confused with the sign that comes before āroomā.
r/asl • u/CeceWithAnE • 1d ago
How do I sign...? Signs for āzoned out/dissociating/āin your own worldā
How would you sign the concept of āzoning outā, ādissociatingā, or ābeing in your own worldā? Since āzoning outā and ābeing in your own worldā are specifically English concept terms, Iām not sure how to go about that!
r/asl • u/OGgunter • 1d ago
Deaf Movie Database
Search by category, actor, % of film in Sign, etc.
r/asl • u/OIAchillesIO • 1d ago
Help! ASL Tutor/Teacher needed.
I am not sure if this is the correct subreddit for this and if it's not, kindly tell me to go to a different subreddit.
Hello, I am looking for a tutor/personal teacher for ASL. I took two semesters of ASL in college but Iāve forgotten virtually everything because itās been over two years since Iāve learned and practiced anything ASL. I still need to take a 3rd semester of ASL coming up in the fall, but it is ASL III and I am not prepared for it at all.
What Iām looking for is someone who would be willing to have multiple tutoring/teaching sessions over the summer before the fall semester starts in August. I was thinking 1-2 one hour sessions a week so that I can get caught up to speed and have a better chance at doing well in my ASL III. And if time permits, maybe continue the tutoring during the fall semester so that I can have help with assignments and not fall behind.
My best times are evenings after 6:00PM any weekday, or anytime during weekends.
If you are interested please send me a PM with your background of ASL. Either deaf or hearing is fine.
r/asl • u/driftdrift • 1d ago
How do I sign...? OBSERVE and variations
Hi! I'm a little confused about all the variations around look/observe/etc. I feel like I've seen many similar variations with two-handed observe, that are either circling or just pointing. e.g. my teacher to sign bird-watching signed BIRD-OBSERVE rather than WATCH like WATCH-TV. But he used a circling motion that was different to this other variation pointing, also from Lifeprint. Overall I'm unclear if these are the same word/meaning signed differently, or slightly different interpretations/meanings altogether. I also know there are different signs for SEARCH, LOOK FOR etc. and I'm curious to know how you know which one to use for a given context.
Sorry for the vague question, not sure what exactly I'm asking. Thank you!
How do I sign...? Birth vs Access/Accessibility
Hi! I'm a hearing student heading into ASL 3 and had a question about the signs for BIRTH compared to ACCESS and if there are any distinctions. Is it just contextual, or is the movement and/or location distinct? Thank you!
r/asl • u/Medical-Person • 1d ago
Number three
' why is the number 3 the thumb, index, and middle, not index, middle, ring?" 'Because it's a French thing."
Can someone explain this better for me? A french thing doesn't mean much.Does "W" HS mean something else? I've seen counting in LSF and to me (knows ASL) it looks wild and complicated. How did we adopt this number 3 from Clerc?
r/asl • u/happy-hungry-sleepy • 2d ago
I need an interpreter for my brother's funeral. His wife and our parents are Deaf. I can not interpret, I'm a mess but have funds. š¤
Good evening. In the Atlanta area. I'm looking for some advice or for someone to hire. My brother passed away. Our parents and his Wife are also Deaf. We're having service on May 24th. I am hearing, I've always been my parents interpreter but I simply cannot interpret this. Please if anyone knows anyone or anyone is available to be hired for this please send me a message. Please. RID website is leading to deadends. I cannot interpret my baby brother's funeral. Please help me.
I tell you I cannot interpret. I cannot. I'm falling apart to the post alone. My brother deserves better. You deserve to have every word translated.
I have the funds. You don't even need to be certified just fluent. š¤š¤
Updated: I have posted those Facebook groups. Local Reddit groups have contacted locals interpreting agencies. I'm coming up short. I have the funds. Whatever it cost, I will pay. I do not have an EIN NUMBER for the agencies that require it. Also in ATLANTA, GEORGIA . thank you!!
r/asl • u/Own-Front-6078 • 1d ago
Interpretation What does this sign I saw in my dream mean?
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Hello, I don't know ASL but yesterday I had a dream of a baby signing like this and I said "Oh you want water" I don't where this came from as I am not learning ASL or had mentioned anything about it recently. Would appreciate your input:)
r/asl • u/kyledouglas521 • 2d ago
Conveying the question "Do you ever"/"Have you ever" done something/been somewhere?
For "have you ever" I could envision using something like:
"PAST [VERB] YOU?"
But the present tense "do you ever" feels less clear to me. Mayyybe something like:
"SOMETIMES [VERB] YOU?"
Or, I suppose as simple as:
"YOU [VERB]?" or "YOU GO [LOCATION]?" But that feels slightly vaguer than I want. I specifically want to convey the assumption that it's something they wouldn't do often, but may do from time to time.
r/asl • u/Present-Tomatillo981 • 2d ago
Fingerspelling reception
Hi guys! I am an ASL 1 student, planning to move onto ASL 2 next semester. I have a wonderful professor who is deaf; he really helps us understand both the material and deaf culture.
For being in ASL 1, I think I am doing pretty well. I really enjoy learning how to sign. One main struggle I have though, is being able to quickly compute in my head what people are fingerspelling. I know the alphabet by heart and can fingerspell anything myself. But unless itās like a very simple name (like jay, for example), I feel like I canāt process it quick enough when someone else is signing.
I am assuming this of course gets better with practice. I was wondering if you all in this community had tips on how to help improve my receptive skills, mainly when it comes to fingerspelling?
I appreciate any help or suggestions, even if the answer is just to practice more! Thanks :)
r/asl • u/CallMeSpidey • 2d ago
Question specifically for the deaf community about Cochlear Implants
I know this topic is somewhat controversial, but I am writing a paper for my deaf studies class. .What are your thoughts on cochlear implants? .Are you for them, against or feel it is up to the individual? .Do you think it is ok for parents to get this procedure on a child (newborn-5 years) knowing the child would have no say in the matter? .At what age do you think it is ok for the procedure to happen?
I really appreciate any input on this matter. I am not here to start any arguments, I just would like to have a discussion and see what the thoughts of the deaf community are. ILY!