Sign language is the third most commonly used language in America today. The
ASL alphabet or the Alphabet for American Sign Language is said to have come
to be by way of two means. At first it was only thought the ASL Alphabet was
brought to America by Laurent Clerc a Deaf man who taught Deaf students in
the first School for the Deaf in Hartford, Conn. He is said to have adopted
many aspects of FSL (French Sign Language) in his teachings. New evidence
says that sign language was partly already here in America at Chilmark and
West Tisbury on Martha's Vineyard where a large collection of Deaf
individuals communicated clearly and efficiently regardless of their lack of
effective education. From any perspective, sign always has and always will
be evolving similar to English as it has evolved over the years since
America broke away from England.The ASL
Alphabet is a collection of hand shapes (classifiers) that represent a
letter of the alphabet in the English language. These symbols are tools of a
visual language that are essential to the communication of Deaf and Hard of
Hearing peoples. That said; the fluent ASL user actually uses finger
spelling sparingly. Letters are commonly used mainly for names, jargon, and
slang. Hearing people who are just learning sign often use finger spelling
as a safety net for words they don't know in sign or signs they can't
remember in the moment (Nice! This can not be done whilst learning any other
language).
It is very important that letters are shown clearly
and precisely as possible, although, the fluent ASL user can do this, while,
moving their hands very quickly, requiring lots of practice for beginning
students of ASL if they want to keep up with the conversation.
Typically younger students of ASL can pick up
fingerspelling very quickly. Older users are very able as well, though
ambidexterity may be a little weaker, therefore requiring more hand and
finger manipulating practice. Fingerspell to yourself in front of a mirror
for practice and/or socialize with Deaf people is very popular; this is an
ever accepted and highly encouraged method of mastering the language. There
are many tips that can help you pick up the alphabet more fluently, like,
spelling words in the news paper as you read, spelling street signs as you
pass them by, even practicing during a boring work meeting is easy, simply
sign "spell" the names of your colleague under a table or at your side.
Learning the
Sign Language Alphabet is not all you will need to know to be able to
communicate with Deaf and Hard of Hearing people; ASL has hundreds of
vocabulary words as well as its own structure and grammar, but it is your
first step into their world.
