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American Sign Language - Why You Should Learn It
ASL is uniquely American. It has been around in the U.S.A. for as long as there have been deaf people here. It was originally developed by deaf people to communicate with each other. Early forms combined elements of French Sign Language and the Sign Language of Native Americans. The first standardization and formal teaching began 190 years ago at the first school for the deaf in the U.S. Students from that school then spread the use of ASL to all parts of the U.S. and Canada. Today, about half a million deaf people in the U.S. and Canada speak ASL. It is also spoken by an unknown number of family members, friends, co-workers, employees, employers, merchants and others who regularly interact with deaf people. Many experts say that ASL is the third most-spoken language in the U.S. Why should you learn Sign Language? Do you want to improve your communication with a family member or friend who is deaf? Do you want to be able to communicate with deaf people in general? Do you work with or encounter deaf people in your profession? Are you a "first responder" (firefighter, police officer or paramedic) who wants to be able to communicate with deaf people in emergencies? Would you like to advance in your career by being able to communicate in ASL? Do you want to be an American Sign Language interpreter? For whatever reason, many people are learning ASL... it is not difficult or expensive to learn this unique form of communication. It's even exciting! You can communicate clearly with ASL at distances far beyond the reach of the loudest shout! Underwater divers use sign language to communicate with each other, in an environment where speaking is often impossible. A very small microphone can pick up and eavesdrop on any spoken conversation, even if whispered. But a microphone is useless at recording sign language! So it can be a very private means of communication. Yes, it is true that a video pickup COULD record it. But the recording would have to be continuous (not a sequence of still-shots) and in well-positioned direct line of sight. A video camera would be useless if the speaker was behind something or had his back to it... To learn more about this fascinating, useful language called American Sign Language, follow the links below. Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com For more about American Sign Language, including resources to learn it, visit American Sign Language |
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