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What is ASL?

  • visual gestural language: specific movements and shapes of the hands, arms, eyes, face, heard AND body positive words and intonation
  • History of Sign Language
    • whenever there are deaf people, there is a signed language
    • deaf people in different areas probably had very little contact with each other
    • 1817: Gallaudet become involved in establishing a school for the deaf in America
    • was inspired by French method of education using signs
    • French sign language combined with ASL to become modern day ASL
  • Who Uses ASL?
    • Americans and Canadians
    • deaf people who use ASL see themselves as part of the Deaf community
  • What is the Deaf Community?