American Sign Language:

American Sign Language (ASL) is a discrete language from English. It is a visual language that requires the use of hands, facial expressions and body movement. ASL is not a broken English, but it’s a language that can be taught as a second or third language. It has its own grammatical and syntax structure. ASL is the primary language of most of Deaf people or hard-of-hearing in the States. 

 

ASL Grammar Structure:

ASL’s Grammar is like English Grammar can’t be taught in few pages or even in few days. Additionally, it requires ASL students to practice to sign fluent. However, generally, ASL sentences follow a "TOPIC" "COMMENT" arrangement.

Example: English: You need to study! ASL: Study you need.  

When discussing past and future events we tend to establish a time-frame before the rest of the sentence. That gives us a "TIME" "TOPIC" "COMMENT" structure.

Example: English: It took me two weeks to heal. ASL: Two-weeks me heal.

Classifiers:

Classifiers aren’t signs. They are handshapes that reflect particular characteristics and convey details contributing to the concept of a sign. They are used in ASL to describe movement, placement, and visual characteristics of a person or object. 

Walking to

Let’s Learn Some Signs:

  

How are you?

I'm Fine

I'm busy!

I'm sick!