Alpha Teach Yourself American Sign Language in 24 Hours

by Suggs, Trudy (Author)

• ISBN13: 9781592571307
• ISBN10: 1592571301
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2003-12-01
• Publisher: Alpha

Summary

Want to communicate with a deaf friend or relative? Interested in learning American Sign Language (ASL)? Want to learn the rules of ASL grammar? Are you enrolled in an ASL class and want some further reading? Whether you need an introduction to basic American Sign Language or want to learn about Deaf culture, you'll find the information you need in Alpha Teach Yourself American Sign Language in 24 Hours. The 24 lessons in this step-by-step guide keep you on track as you learn the basics of ASL from deaf and native signers -- one hour at a time. Trudy Suggs, born deaf to deaf parents, grew up with ASL as her first language. She graduated from Gallaudet University with a B.A. in communication arts and government, and earned an M.P.A. in public administration from the University of Illinois-Chicago. Suggs, who has her ASLTA certification, has worked as an ASL instructor, nonprofit administrator, and editor in chief of a national community newspaper. She is currently a full-time writer, editor, and designer, in addition to teaching nonfiction writing. Book jacket.

Author Biography

Trudy Suggs is an author, editor, and an American Sign Language instructor. She is the former Editor-in-Chief of Silent News Newspaper, News Reporter for DeafNation Newspaper, and the author of many articles, newsletters, and marketing materials aimed at the deaf community. She received her BA in Communication from Gallaudet University and later taught American Sign Language at both Harper and Columbia College.

Table of Contents

Part I Overview	1	(38)
Taking a Look at the History of ASL	3	(12)
The History of ASL	3	(3)
The Standardization of ASL	4	(1)
The First Schools for Deaf Students	5	(1)
The Role of Education	6	(2)
A Ban on Sign Language	6	(2)
Effects of the Ban	8	(1)
Education Today	8	(7)
Understanding Deaf Culture	15	(14)
What is Deaf Culture?	15	(2)
The Values of Deaf Culture	17	(1)
Causes of Hearing Loss	17	(1)
Myths About Deaf People	18	(1)
Technology in a Deaf Person's Life	19	(4)
Using the Phone	19	(1)
Relay Services	20	(1)
Closed Captioning	21	(2)
Pagers	23	(1)
Paradigms of the Deaf Community	23	(6)
Introducing ASL	29	(10)
A Closer Look at ASL	29	(2)
Survival of the Language	31	(1)
Accents in ASL	32	(2)
Communication Methods	34	(1)
Early Acquisition of ASL	35	(4)
Part II Getting Started	39	(76)
Conversational Basics	41	(8)
Being an Observer	41	(1)
Attention-Getting Behaviors	42	(1)
Barriers	43	(1)
Leave-Taking Behaviors	44	(1)
Making Culturally Appropriate Choices	44	(2)
Possible Scenario #1	45	(1)
Possible Scenario #2	45	(1)
Possible Scenario #3	45	(1)
Good-Byes	46	(3)
Learning Your ABCs	49	(8)
Knowing Your ABCs	50	(7)
Fingerspelling Smoothly and Clearly	53	(1)
Appropriate Uses for Fingerspelling	53	(1)
Lexicalized Fingerspelling	54	(3)
Crunching Numbers	57	(24)
Numbers 1 Through 10	58	(1)
Cardinal and Ordinal Numbers	59	(4)
Numbers 11 Through 100, 1,000, and 1 Million	63	(9)
Money $igns	72	(9)
A Look at Grammar, Part 1	81	(20)
Nonmanual Signals	82	(3)
Pronouns	85	(5)
Topic/Comment Structure	90	(1)
Yes/No Questions	91	(2)
Wh- Word Questions	93	(2)
Rhetorical Questions	95	(6)
A Look at Grammar, Part 2	101	(14)
Making Negations and Assertions	101	(4)
Using Directional Verbs (Subject-Object Agreement)	105	(2)
Signing Conditional Sentences	107	(1)
Giving Commands	108	(1)
Building Sentences with Verbs	109	(1)
Using Adjectives	110	(5)
Part III Holding a Conversation	115	(66)
Introducing Yourself	117	(14)
Meeting a Deaf Person	117	(1)
Typical Introductions	118	(2)
Name Signs	120	(11)
Sharing Personal Information	131	(14)
Background Exchange	132	(5)
Conversational Indicators	137	(8)
Introducing Family and Friends	145	(18)
Family Ties	145	(2)
Gender-Oriented Signs	147	(16)
Talking About Locations	163	(18)
Telling Where You Live	163	(3)
Geographical Signs	166	(15)
Major Cities	167	(4)
States	171	(10)
Part IV Being Descriptive	181	(154)
Using Classifiers	183	(12)
What Are Classifiers?	183	(1)
Classifier Handshapes	184	(3)
Locatives	187	(2)
Movement	189	(6)
Talking About Weather and Emergencies	195	(26)
The Dangers of Weather and Emergencies	195	(1)
Communication Barriers	196	(2)
Weather	198	(8)
Emergencies	206	(15)
Using Colors and Adjectives	221	(22)
Colors	221	(5)
Adjectives	226	(17)
Moving Around the House	243	(26)
House	243	(3)
Living Room	246	(3)
Kitchen	249	(3)
Bathroom	252	(3)
Bedroom	255	(5)
Other	260	(2)
Location of Things	262	(7)
Talking About People	269	(20)
Descriptions	270	(8)
Affirming an Identification	278	(11)
Referring to Animals	289	(20)
Animals	289	(8)
Describing Animals	297	(3)
Hearing and Deaf Dogs	300	(9)
Telling Time	309	(26)
Telling Time	309	(26)
Hours and Minutes	313	(3)
Days, Weeks, and Months	316	(19)
Part V Talking About Your Life	335	(106)
Working in the Office	337	(28)
Occupations	338	(8)
Furniture and Supplies	346	(7)
Work Duties and Activities	353	(12)
Eating Out	365	(22)
The Restaurant Experience	365	(1)
Restaurant and Food Signs	366	(11)
Condiments and Extras	377	(10)
Being Sick	387	(18)
Communicating Distress	387	(1)
Health-Related Signs	388	(17)
Sports and Recreation	405	(28)
Sports Signs	406	(27)
Actions and Plays	413	(7)
Rankings, Scores, and Records	420	(13)
What Next?	433	(8)
ASL Classes	433	(2)
Resources in Your Area	435	(1)
Community Events	436	(2)
Recommended Reading	438	(2)
The Rest of the Journey	440	(1)
Part VI Appendixes	441	(14)
Appendix A Answer Key	443	(4)
Appendix B Organizations for Deaf People	447	(2)
Appendix C Where to Buy Books and Materials	449	(2)
Appendix D Internet Resources	451	(2)
Appendix E Bibliography	453	(2)
Index	455