Learn Sign language and Deaf Culture • HandSpeak® (original) (raw)

Browse topics, tutorials, lessons, and tips that sign language students and language enthusiasts can explore or learn some sign language and Deaf culture, including history, technology, literature, and art. Tutorials in this section can be helpful in complementary with ASL students' offline and online courses.

Alphabet

Fingerspelling is used for personal names, foreign (spoken) words, etc. It can be used when a beginner doesn't know an ASL word. To get started, learn the ABCs in ASL alphabet.

Sign Language

Signed language is a natural, full-fledged language in visual-spatial modality. It has all linguistic features (from phonology to syntax) as found in spoken language. It's the primary language of Deaf people in North America. More on American Sign Language. Learn about the myths and facts about sign language.

Grammar

Signed languages have their own grammar that are different from spoken languages. E.g. ASL and English are two independent languages with their own structure, grammar, vocabulary and so on.

Random grammar tip:

When using a rhetorical question in ASL, raise eyebrows. Learn how to use a rh-question in sign language. Rh-question

Numbers

Take a peek what the ASL number is: number.

Learn how to sign numbers 1 to 100.

Classifiers

If you have reached a basic conversational level, are you ready to learn how to use classifiers in sign language?

Deaf Culture

Where there is language, there is culture; sign language and Deaf culture are inseparable.

When learning sign language, become familiar with cultural appropriation to avoid inappropriate intentions and audism to be aware of. Learning sign language and Deaf culture comes with the process of allyship.