American Sign Language is a language of its own and hence is unique in that way. There are various interesting facts about American Sign Language that many people may not know.
American Sign Language is very different from spoken languages as it is not verbal but visual and more expressive. Let us take a deeper look.
What Is American Sign Language?
American Sign Language (ASL) is a language that uses visual-spatial elements such as hand gestures and facial expressions to communicate.
It has its own unique grammar, syntax, and vocabulary rules. ASL can be used to communicate with anyone who knows and understands the language — no matter what their native language may be.
It is the predominant language of many deaf and hard-of-hearing communities in the United States and Canada.
ASL has been around for centuries, with roots reaching back to France in the 1700s.
It’s been used by deaf people in the U.S. since at least 1817, when Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet founded what would become Gallaudet University.
ASL has evolved over time, incorporating elements from other sign languages and borrowing words from English.
15 Facts About American Sign Language
It’s estimated that more than half a million people in the U.S. use American Sign Language as their primary mode of communication.
That makes it one of the most important facts about American Sign Language to remember!
The facts about American Sign Language also demonstrate that it is an incredibly dynamic language.
ASL evolves over time as users develop new ways to express themselves and share their ideas.
This makes it a great way for people of all backgrounds to connect and understand each other.
Let us look at some other interesting facts about American Sign Language!
1. History And Origin Of ASL:
American sign language has a long and vibrant history of over 200 years. It is related to French Sign Language (FSL), which was brought to the U.S. in 1817 when Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet founded the Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C.
There, ASL developed by combining FSL, elements from other sign languages, and borrowing words from English.
The combination of these influences led to the developing a truly unique language.
Over the years, ASL has been used by deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals, interpreters, educators, and researchers.
2. ASL Is Multilingual:
ASL is not English; it is a distinct language with its grammar, syntax, and structure.
It has a unique lexicon of over 6,000 signs, and variations cater to different regions and countries, making it a truly multilingual language.
Deaf people in the United States, Canada, and parts of Mexico use ASL. Additionally, some countries have their own sign language that is distinct from ASL.
3. ASL is Not English:
Even though some words are borrowed from English, ASL is not a direct translation of English.
It has its own rules and grammar that are distinct from spoken languages.
Such as, in ASL, facial expressions and body language are used to convey meaning.
Additionally, the sign for a word can change based on context and how it is combined with other signs. Hence we can say ASL is a language of its own.
4. Its Widespread Usage:
ASL is the fifth most-used language in the United States and is used by over 500,000 people across North America.
It is also used by communities worldwide, such as in parts of Africa, Asia, Europe, and South America.
The language has even crossed into popular culture, with songs and poems in ASL used in music videos, television shows, and other media outlets.
5. ASL Is A Dynamic Language:
ASL constantly evolves as new signs are created to adapt to the changing world.
Approximately 3,000 new signs are estimated to be added to the language every year.
In addition, ASL has its own grammar and syntax that is different from English, making it even more unique! This is similar to any other language that evolves over time.
6. There Are Some Regional Differences:
American Sign Language is not universal and can vary in certain regions of the United States.
It is estimated that 80-90 percent of ASL signs are consistent across all states, but some regional differences might cause slight confusion amongst signers from different areas.
ASL has unique regional aspects, like every region, with common slang words and phrases.
7. Finger Spelling:
ASL also includes a form of communication called finger spelling. This is where the signer spells words by using individual letters to create words and sentences.
Fingerspelling can be used for proper names, technical terms, or anything that does not have an ASL sign representation.
Fingerspelling came into being with the Deaf community in the early 19th century to communicate with others who couldn’t understand ASL.
8. ASL Has A Vibrant Community:
Deaf people form a vibrant cultural community with their own language, values, and customs.
The facts about American Sign Language demonstrate that this culture is important to our society.
ASL has become increasingly popular over the past few decades, leading to a strong and vibrant community of people who use the language.
ASL users are everywhere, including education, entertainment, and research.
ASL is an incredibly important part of our culture, allowing people with hearing impairments to communicate effectively with those around them.
The facts above show how versatile and expansive this language is, making it a valuable tool for the deaf, hard-of-hearing, and hearing alike.
9. It Has Unique Terminology:
ASL has its own unique terminology, which includes signs and fingerspelling.
Signs are handshapes used to represent words or phrases, while fingerspelling is a system for spelling out individual alphabet letters.
The two are often combined to form full sentences. This allows people to communicate even when they don’t share a common language.
10. Increasing Popularity:
American Sign Language is one of the most popular foreign languages in the United States.
It is estimated that over 1 million people use ASL as their primary language. Many deaf people around the world also use it.
The language is also popular in Canada, considered the fourth most-spoken language.
In modern times, many people are learning ASL for communication and entertainment. Hence, it is gaining more popularity and attention.
11. Interesting Grammar:
American Sign Language has its own grammatical structure, which differs from spoken languages.
It relies on facial expressions, body language, and hand motions. ASL also uses space to convey meaning, with signs in relation to the person signing them.
For example, signs closer to the body refer to things near you, while signs farther away indicate something far away.
12. Uses Of ASL:
American Sign Language is used primarily as a form of communication between members of the deaf community.
Plus, it is also used by people with difficulty speaking or hearing.
ASL is not only used to communicate but also to express cultural identity and build relationships among members of the deaf community.
So, while ASL is a language in its own right, it can also be seen as a shared cultural experience among the deaf community.
13. Distinct Sentence Structure:
ASL has a distinct sentence structure comprising the following elements: direction, Topic-Comment (T-C) structure, rote memorization, and nonmanual markers.
Direction refers to using space in ASL—fingerspelling can occur in any direction, and entire sentences can be signed differently.
The Topic-Comment structure is a common way to organize discourse; the topic is usually established at the beginning, and then comments are placed in relation to that topic.
Rote memorization of signs is also important—many words don’t have one-to-one translations between ASL and English, so users must memorize signs to convey meaning.
Finally, nonmanual markers are facial expressions or body movements that provide additional information about the signed sentence.
14. Unique Storytelling:
Another interesting fact about ASL is that it can be used for storytelling.
Users can tell stories by combining narrative techniques such as gestures and movements, facial expressions, and props.
This can be incredibly powerful, as the storyteller has great freedom in telling and expressing themselves.
Furthermore, storytelling can help develop relationships between individuals and groups, furthering understanding through shared experience.
15. Famous Deaf People In History:
The history of ASL is full of stories of amazing and inspiring individuals who have achieved greatness despite the limitations imposed on them by their deafness.
Famous deaf people include Laurent Clerc, a prominent 18th-century educator who helped establish the first permanent school for the deaf in the United States.
Helen Keller, who was both blind and deaf and is known for her activism on behalf of the disabled.
Thomas Edison had profound hearing loss but invented many things that changed history.
Alexander Graham Bell advocated for teaching sign language to those with hearing impairments.
Comparison Between ASL and English Language
American Sign Language (ASL) is a visual-gestural language that uses hand shapes, facial expressions, body movement, and even space for comprehension.
It has its own grammar rules, syntax, and sentence structure that are completely different from English.
ASL has no vocal component; the conversation is conducted through sign language and facial expressions.
While there are some loan words from English in ASL, it is primarily a language unto itself. Hence, learning ASL requires its own set of skills.
Final Thoughts:
American Sign Language is a fascinating language with unique syntax and grammar rules.
It has allowed millions of people with hearing impairments to communicate in many different situations and has become an important part of the deaf culture.
Learning American Sign Language can be very rewarding and is definitely worth considering for anyone looking for new ways to express themselves.
Hopefully, these facts about American Sign Language make you interested in learning it.
So if you’d like to learn a new language, why not try ASL? It could open up lots of new possibilities.
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