American Sign Language The reason why I choose this topic is because I am Interested in learning the language of the

deaf people to support my little nephew and niece. My nephew is a 2 year old who was born with profound hearing loss , which is at the most severe that our hearing can be at. It has been 3 months that he got his cochlear implant in his skull which is meant to help him get the speech banana level, since for him the hearing aids will not get him to the level of hearing spoken language (speech banana level). He is eager to talk, even though you cant understand what he is saying and sometimes scared of noises since he was not used to it. My niece is hearing impaired she has moderate hearing loss, due to a severe headache she got and she uses hearing aids to help her improve her hearing enough to be at a level of hearing spoken language. American Sign Language (ASL) is a visual form of communication of signs, gestures, finger spelling, facial expressions and body language instead of oral sound in order to communicate. American sign language is the first language used by deaf people to communicate with one and other in America, Canada, and Puerto Rico. It is also one of several communication options available to deaf people and the 4th most used language in America. The system of standardized signs (ASL) and finger spelling was standardized in 1817 by Thomas H. Gallaudet with the help of Laurent Clerc a deaf educator form Europe. If you dont know how to sign just spell the world or ask an ASL interpreter. It is very important for you to learn how to finger spell the alphabet. Always sign clearly, even if you take your time. When deaf people ask you to repeat yourself, it is a sign to slow down and try to sign as clearly as possible. You should know where to hold your hands, which is normally the palm of your hand is facing the person you are talking too and remember to never make up signs. Starring is necessary, if you were to break eye contact while a person is signing to you, you are rude. Deaf people are becoming oral and we cannot allow the deaf culture and American sign language die, it will only die if the deaf community allows it. Some people are organically deaf meaning that they refuse to wear hearing aids or have the cochlear implanted in their skull. My nephew and niece parents decide that they both use hearing aid or have a cochlear implant. On the other hand the deaf people believe that they should accept deaf child for who he or she is and adapt. Deaf people not only share a common language but experiences and values and a common way of interacting with each other and with hearing people (Jay, p. 1). These children are people that I love the most and would like to be able to communicate with them even if they didnt have the cochlear implant or wear hearing aids. Not only do I want to truly learn sign language but I also want to become a deaf educator one day for children. As it is when I talk I tend to move my hands a lot I know that it will take time but I am willing to do it. In order for me to succeed in being fluent in American sign language I will participate in the community of the deaf. Interpreters and friends of families of deaf people as well of people who are deaf or hard or hearing themselves can be part of the deaf community. I learned that its culture is really different from the culture of the hearing people.

There are a lot of online resources, books, DVDs you can even download apps like I just did that will help you learn.

References Jay, M. (2008). Death Culture. Retrieved April 20, 2013, from start ASL: http:www.startamerican-sing-language.com/deaf-culture.html

Newell, W., & National Technical Institute for the Deaf. (1983). Basic sign communication. Silver Spring, Md: National Association of the Deaf.

Schein, Jerome D. & Steward, David . Language in Motion. (1995) Print

Butterworth,Rod R. & Flodin, Mickey. "The Perigee Visual Dictionary of Signing". The Berkley Publishing Group, (1995)

American Sign Language

Maria Trevino

SGNL 1301 W10