What Is American Sign Language?

American Sign Language (ASL) is a complete, natural visual language used by Deaf and Hard of Hearing people.

ASL relies on visual communication through:

• Hand shapes
• Facial expressions
• Body movements

It has the same linguistic properties as spoken languages. But its grammar differs from English grammar.

For example, ASL uses a topic-comment structure. Facial expressions can function as grammatical markers.

ASL is primarily used by the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing communities in the United States. Like other spoken languages, it has regional dialects and variations.

It’s important to know that ASL is not a universal language. Other countries have their own sign languages. This includes British Sign Language (BSL) and French Sign Language (LSF).

ASL is used in various settings. This includes education, media, and daily communication among members of the Deaf community.

It’s also learned by hearing people who work with or are friends and family members of deaf individuals.

What Are the Origins of ASL?

The origins of American Sign Language (ASL) are a blend of influences and historical developments.

Sign language can be traced back to the early 1700s. At this time, Deaf communities started to emerge in different corners of the country.

These communities were very small and consisted of only a few people. Many of these people were only Hard of Hearing.

One of these Deaf communities was Martha’s Vineyard, an island in Massachusetts.

These Deaf communities came up with hand gestures and facial expressions to communicate.

The signs led to effective communication between Deaf speakers. But none of these sign languages were officially termed American Sign Language.

Instead, people named the sign language after the community it was from. For instance, the sign language used by Deaf residents in Martha’s Vineyard was known as the Martha’s Vineyard Sign Language (MVSL).

About a hundred years later, different countries began to develop their sign languages.

In 1817, Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet and Laurent Clerc co-founded the American School for the Deaf in Hartford, Connecticut.

The school was focused on Deaf education in America. It was the birthplace of American Sign Language.

In the school, the teachers combined native sign languages in the United States, like Martha’s Vineyard Sign Language, with signs. Students used this sign language between themselves in this school to form American Sign Language.

The development of this language was reinforced in 1960. William Stokoe led a team that produced the first American Sign Language dictionary.

The dictionary contained the grammar, vocabulary, language system, and rules of syntax of ASL.

When Was ASL Recognized as an Official Language?

The recognition of ASL as a language started in 1817 with the establishment of the first American school for the Deaf. 

After this event, people started to pay attention to sign language. They were interested in how signers used ASL to communicate with each other.

There was still a lot of confusion and skepticism about this sign language during this period.

But in 1864, Abraham Lincoln signed a charter that recognized the use of American Sign Language in the country. 

The document led to the establishment of the first Deaf university the same year: Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C. 

This charter allowed Gallaudet University to award degrees to deserving signers.

William Stokoe published the first ASL dictionary in 1960. This led to several schools teaching ASL.

After that, more and more people wanted to learn American Sign Language.

The Grammar and Vocabulary of ASL

Many people believe that American Sign Language is a spoken version of English. By that logic, rules of syntax, grammar, and vocabulary would be the same.

Others believe that ASL is a way of expressing English words through signs and facial expressions.

These assumptions are all false. 

ASL has its own unique language system. It’s very different from the words and phrases used in spoken English.