What is American Sign Language

1
What is American Sign Language?

• Chapter 1 Lecture
• Mrs. Huber

2

Answer this Why are you taking American Sign
Language? What would it be like to not be able
to communicate with the world around you?
3
What ASL is NOT!!

• ASL is not English.
• It is not Braille or pantomime
• ASL has its own structure and rules, just like
  English (eg. i before e except after c).
• EnglishWhat is your name?
• ASL Name What?

4
Three Main players in ASL

• Laurent Clerc
• Born 1775- 1st deaf teacher in the USA
• Co-founder of the American School for the Deaf
• The Vineyarders
• People who lived in the region of Marthas
  Vineyard.
• An unusually high concentration of deaf people in
  the region.

5
Thomas Gallaudet

• Wealthy business man whos neighbors daughter
  was deaf.
• Took an interest in her ability to learn
• Because of his financial abilities and interest
  he was chosen to scout out a deaf school in
  England.
• Met up with Clerc, and invited Clerc to come to
  the States.
• Founded and opened the first Deaf Instructional
  institute

6
Important Notes

• Clerc was the one to begin using signs.
• ASL was not taught as a subject, but rather a way
  to communicate.
• Once ASL was being used it caused community to
  begin to be built about those who are deaf
• President Monroe was the first president to have
  any communication with a deaf person Who??

7
Lecture based on Chapter 1For Hearing People
OnlyMoore,M.Levitan, L.