Does anyone know any good sites or books for sign language?

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I am looking to learn sign language.I think it's soooo cool!!!Well I need any info on good sites,books,or programs that help teach begginers(preferably kids since i'm one)to sign.Thanks for any info!

-- Stephanie (aubrey56@maine.rr.com), October 15, 2001

Answers

Stephanie,

Here are three sites to try. If you need more or different from these, just email me. As to books, check with your librarian at school or at your local library. I hope this helps.

www.mastertech-home.com/ALSDict.html

dww.deafworldweb.orf/asl/

www.bconnex.net/~randys/

-- Gary in Indiana (gk6854@aol.com), October 15, 2001.


Hi Stephanie! There's a sign language course called A Basic Course in American Sign Language (it has a big ABC on the cover) that is very good. It's what we used at OSU in the interpreter training program. Check with your library - they might have it!

Speaking from experience, let me tell you that the best way to learn is to get involved in your local deaf community. Find people to sign with - if you don't practice practice practice, you will have a very hard time reading ASL.

That being said, best of luck to you. It is truly a beautiful language!

-- Cheryl in KS (cherylmccoy@rocketmail.com), October 15, 2001.


Stephanie,

I can't think of any instruction book which does a very good job of teaching American Sign Language. ASL is an inherently dynamic, visual, 3D subject which a book cannot adequately convey. A good dictionary is the Random House Webster's American Sign Language Dictionary, which you can find at Amazon.com. To learn the language, though, you'll need to see it in action.

For a specific sign, try Michigan State University's American Sign Browser at http://commtechlab.msu.edu/sites/aslweb/browser.htm . This is a large, free, online dictionary of Quicktime videos of signs. Sometimes the written description ('gloss') of a sign can be confusing and it's best to see it. You can also order a CD which spares you the thirty seconds or so each word takes to download.

Two very good series of video cassettes from which my family has benefited are from Girls and Boys Town (formerly Father Flanagan's Boys Town). "Sign With Me" is a three-volume series of videos and accompanying text which teaches introductory sign. This is the one we lend to interested extended family memebers and friends. Here is the URL of the first book: http://www.boystown.org/products/booksvideos/videos/signwithme1.htm .

"Read With Me" is a ten-volume videocassette series of stories adapted for American Sign Language. Once you've gotten basic fingerspelling and words underway, it's helpful to see how ASL uses so many elements - facial expression, body posture, 3D space around the signer, speed, emphasis, and frequent modification of signs - to utterly paint a complete picture into the mind of the audience as fully as could be done with voice. We bought the whole series not so much for our deaf daughter (who will learn ASL anyway) but for my wife and myself to help us sign better. Here is the URL: http://www.boystown.org/products/booksvideos/videos/readwithme.htm .

You might look around for a sign language course at a community college or civil organization. We took our first course at the United Cerebral Palsy center, and it was taught by the pastor of a local church. His congregation consists of 6 deaf and about 12 hearing people and he and his wife are professional interpreters. Perhaps you can find a deaf service somewhere in your area.

If you live close enough to a larger town, it will likely have a Deaf Club. They tend not to be well-advertised, so you might need to ask the ASL department of the community college for its location. Here you'll get a chance for immersion which is the key for learning any language.

Good luck with your new language.

Mark

-- Mark Sykes (mark@marksykes.net), October 16, 2001.


There are also computer programs that are pretty good. There is one simply called *ASL Dictionary* it is more than just a dictionary, it is a good 3D learning tool. Tana

-- Tana Cothran (tana@getgoin.net), October 16, 2001.

I use Lottie Riekehof's book THE JOY OF SIGNING. It teaches the most widely understood signs, I find. Deborah

-- Deborah (jlawton@kaltelnet.net), October 16, 2001.


I concur on the Joy of Signing. It gives some nice concise explanations of why certain meanings are associated with signs, which really helps you to remember them. Good for you in your quest to learn. Even if you're never fluent, it's really fascinating and the deaf people you encounter will greatly appreciate your attempts. Have fun!

-- witness (carlalee@hotmail.com), October 16, 2001.

We use a book called: Signing Illustrated, The Complete Learning Guide by Mickey Flodin. It's divided into easy to learn categories and has very easy to follow illustrations. Our son is 4 1/2 and can't read yet, but can read sign language from the illustrations in this book. He learned to sign all the animals in the book before he learned to talk. Sometimes it's very convenient to be able to talk to your children in sign language, rather than out loud in public places. By the way, we are all hearing people in this house.

-- Rose Marie Wild (wintersongfarm@yahoo.com), October 17, 2001.

You may find this site to be very helpful especially if you are a beginner. It has many basic signs on it. http://www.people.virginia.edu/~nak9k/signs/signindex.htm

-- tammy (tlharriswv@cs.com), October 20, 2001.

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