How Does the ASL Sign For None Differ From Other Sign Languages?

Sign language is a natural way for deaf people to express themselves. It allows deaf people to use sign language like spoken languages but with added visual elements. Some advantages of sign language are its low barriers to communication, large vocabulary and accessibility – it’s therefore vital to learn ASL correctly so you can effectively interact with other deaf individuals.

The National Institute for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (NIDCD) funds research on American Sign Language (ASL) and other sign languages to expand our understanding of their grammar and acquisition, particularly their use by deaf people living in countries without access to spoken languages. Much of this work also looks into global relationships between ASL and other sign languages used by deaf people worldwide; particularly ASL as used by deaf people with limited or no spoken access in specific regions or countries.

Linguists refer to these processes as derivation and inflection, respectively. Derivation alters the meaning of words by adding or subtracting grammatical information – for instance adding prefixes like “re-” can alter their meaning entirely; while inflection changes their form without altering their basic meaning or category; changing how you sign the word CHAIR may alter its meaning or point towards specific types of chairs.

Other signs are influenced by other signers or cultural and historical contexts, including regional accents and dialects, slang terms and specific ways of fingerspelling (using handshapes to spell out letters). Black American Sign Language or BASL developed due to segregated schools for the deaf in America; its hand shapes combined with some English grammar elements are included within BASL sign language.

Some ASL signs are tailored to fit into a particular social or technological environment, adapting their appearance, speed of signing or interpretation accordingly. For example, signers might produce the NO sign differently so it can be easily read on computer screens or video meetings.

As another form of adaptation, signers often alter the height of a sign to suit its usage context. For instance, TEACH can be produced anywhere between the forehead and chest height – the higher its production is done, the stronger its emphasis.

Some signers may feel it is their duty to reduce ASL use in IS, or at least ensure they do not cause confusion. This is particularly relevant if someone feels ASL is being forced onto them; one strategy employed by Frontrunners students may include downplaying their ASL knowledge and pretending not to understand ASL when encountered during IS classes.