r/asl • u/benshenanigans • May 03 '25
Hi, the following post is a copy paste from the current pinned thread with edits to update a few resources. This was originally posted by u/Indy_Pendant eight years ago. They did an excellent job and I’m trying to preserve as much of it as possible. Since this post was made, other Deaf creators and resources have become available. I simply want to point prospective learners in the right direction. My information is relatively subjective, curated from this sub in the last year. Please, share your opinions, resources you like or to stay away from. I’ll update the post as needed and track the changes in a comment. Without further ado:
Hello! I'm here to help as much as I can, but this is not a comprehensive guide or a substitute for classes. This is a quick resource for people looking for answers to some very commonly asked questions. I've included the information as I know it, but it doesn't mean it's The Truth; my experiences and understanding will vary from others', but this will give you a good enough introduction. There's so much more I'd love to teach you, but I'm going to stick to the FAQs.
My personal favorite is easily http://www.lifeprint.com (which is mirrored at http://asluniversity.com as well). The guy who built the site, Dr. Bill Vicars, is Deaf and is a phenomenal teacher. He teaches primarily west-coast dialect (California, Washington common signs) but makes mention of other dialects (east-coast, Texas) when he can. In addition to teaching vocabulary, he teaches about Deaf culture (more on this in a moment). His Youtube channel is https://youtube.com/@sign-language. Other notable resources are:
Yes! It’s not disrespectful to learn ASL. We just ask that you learn from Deaf sources, learn Deaf culture, and don’t harm the community. Learning so you can connect with Deaf patrons: good. Learning so you can market and sell to Deaf patrons: harmful. Learning so you can cuss in a new language: bad.
Additionally, if you are a nurse, doctor, lawyer, realtor, therapist, or anyone working with a Deaf person through a life changing experience, your client/patient has the right to access the conversation. You will need to put your ASL knowledge aside and hire an interpreter. It’s great that you want to learn, but there are times when having only a handful of ASL is harmful.
The short answer is "it depends." Sometimes. It depends sometimes.
The long answer is that signs will vary. Signs can be different depending on region, as I mentioned before, so just because you see it one way doesn't mean that it's the only way. (Don't make this mistake; a lot of hearing students can get cocky and start correcting others.) Signs can also change depending on context. The signs for "back" in "My back hurts" and "Let's go back home" are completely different.
Also, this is very important: ASL is not English! It is its own language, as different from English as is Klingon. ASL has its own grammar structure, own idioms, own slang. Signs are also not words like in the English sense. Signs are a lot more about intent, concepts, and ideas. For example, if you're trying to learn how to sign "Back off!" I can promise you that you will not need any sign for "back" nor "off." You're learning how to speak, and think, in another language, and using English just won't do.
Now, with all that said, here are some online dictionaries (I suggest you look at them all so you're familiar with the different variations of your sign):
Yes. Consistently use your main, dominant hand. If you're right-handed, use your right. If you're left-handed, use your left. If you're ambidextrous, then pick one and maintain it. Switching dominant hands while signing would be like alternating screaming and whispering while speaking.
Are English and Japanese the same? ASL is not English, so stop thinking of it like English! :) In fact, ASL is derived from French Sign Language, which evolved independently of British Sign Language, and the two are mostly different (in fact, less than 30% of the signs are even remotely similar). There are hundreds of sign languages in the world. Even in the United States, there are several distinct dialects of ASL, including Black ASL.
We use "little-d" deaf to mean someone who physically can't hear well. We use "big-D" Deaf to mean someone who is culturally deaf. Now an interesting bit: someone who is Deaf does not have to be deaf, and someone who is deaf does not have to be Deaf! For instance, children of deaf adults (CODAs) are very often Deaf but hearing. Many people are physically deaf but aren't part of Deaf culture. It's about how a person self identifies and where their culture lies more than it does with anything physical.
It'd take me hours to explain it all, and I usually spread it over my entire 12-week class. In short, many deaf people, specifically those who identify as Deaf, live in a different culture than you do. Yes, they're from your country, they drink Starbucks and they sit in traffic, but they have their own distinct culture. Obviously this includes language (and communicating in real ASL is so different than talking in English that it's hard to describe), but that different method of communication, that different way of thinking, is only part of Deaf culture. Things that are normal in one culture can be very strange the another. (My favourite, probably, is talking with your mouth full. In hearing culture, that's a big no-no and your mother will look at you very cross. In Deaf culture, that's totally acceptable! Stuff your face and then free your hands for conversation, it's great! So much more efficient!) Morality and ethics are shaped by our cultural values. There are aspects of Deaf culture which would be considered blunt or rude in hearing culture, and conversely there are a lot of things normal in hearing culture which are strange or disrespectful in Deaf culture (such as talking to someone's back, or looking around during a conversation). It's important to be aware of and respectful of other cultures, including Deaf culture, and, when possible, to learn about them. Not only will it ingratiate you to people of that culture, but it'll better yourself as a person as well.
Nope, and nope. Now, before I continue, I'll let you know that not everyone agrees with me, and I'm speaking in a general sense. Big-D Deaf people prefer the term "deaf" above any other. (It's how a US Senator might feel being called "American." Some people would take it as an insult, but it's just a matter of fact or pride for the Senator.)
Whether people identify themselves as "deaf" or "hard of hearing" (often seen as HoH) is often a matter of self identity, and while it can correlate to level of ability to hear, it isn't caused by it. I'll explain later. Deafies who are a part of Deaf culture will almost always call themselves "deaf," and those who aren't a part of Deaf culture will usually go by "hard of hearing" (or more rarely "hearing impaired"). In general, those who are less physically deaf, or who were raised strictly in hearing culture, will tend to gravitate toward hearing culture, despite the numerous difficulties. These people will commonly say they are "hard of hearing" since "deaf" still has a social stigma in hearing culture. Those who are less capable of integrating with hearing culture, or who were introduced to or raised in a Deaf environment, will usually prefer to be called "deaf" and can sometimes take one of the other terms as a slight offense.
In general, it's almost never correct to say "hearing impaired." I was taught that it was coined by a US Senator who wanted to protect deaf people's feelings from something that didn't offend them in the first place, and it was never accepted by Deaf (the core reason being that we don't believe being deaf is an impairment; it'd be like if I said you were "Deaf impaired." You don't feel impaired, do you, however much I might think it's true?) in general. In fact, it's safe if you never use this phrase again.
When in doubt though, just ask! "Hey, do you prefer 'deaf' or 'hard of hearing'?" See, it's not that hard. :)
We're happy to help with these kinds of questions. I treat it like a quiz show game. However, if you're new to this, you may not know how to describe a sign very well, so let me introduce you to signs!
A sign consists of five parts:
Where's your area? Most major cities have Deaf hubs. San Francisco, Seattle, Austin, and New York all have strong, vibrant, rich Deaf communities. Smaller cities may have meet ups or the like, but they can be harder to track down. Your best bet is to turn to Google or Facebook and search for Deaf events in your area. "Deaf coffee night" is an event held nationwide. People in the community get together for a night or two each month, usually at a coffee shop with good lighting and ample seating, just for the purpose of seeing friends and making new ones. Local colleges or universities will often have ASL/Deaf clubs and usually host student-friendly ASL events, so check with the ASL teachers or the ASL campus group, if it exists.
Yes! Yes! 1000 times yes! Many of us are here to help, and anything we can do to help teach you about the language and the culture we're happy to do.
Nope. Nope. 1000 times nope. It's obvious when students are looking for someone to do their homework for them, and we're not gonna help you out. If you're here to learn instead, then welcome! Come make some new friends. :)
r/asl • u/Indy_Pendant • Mar 06 '17
Hello! I'm here to help as much as I can, but this is not a comprehensive guide or a substitute for classes. This is a quick resource for people looking for answers to some very commonly asked questions. I've included the information as I know it, but it doesn't mean it's The Truth; my experiences and understanding will vary from others', but this will give you a good enough introduction. There's so much more I'd love to teach you, but I'm going to stick to the FAQs.
My personal favourite is easily http://www.lifeprint.com (which is mirrored at http://asluniversity.com as well). The guy who built the site, Dr. Bill Vicars, is Deaf and is a phenomenal teacher. He teaches primarily west-coast dialect (California, Washington common signs) but makes mention of other dialects (east-coast, Texas) when he can. In addition to teaching vocabulary, he teaches about Deaf culture (more on this in a moment). Other notable resources are:
The short answer is "it depends." Sometimes. It depends sometimes.
The long answer is that signs will vary. Signs can be different depending on region, as I mentioned before, so just because you see it one way doesn't mean that it's the only way. (Don't make this mistake; a lot of hearing students can get cocky and start correcting others.) Signs can also change depending on context. The signs for "back" in "My back hurts" and "Let's go back home" are completely different.
Also, this is very important: ASL is not English! It is its own language, as different from English as is Klingon. ASL has its own grammar structure, own idioms, own slang. Signs are also not words like in the English sense. Signs are a lot more about intent, concepts, and ideas. For example, if you're trying to learn how to sign "Back off!" I can promise you that you will not need any sign for "back" nor "off." You're learning how to speak, and think, in another language, and using English just won't do.
Now, with all that said, here are some online dictionaries (I suggest you look at them all so you're familiar with the different variations of your sign):
Yes. Consistently use your main, dominant hand. If you're right-handed, use your right. If you're left-handed, use your left. If you're ambidextrous, then pick one and maintain it. Switching dominant hands while signing would be like alternating screaming and whispering while speaking.
Are English and Japanese the same? ASL is not English, so stop thinking of it like English! :) In fact, ASL is derived from French Sign Language, which evolved independently of British Sign Language, and the two are mostly different (in fact, less than 30% of the signs are even remotely similar). There are dozens and dozens of sign languages in the world, and even in the United States ASL is not the only one used.
We use "little-d" deaf to mean someone who physically can't hear well. We use "big-D" Deaf to mean someone who is culturally deaf. Now an interesting bit: someone who is Deaf does not have to be deaf, and someone who is deaf does not have to be Deaf! For instance, children of deaf adults (CODAs) are very often Deaf but hearing. Many people are physically deaf but aren't part of Deaf culture. It's about how a person self identifies and where their culture lies more than it does with anything physical.
It'd take me hours to explain it all, and I usually spread it over my entire 12-week class. In short, many deaf people, specifically those who identify as Deaf, live in a different culture than you do. Yes, they're from your country, they drink Starbucks and they sit in traffic, but they have their own distinct culture. Obviously this includes language (and communicating in real ASL is so different than talking in English that it's hard to describe), but that different method of communication, that different way of thinking, is only part of Deaf culture. Things that are normal in one culture can be very strange the another. (My favourite, probably, is talking with your mouth full. In hearing culture, that's a big no-no and your mother will look at you very cross. In Deaf culture, that's totally acceptable! Stuff your face and then free your hands for conversation, it's great! So much more efficient!) Morality and ethics are shaped by our cultural values. There are aspects of Deaf culture which would be considered blunt or rude in hearing culture, and conversely there are a lot of things normal in hearing culture which are strange or disrespectful in Deaf culture (such as talking to someone's back, or looking around during a conversation). It's important to be aware of and respectful of other cultures, including Deaf culture, and, when possible, to learn about them. Not only will it ingratiate you to people of that culture, but it'll better yourself as a person as well.
Nope, and nope. Now, before I continue, I'll let you know that not everyone agrees with me, and I'm speaking in a general sense. Big-D Deaf people prefer the term "deaf" above any other. (It's how a US Senator might feel being called "American." Some people would take it as an insult, but it's just a matter of fact or pride for the Senator.)
Whether people identify themselves as "deaf" or "hard of hearing" (often seen as HoH) is often a matter of self identity, and while it can correlate to level of ability to hear, it isn't caused by it. I'll explain later. Deafies who are a part of Deaf culture will almost always call themselves "deaf," and those who aren't a part of Deaf culture will usually go by "hard of hearing" (or more rarely "hearing impaired"). In general, those who are less physically deaf, or who were raised strictly in hearing culture, will tend to gravitate toward hearing culture, despite the numerous difficulties. These people will commonly say they are "hard of hearing" since "deaf" still has a social stigma in hearing culture. Those who are less capable of integrating with hearing culture, or who were introduced to or raised in a Deaf environment, will usually prefer to be called "deaf" and can sometimes take one of the other terms as a slight offense.
In general, it's almost never correct to say "hearing impaired." I was taught that it was coined by a US Senator who wanted to protect deaf people's feelings from something that didn't offend them in the first place, and it was never accepted by Deaf (the core reason being that we don't believe being deaf is an impairment; it'd be like if I said you were "Deaf impaired." You don't feel impaired, do you, however much I might think it's true?) in general. In fact, it's safe if you never use this phrase again.
When in doubt though, just ask! "Hey, do you prefer 'deaf' or 'hard of hearing'?" See, it's not that hard. :)
We're happy to help with these kinds of questions. I treat it like a quiz show game. However, if you're new to this, you may not know how to describe a sign very well, so let me introduce you to signs!
A sign consists of five parts:
Where's your area? Most major cities have Deaf hubs. San Francisco, Seattle, Austin, and New York all have strong, vibrant, rich Deaf communities. Smaller cities may have meet ups or the like, but they can be harder to track down. Your best bet is to turn to Google or Facebook and search for Deaf events in your area. "Deaf coffee night" is an event held nationwide. People in the community get together for a night or two each month, usually at a coffee shop with good lighting and ample seating, just for the purpose of seeing friends and making new ones. Local colleges or universities will often have ASL/Deaf clubs and usually host student-friendly ASL events, so check with the ASL teachers or the ASL campus group, if it exists.
Yes! Yes! 1000 times yes! Many of us are here to help, and anything we can do to help teach you about the language and the culture we're happy to do.
Nope. Nope. 1000 times nope. It's obvious when students are looking for someone to do their homework for them, and we're not gonna help you out. If you're here to learn instead, then welcome! Come make some new friends. :)
r/asl • u/Elliot_The_Idiot7 • 4h ago
Looking at the usual sources like lifeprint the only sentence examples I’m seeing are when satisfy is being used as an adjective or in a question. Is it done differently when it’s being used as a verb? (Aka, “(this) satisfies (that)”). Hope I’m not over complicating this, I just want to make sure I get the grammar and stuff right instead of assuming
r/asl • u/InstructionIll4894 • 13h ago
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r/asl • u/OkObjective845 • 8h ago
i have a non verbal client and know some of the basic signs for needs like eat, drink, trampoline, bathroom, etc. he likes to look at my hair so he will ask me to take my hair down and then put it back up. i figured just teaching him the signs for hair and down but i’m wondering if that doesn’t follow ASL grammar rules. is this ok/would a deaf person understand or is their something else i should teach instead? thank you ❤️
r/asl • u/misz_interpret • 12h ago
r/asl • u/Fifi8071 • 12h ago
Hi! I'm Deaf from Eswatini, Africa.
I teach:
- ASL Alphabet A-Z
- Basic words: example:( Hello, Thank you, Please, Sorry, Yes, No, Help, Family, Love)
- Numbers 1-1000000
Price: $15 via WhatsApp video.
I send FREE video of alphabet first so you trust me. No scam.
I am Deaf and support my family.
DM me for WhatsApp.
Thank you!
r/asl • u/shelbsless • 17h ago
Basically the title. I can't remember what the sign means that's- non-dominant pointer finger up towards ceiling and dominant hand coming to touch it with an open palm, similar to how "coincidence" does the same thing but with the dominant hand in a fist. Also if that sign has multiple meanings I'd love that insight as well. Thanks!
r/asl • u/Low-Cat-8321 • 13h ago
Question is what it says on the tin. I see some people say to just give up and not even try, and others who don’t seem to think this is a problem/ don’t take offense. I’m someone who wants to write a minor character who sometimes uses sign so I figured I should just simply ask many signers out right, especially considering no community is a monolith. A lot of what I’ve been seeing on this subject so far also includes hiring a sensitivity reader. If you don’t have the financial means for that, what is your opinion on remedying that barrier with research from credible Deaf/ asl sources such as life print and literature on the culture?
r/asl • u/TheKid1995 • 2d ago
I’m deaf/hh. Raised in hearing environment, and never learned to sign. I got by with a mix of lip reading, the little bit of hearing I do have, and a LOT of asking people to repeat themselves. About a month ago, I started learning ASL seriously and practicing daily.
I’m still not conversational quite yet. But I’m getting there. My wife and I have started conversing in ASL at home because it’s already easier than speaking. We can only sign about a few basic conversational topics, but those basic conversations are still easier to get through than her repeating herself a million times.
Even at Deaf events where people sign extremely fast, it’s still probably about the same amount I’d understand in a spoken conversation. Perhaps even more. Signing with fluent people, I get the overall gist of conversations and understand maybe 10-20% of what’s being said. But in some environments (especially restaurants) that’s already more than what I understand spoken.
If you’re deaf/hh, learn to sign! It will be the best decision you ever make!
r/asl • u/Blop_felly90201 • 1d ago
Hey guys, one of my mates did a sign the other day, and I so not quite remember what it means. From what I remember they had a “q” handshape at their temple with their palm facing down and then they twisted their wrist so their palm facing up. I think this is the what the movement was, but I could be remembering it incorrectly.
r/asl • u/Amd_1978 • 1d ago
Saw this today and thought I would share : ). Hope this is helpful to someone : )
r/asl • u/Amd_1978 • 2d ago
Saw this today and thought I would share : ). Hope this is helpful to someone : )
r/asl • u/ginageng • 1d ago
I know it sounds obvious duh just spell out the name but is that really how you do? (it sounds kinda tedious)
r/asl • u/donkedickinya • 2d ago
This is the ASL interpreter in an episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm. Obviously for the comedy she is wearing this low-cut dress and is above average lol.
I know that ASL interpreters almost always wear solid colors and garments that cover darn near all of their torso and neck so the hands are very visible. I’m sure one would never wear something like this, but that is my question. Could you if you wanted? Would you in a very formal event like at an awards ceremony? Just wondering if there is just an unwritten rule about dress code for ASL interpreters.
r/asl • u/710Filter • 2d ago
Both my wife and I are learning sign to communicate better with a new hard of hearing freind that is proficient in sign and lip reading. We have a couple apps and have dabbled with this occasionally so we have a good starting vocabulary. This app were using is pretty good, ASL BLOOM. We get 2 free lessons every day. The paid version probably has unlimited. This screen shot is from the app.
r/asl • u/sneakylikebull • 2d ago
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I keep seeing this sign and I cannot figure out what it means. It's the single hand A handshape tilting at cheek/jaw level. Any help is appreciated T_T
r/asl • u/Original_Regular4777 • 3d ago
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r/asl • u/Brilliant-Pie-8277 • 2d ago
what is the best and most respectful way to go about learning ASL correctly?
i am a 2nd year special ed teacher so i do have nonverbal students. specifically 12/16 of them. some of them have their phrases or words they say but they cannot communicate their wants and needs. i learnt some in elementary school but not from a deaf person. my grandpa taught me simple words and phrases when i was younger that he knew because of his deaf friend. i have heard people of the deaf community say to learn directly from a deaf person but i don’t know anyone who is deaf, let alone anybody who knows ASL. i am from a very small area so support groups or meet ups aren’t available to me. how do i respectfully and correctly learn? i’ve also heard sign names are to be given from a deaf person also. how do i go about getting more into the ASL/deaf community with little to no access?
i am also sorry if the term “deaf person” is derogatory to use. please correct and educate me!
r/asl • u/wibblings • 1d ago
There are many English language things that use elaborate hand gestures. Do those get translated into ASL, simply done as-is, not exist/get spoken of, or...?
Examples:
I was around hearing children on the playground the other day and saw how often they use signs/gestures for things but it is not sign language. So I wondered how that translated.
r/asl • u/Flat-Improvement8637 • 2d ago
Just had my first conversation in asl and...ugh. It was a deaf guy who also claimed to be a beginner but he was leagues above me. I left the conversation feeling embarrassed and discouraged. I just drew a complete blank and sat there like an idiot barely understanding him. I even forgot signs that I did know because I was so nervous. I know it's trial and error and that practice makes perfect, but I honestly just feel like the biggest idiot ever. He said that it was okay and that I should keep learning but I could tell he found me annoying.
r/asl • u/BeachBoundButterfly • 2d ago
Hello, 2 topics.
I've noticed in many comments the suggestion for facial expressions to be more....expressive.
I've had "RBF" (aka resting face) my entire life. This is one of the hardest things I've been trying to adjust for learning ASL.
It gets worse. I'm also monotone in general. Due to health reasons, and part personality reasons, being "excited" triggers me and I get overstimulated. This triggers other health issues. Remaining calm/neutral is all I know.
Any tips, techniques or resources for working on this? Ironically many YouTube videos are people with a resting face too. I figure it's their teaching face, but idk.
I've noticed I sign, and interpret signs very slowly. Often I feel bad asking for people to sign slower, or to sign again. Is this a newbie thing, or just me? I'm from a "fast talking" culture and environment, so this also bothers me because I don't speak slowly. Any tips or resources for signing faster and reading/watching (sorry I don't know if there’s a proper term for it) people's hands faster?
r/asl • u/Insane_queer1234 • 2d ago
Are sign names only for real people, or do deaf people give characters sign names as well? If that's a thing, are there commonly agreed apon ones for certain characters?
r/asl • u/Double-Raccoon-7582 • 3d ago
This is a throw away because my friends know my main account. I’m going to try to keep identifying details out, so sorry if it sounds like this doesn’t entirely make sense. A while back I met the most alluring woman in existence. I mean I could gush about her for paragraphs, but she’s so incredible and unique it would give her away. We’ve been on a few casual dates and we’ve been communicating with our phones, plus she reads lips.
I know how we communicate is inconvenient for her at times, so I wanted to secretly learn some ASL so that I can hold convos with her and her family, plus I want to officially ask her to be my girlfriend. Words cannot describe how enamored I am. I’m holding back writing poetry about her right now.
I found a free asl tutor through my library, and I’ve been using asl blooms. It’s been about 3 months and nothing sticks. I feel like the dumbest person alive. I haven’t even managed the full alphabet yet, and the ones I do know I get mixed up ( still can’t get m, n, or e right). My asl tutor had a breakdown and accused me of faking how bad I am. He said it’s impossible that I haven’t learned the alphabet, unless I’m intellectually challenged. I cried, left, and he did apologize over email. I said it was fine and blamed the crying on my period so he wouldn’t feel bad, but I haven’t been back to the library since, and spent a few days debating if I should turn to Reddit.
I need hard truths and advice. If I ask her for help, not only will it ruin the surprise, but I’m worried she’ll see me as stupid just like my tutor. If giving up and letting her find someone who has more than one singular heart shaped brain cell is the move, so be it. I’m yearning hard over here though, so if anyone knows a way to get asl through my thick skull please send help.
r/asl • u/Deep-league9413 • 2d ago
i really want to learn international sign language. This is something ive wanted to do for a long time. Any good recommendations of YouTube channels....altho idt we can ace a language by learning it from YouTube....any free online books or pdfs??
i am in first year of college so would like to do this in minimal cost
