What Is American Sign Language?

Learn about the history of American Sign Language,from its origins in older signed languages to its role in the education of deaf and hearing children today in this illustrated chapter book! American Sign Language (ASL) has played a crucial role in history of the United Statesfrom education and politics to arts and sports. Not simply a transcription of spoken EnglishASL is its own language with unique grammar and structure. In this fact-filled history of American Sign Languagereaders will learn about the important figures in the development of ASLthe Deaf community and their fight not only for the right to an education but the right to use ASL at alland the use of ASL across our country today. For instancedid you know that early humans likely used signs to communicate before the development of spoken language? Or that Martha’s Vineyardan island off of Massachusettsused to have a community of deaf and hearing people who communicated almost exclusively in their own sign language? You may be interested to learn that the football huddlein which teams share plays by standing shoulder to shoulderwas invented by a team of deaf players from what is now Gallaudet University. All of this and more is included in What Is American Sign Language?