American Sign Language is a beautiful language that is used by millions of Deaf people in America and Canada. It is a language that has been around for many years and continues to grow and change just like every other language. In this blog, I will be sharing some fun facts about American Sign Language.
American Sign Language Origins
People tend to think that American Sign Language is similar to English or to British Sign Language. That’s not true at all.
American Sign Language got its start when a Deaf French Educator named Laurent Clerc and a hearing pastor, Thomas Gallaudet carried French Sign Language from France to America. They had attempted to learn sign language from Britain but Britain did not want to share their methods, so they went to France.
But how did it become American Sign Language? The French Sign Language they brought back was eventually was mixed with Martha Vineyard Sign Language, home signs, and Indigenous Sign Language which eventually rose to the American Sign Language we know.
American Sign Language’s Football Huddle
While Deaf people often participate in Deaf sports, their influence has also spread to hearing sports.
Throughout the years it has influenced both baseball hand signals and football huddles.
After the Gallaudet Football team started using what we know today as “the huddle” to communicate on the football field, it picked up in popularity. We have the Gallaudet football team to thank for the huddle!
How is ASL Processed in the Brain?
Even though American Sign Language has a different modality than the spoken languages, the use of American Sign Language and any spoken language both are processed in the language region of the brain.
According to Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, “scientists have now discovered that Broca’s area in the left hemisphere, central for spoken languages, is also crucial for sign languages. This is where the grammar and meaning are processed, regardless of whether it is spoken or signed language.”
ASL Grammar Differs From English
The sentence structure of American Sign Language is very different from English sentence structure.
In ASL, the word order generally follows a Subject + Object + Verb sentence structure. You will also see the structure Time + Subject + Verb + Object. Sometimes Time or Verb will be repeated at the start and end of an ASL sentence to add emphasis. Emphasis can also be added with facial expression, or non manual markers.
English has a Subject + Verb + Object structure. Typically emphasis is added through tone.
Babies Can Sign Faster Than They Can Speak
It is very common for parents to teach their children sign language before they start to talk. With the right language exposure babies can often sign before they start to speak. This is because it takes less coordination to sign than it does to speak.
Once babies start to talk, they often stop signing. This is because parents often stop signing when their children start speaking. Children mimic their surroundings. If you don’t want your child to stop signing, then as the parent, you must make sure to stay consistent with signing as they get older.
Different Countries Have Different Sign Languages
Many people believe that ASL is universal. It is actually only the signed language of the United States and Canada. There are between 138 and 300 different signed languages used globally today. There is not one universal sign language.
The closest thing is a form of international sign language called Gestuno. Gestuno is an artificially created communication system. The vocabulary is made of signs pulled from various different signed languages across the world.
Gestuno helps Deaf officials communicate at international meetings, conventions, and games.
So as you can see, American Sign Language is a beautiful language with many interesting fun facts.
‘Til next time, ta ta! 😄🤟🏻
