There are many ASL classifiers, involving handshapes that represent numbers and letters. Classifiers are referred to as "CL" followed by the classifier, such as, "CL:F." One set of classifiers is the use of the numbers one to five. Another set of classifiers uses the letters and letter combinations A,B,C,F,G,ILY(Y), L, O, S, U & V. As an example, the "1" ASL classifier can represent people walking. In another example, the "A" classifier can represent a house. ASL classifiers are an important part of learning sign language, especially for people learning to become interpreters for the deaf and hard of hearing. Students learning sign language often post their ASL classifier assignments on YouTube.

Sign language comes in multiple flavors. Some people sign "true American Sign Language," which is a language with its own grammar and syntax. Others use a form of sign language that mimics the English language as closely as possible, Signed Exact English (SEE). Still others, including myself, use a form of sign language that combines English with American Sign Language (ASL), known as Pidgin Sign Language (PSE). Sign language is also used differently in education. Some schools may use a philosophy known as Total Communication, which means using all means to communicate, not just sign language. Others believe in using sign language to teach children English, a philosophy known as bilingual bicultural (Bi-Bi).

History and Popularity of Sign Language American Sign Language has a long history behind it. In addition, at one time, sign language use was dealt a severe blow by a historic event known as Milan 1880.

Popularity of Sign Language


Sign language survives, no matter what new hearing or assistive technology comes along. There will always be a need for sign language, and its popularity has held and even grown. Sign language is offered as a foreign language in schools, and these schools often have sign language clubs.

Hearing Sign Language Users Who else needs sign language? Many deaf people need sign language, but so do many others who are not deaf. In fact, there has been discussion in the deaf and hard of hearing community about substituting the term "signing community" for the term "deaf community." Non-deaf users of sign language include hearing babies, nonverbal people who can hear but can not talk, and even gorillas or chimpanzees. Practice and Discuss Sign Language What good does it do to learn sign language if you do not practice it? Like any language, if you do not use it, you lose it. The deaf or signing community offers many opportunities to do so. You can usually learn about such opportunities by contacting a local resource center for deaf and hard of hearing people or a hearing and speech center. For example, signing people enjoy going to silent or ASL dinners and coffee chats.

Sign Language Fun and Expression Sign language can also be used to have fun, playing games and being creative with the language. Examples include sign language games, creating sign language names, "writing" ASL poetry, idioms, and even a written form of sign language.