Signing For Dummies, with Video CD - Softcover

Penilla II, Adan R.; Taylor, Angela Lee

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1118117581 ISBN 13: 9781118117583

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, 2012

Synopsis

The fast and easy way to grasp this evolving and growing language

American Sign Language (ASL) is something we've all seen deaf people use in restaurants, hospitals, airports, and at work. The communication is fascinating to watch; to see people sharing ideas by using handshapes and body language is remarkable in a world so defined by sound. This new edition of Signing For Dummies gives you a general understanding of the properties of Sign, as well as an understanding of deaf culture. Designed to act as an introduction or a refresher, the book focuses solely on ASL, which is the most commonly used sign language in the United States.

Categorized by subject, this illustrated guide covers grammar and sentence structure, along with the tools to get you going in basic conversation by knowing how to introduce and greet people; ask questions and make small talk; order food and chat with salespeople; handle medical emergencies; talk on the phone; get around town for fun or business; and much more. Plus, it stresses how ASL isn't just about using your fingers, hands, and arms, but also about facial expression and body language.

• More than 25 percent new and revised content, including the latest technological advances for the deaf; contact signing, code mixing, code switching, interpreting as a profession, and regionalism in signing
• Packed with "Fun & Games" sections that invite you to practice specific signs
• Hundreds of illustrations throughout, plus a video CD featuring demonstrations by ASL signers showing actual conversations

Signing For Dummies is the fast and fun way to get you moving your hands, body, and face to convey meaning that reaches beyond linguistic barriers.

About this title

From the Back Cover

Pick up American Sign Language the easy way — through actual conversations

Want to discover more about ASL? This friendly guide explains the basics you need to start communicating right away, from proper handshapes and body language to vocabulary and grammar. With the conversations in the book and on the video CD, you'll build your skills for use in the home, office, and around town.

• ASL 101 — get an overview of the basic handshapes, facial expressions, and body language of Sign to start making some simple sentences

• Sign it from the rooftops — develop your ability to strike up conversations, ask for directions, talk about dining and shopping, and more

• Sign like a pro — take your skills to the next level with ideas and tips to help you sign even better

• Give your hands a rest — discover how Deaf people function in the hearing world, grasp the cultural component of ASL, and get to know the history of Sign

Open the book and find:

• Hundreds of signs illustrated

• Basic ASL grammar rules

• Good signs for striking up a conversation

• How ASL has changed and evolved

• Dialogues that show ASL in action in everyday situations

• Deaf culture and etiquette

• Info on becoming a certified interpreter

• Popular Deaf expressions

Bonus video CD includes

Actual conversations, demonstrations by ASL signers, and reinforced lessons from the book

See CD appendix for details and complete system requirements.

Learn to:

• Sign numbers and the manual alphabet

• Ask questions, start conversations, and make small talk with fellow signers

• Use ASL grammar to sign clearly and effectively

Practice signing with the companion video CD

About the Author

Adan R. Penilla II, PhD, teaches American Sign Language at Colorado State University and is a freelance interpreter for the Colorado court system.

Angela Lee Taylor is the Interpreter Coordinator at the Colorado Springs School for the Deaf and Blind.

Edition details

• Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
• Publication date: 2012
• ISBN 10: 1118117581
• ISBN 13: 9781118117583
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 366