american

sign language
DeMYSTiFieD
Kristin Mulrooney, Ph.D.

New York Chicago San Francisco Lisbon London Madrid Mexico City
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This book is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Lawrence Fleischer, whose
work has inspired many people. It is our responsibility to continue his
efforts to educate people about ASL and the Deaf community. May we
do so with as much passion and dedication as he.
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 CONTENTS

Introduction vii

CHAPTER 1 About American Sign Language 1

CHAPTER 2 Body Language and Facial Expressions 16
CHAPTER 3 Grammar and Sentence Structure 32
CHAPTER 4 Verbs 62
CHAPTER 5 Deaf Etiquette 85
CHAPTER 6 Variation in ASL 99
CHAPTER 7 Meeting, Greeting, and Good-Byes 113
CHAPTER 8 Asking Questions 135
CHAPTER 9 Describing People and Things 153
CHAPTER 10 Expressing Likes and Dislikes 170
CHAPTER 11 Expressing Past, Present, and Future 187
CHAPTER 12 The Manual Alphabet: Finger Spelling 203
CHAPTER 13 Numbers, Dates, and Time 215
CHAPTER 14 Family and Friends 241
CHAPTER 15 Health 259

Appendix: Glossing Conventions 285

Answer Key to Chapter Quizzes 288
Index 291
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 INTRODUCTION

American Sign Language Demystified is just one in a series of products that offers
comprehensive instruction to an independent learner or classroom student. You
chose this book and DVD package because you are thinking about studying Ameri-
can Sign Language (ASL) and need a clear, uncomplicated approach.
Perhaps you’ve already learned another language besides the one you grew up
with, but ASL is different from any language you may know. The visual aspect—
delivered through hand(s), facial expression, body movement, and spatial dimen-
sion—makes it unique. Welcome to the rich experience of ASL! Here you will learn
its history, key vocabulary and grammar, etiquette, and lots more.

How to Use This Book and DVD

The book has fifteen chapters total, each with a summary of concepts learned and
a quiz to test your retention. You can read the chapters sequentially and do all the
oral and written practices to reinforce the material presented, or depending on your
experience and skill level, you can jump from part to part as needed.
The answers for the chapter quizzes can be found in the answer key.
Each chapter is organized by topics, making it easy to digest information in small
capsules. Spend one week with each chapter, taking one to two hours each day to
absorb and practice the material. Try not to rush—go at a steady pace. And don’t get
discouraged. Learning a new language is difficult and takes time and concentration,
but I hope that the organization of this book and DVD will make the effort less
demanding.
Because ASL is a visual language, the DVD is more than an adjunct to the book—
it is an essential part of the learning process. The “screen grabs” in the book are not
meant to fully illustrate a sign sequence or phrase; rather, they are meant to function
as visual references to what’s shown on the DVD. The DVD contains all the signs

vii