American Sign Language (ASL)

Find resources here to learn American Sign Language, from the basics of hand movements, parts of speech, and grammar to vocabulary lists to round out your knowledge.

What is American Sign Language (ASL)?

ASL is a visual language that uses hand shapes, facial expressions, and body language to communicate. It is the primary language of many Deaf people in the United States and Canada. ASL is a complete language, with its own grammar, syntax, and vocabulary. Unlike spoken languages, ASL is not a signed version of English. Rather, it is a distinct language with its own rules and structures. However, ASL shares some features with English, such as word order and use of space.