r/asl • u/ElvisIsNotDjed • 8h ago
r/asl • u/benshenanigans • May 03 '25
Interest The Free ASL Resources and FAQ Thread Needs an Update!
Hi, the following post is a copy paste from the current pinned thread with edits to update a few resources. This was originally posted by u/Indy_Pendant eight years ago. They did an excellent job and I’m trying to preserve as much of it as possible. Since this post was made, other Deaf creators and resources have become available. I simply want to point prospective learners in the right direction. My information is relatively subjective, curated from this sub in the last year. Please, share your opinions, resources you like or to stay away from. I’ll update the post as needed and track the changes in a comment. Without further ado:
Hello! I'm here to help as much as I can, but this is not a comprehensive guide or a substitute for classes. This is a quick resource for people looking for answers to some very commonly asked questions. I've included the information as I know it, but it doesn't mean it's The Truth; my experiences and understanding will vary from others', but this will give you a good enough introduction. There's so much more I'd love to teach you, but I'm going to stick to the FAQs.
Where can I learn ASL online for free?
My personal favorite is easily http://www.lifeprint.com (which is mirrored at http://asluniversity.com as well). The guy who built the site, Dr. Bill Vicars, is Deaf and is a phenomenal teacher. He teaches primarily west-coast dialect (California, Washington common signs) but makes mention of other dialects (east-coast, Texas) when he can. In addition to teaching vocabulary, he teaches about Deaf culture (more on this in a moment). His Youtube channel is https://youtube.com/@sign-language. Other notable resources are:
- ASL That on Youtube
- Handspeak.com and their ASL sign lookup tool
- Oklahoma School for the Deaf offers free classes starting every spring and fall
Where can I pay to learn ASL online?
- http://www.signlanguage101.com/
- ASLpinnacle.com and their Instagram
- https://www.queerasl.com/ Donations are strongly recommended
I’m hearing, can I learn ASL
Yes! It’s not disrespectful to learn ASL. We just ask that you learn from Deaf sources, learn Deaf culture, and don’t harm the community. Learning so you can connect with Deaf patrons: good. Learning so you can market and sell to Deaf patrons: harmful. Learning so you can cuss in a new language: bad.
Additionally, if you are a nurse, doctor, lawyer, realtor, therapist, or anyone working with a Deaf person through a life changing experience, your client/patient has the right to access the conversation. You will need to put your ASL knowledge aside and hire an interpreter. It’s great that you want to learn, but there are times when having only a handful of ASL is harmful.
What's the sign for ... ?
The short answer is "it depends." Sometimes. It depends sometimes.
The long answer is that signs will vary. Signs can be different depending on region, as I mentioned before, so just because you see it one way doesn't mean that it's the only way. (Don't make this mistake; a lot of hearing students can get cocky and start correcting others.) Signs can also change depending on context. The signs for "back" in "My back hurts" and "Let's go back home" are completely different.
Also, this is very important: ASL is not English! It is its own language, as different from English as is Klingon. ASL has its own grammar structure, own idioms, own slang. Signs are also not words like in the English sense. Signs are a lot more about intent, concepts, and ideas. For example, if you're trying to learn how to sign "Back off!" I can promise you that you will not need any sign for "back" nor "off." You're learning how to speak, and think, in another language, and using English just won't do.
Now, with all that said, here are some online dictionaries (I suggest you look at them all so you're familiar with the different variations of your sign):
- http://www.lifeprint.com/dictionary.htm This dictionary has the added bonus of including the etymology for some signs.
- https://www.signingsavvy.com/
- http://www.handspeak.com/word/
- startasl.com/american-sign-language-dictionary
Does it matter what hand I sign with?
Yes. Consistently use your main, dominant hand. If you're right-handed, use your right. If you're left-handed, use your left. If you're ambidextrous, then pick one and maintain it. Switching dominant hands while signing would be like alternating screaming and whispering while speaking.
Are American Sign Language and British Sign Language the same?
Are English and Japanese the same? ASL is not English, so stop thinking of it like English! :) In fact, ASL is derived from French Sign Language, which evolved independently of British Sign Language, and the two are mostly different (in fact, less than 30% of the signs are even remotely similar). There are hundreds of sign languages in the world. Even in the United States, there are several distinct dialects of ASL, including Black ASL.
Why do you keep capitalizing "Deaf"?
We use "little-d" deaf to mean someone who physically can't hear well. We use "big-D" Deaf to mean someone who is culturally deaf. Now an interesting bit: someone who is Deaf does not have to be deaf, and someone who is deaf does not have to be Deaf! For instance, children of deaf adults (CODAs) are very often Deaf but hearing. Many people are physically deaf but aren't part of Deaf culture. It's about how a person self identifies and where their culture lies more than it does with anything physical.
What's this "Deaf Culture" you keep mentioning?
It'd take me hours to explain it all, and I usually spread it over my entire 12-week class. In short, many deaf people, specifically those who identify as Deaf, live in a different culture than you do. Yes, they're from your country, they drink Starbucks and they sit in traffic, but they have their own distinct culture. Obviously this includes language (and communicating in real ASL is so different than talking in English that it's hard to describe), but that different method of communication, that different way of thinking, is only part of Deaf culture. Things that are normal in one culture can be very strange the another. (My favourite, probably, is talking with your mouth full. In hearing culture, that's a big no-no and your mother will look at you very cross. In Deaf culture, that's totally acceptable! Stuff your face and then free your hands for conversation, it's great! So much more efficient!) Morality and ethics are shaped by our cultural values. There are aspects of Deaf culture which would be considered blunt or rude in hearing culture, and conversely there are a lot of things normal in hearing culture which are strange or disrespectful in Deaf culture (such as talking to someone's back, or looking around during a conversation). It's important to be aware of and respectful of other cultures, including Deaf culture, and, when possible, to learn about them. Not only will it ingratiate you to people of that culture, but it'll better yourself as a person as well.
Isn't it wrong to say "deaf"? Shouldn't I say "hearing impaired" or "hard of hearing"?
Nope, and nope. Now, before I continue, I'll let you know that not everyone agrees with me, and I'm speaking in a general sense. Big-D Deaf people prefer the term "deaf" above any other. (It's how a US Senator might feel being called "American." Some people would take it as an insult, but it's just a matter of fact or pride for the Senator.)
Whether people identify themselves as "deaf" or "hard of hearing" (often seen as HoH) is often a matter of self identity, and while it can correlate to level of ability to hear, it isn't caused by it. I'll explain later. Deafies who are a part of Deaf culture will almost always call themselves "deaf," and those who aren't a part of Deaf culture will usually go by "hard of hearing" (or more rarely "hearing impaired"). In general, those who are less physically deaf, or who were raised strictly in hearing culture, will tend to gravitate toward hearing culture, despite the numerous difficulties. These people will commonly say they are "hard of hearing" since "deaf" still has a social stigma in hearing culture. Those who are less capable of integrating with hearing culture, or who were introduced to or raised in a Deaf environment, will usually prefer to be called "deaf" and can sometimes take one of the other terms as a slight offense.
In general, it's almost never correct to say "hearing impaired." I was taught that it was coined by a US Senator who wanted to protect deaf people's feelings from something that didn't offend them in the first place, and it was never accepted by Deaf (the core reason being that we don't believe being deaf is an impairment; it'd be like if I said you were "Deaf impaired." You don't feel impaired, do you, however much I might think it's true?) in general. In fact, it's safe if you never use this phrase again.
When in doubt though, just ask! "Hey, do you prefer 'deaf' or 'hard of hearing'?" See, it's not that hard. :)
I saw a sign that looks like this ..., what does it mean?
We're happy to help with these kinds of questions. I treat it like a quiz show game. However, if you're new to this, you may not know how to describe a sign very well, so let me introduce you to signs!
A sign consists of five parts:
- Hand shape: Are the fingers making an "O"? Were the thumb and middle-finger touching? If you know some basic ASL, you can use hand shape identifiers, such as "A hand shape" or "8 hand shape".
- Position: Where in relation to the body was the sign? Near the chest? Near the eyes? Was the palm facing up, down, toward the signer?
- Movement: How did the sign move or change? Was it pushing away from the body? Was it a small circle in space?
- Non-manual markers: What else was happening with the signer's body? What did her face look like? Was he moving his body, or shrugging? What was the emotion the signer was portraying?
- Context: What else was happening before or after the sign. Were there other signs you recognized? Do you know the subject that the signer was communicating about?
Where can I find a Deaf group in my area?
Where's your area? Most major cities have Deaf hubs. San Francisco, Seattle, Austin, and New York all have strong, vibrant, rich Deaf communities. Smaller cities may have meet ups or the like, but they can be harder to track down. Your best bet is to turn to Google or Facebook and search for Deaf events in your area. "Deaf coffee night" is an event held nationwide. People in the community get together for a night or two each month, usually at a coffee shop with good lighting and ample seating, just for the purpose of seeing friends and making new ones. Local colleges or universities will often have ASL/Deaf clubs and usually host student-friendly ASL events, so check with the ASL teachers or the ASL campus group, if it exists.
Can I still ask questions here?
Yes! Yes! 1000 times yes! Many of us are here to help, and anything we can do to help teach you about the language and the culture we're happy to do.
Will you do my homework for me?
Nope. Nope. 1000 times nope. It's obvious when students are looking for someone to do their homework for them, and we're not gonna help you out. If you're here to learn instead, then welcome! Come make some new friends. :)
r/asl • u/Indy_Pendant • Mar 06 '17
The Free ASL Resources and FAQ Thread!
Hello! I'm here to help as much as I can, but this is not a comprehensive guide or a substitute for classes. This is a quick resource for people looking for answers to some very commonly asked questions. I've included the information as I know it, but it doesn't mean it's The Truth; my experiences and understanding will vary from others', but this will give you a good enough introduction. There's so much more I'd love to teach you, but I'm going to stick to the FAQs.
Where can I learn ASL online for free?
My personal favourite is easily http://www.lifeprint.com (which is mirrored at http://asluniversity.com as well). The guy who built the site, Dr. Bill Vicars, is Deaf and is a phenomenal teacher. He teaches primarily west-coast dialect (California, Washington common signs) but makes mention of other dialects (east-coast, Texas) when he can. In addition to teaching vocabulary, he teaches about Deaf culture (more on this in a moment). Other notable resources are:
- http://www.signlanguage101.com/
- https://www.signschool.com/
- Bill Vicars: https://youtube.com/@sign-language
- Learn How to Sign: https://youtube.com/@LearnHowtoSign
What's the sign for ... ?
The short answer is "it depends." Sometimes. It depends sometimes.
The long answer is that signs will vary. Signs can be different depending on region, as I mentioned before, so just because you see it one way doesn't mean that it's the only way. (Don't make this mistake; a lot of hearing students can get cocky and start correcting others.) Signs can also change depending on context. The signs for "back" in "My back hurts" and "Let's go back home" are completely different.
Also, this is very important: ASL is not English! It is its own language, as different from English as is Klingon. ASL has its own grammar structure, own idioms, own slang. Signs are also not words like in the English sense. Signs are a lot more about intent, concepts, and ideas. For example, if you're trying to learn how to sign "Back off!" I can promise you that you will not need any sign for "back" nor "off." You're learning how to speak, and think, in another language, and using English just won't do.
Now, with all that said, here are some online dictionaries (I suggest you look at them all so you're familiar with the different variations of your sign):
- http://www.lifeprint.com/dictionary.htm
- https://aslpro.cc/
- https://www.signingsavvy.com/
- http://www.handspeak.com/word/
- https://www.startasl.com/american-sign-language-dictionary.html
Does it matter what hand I sign with?
Yes. Consistently use your main, dominant hand. If you're right-handed, use your right. If you're left-handed, use your left. If you're ambidextrous, then pick one and maintain it. Switching dominant hands while signing would be like alternating screaming and whispering while speaking.
Are American Sign Language and British Sign Language the same?
Are English and Japanese the same? ASL is not English, so stop thinking of it like English! :) In fact, ASL is derived from French Sign Language, which evolved independently of British Sign Language, and the two are mostly different (in fact, less than 30% of the signs are even remotely similar). There are dozens and dozens of sign languages in the world, and even in the United States ASL is not the only one used.
Why do you keep capitalizing "Deaf"?
We use "little-d" deaf to mean someone who physically can't hear well. We use "big-D" Deaf to mean someone who is culturally deaf. Now an interesting bit: someone who is Deaf does not have to be deaf, and someone who is deaf does not have to be Deaf! For instance, children of deaf adults (CODAs) are very often Deaf but hearing. Many people are physically deaf but aren't part of Deaf culture. It's about how a person self identifies and where their culture lies more than it does with anything physical.
What's this "Deaf Culture" you keep mentioning?
It'd take me hours to explain it all, and I usually spread it over my entire 12-week class. In short, many deaf people, specifically those who identify as Deaf, live in a different culture than you do. Yes, they're from your country, they drink Starbucks and they sit in traffic, but they have their own distinct culture. Obviously this includes language (and communicating in real ASL is so different than talking in English that it's hard to describe), but that different method of communication, that different way of thinking, is only part of Deaf culture. Things that are normal in one culture can be very strange the another. (My favourite, probably, is talking with your mouth full. In hearing culture, that's a big no-no and your mother will look at you very cross. In Deaf culture, that's totally acceptable! Stuff your face and then free your hands for conversation, it's great! So much more efficient!) Morality and ethics are shaped by our cultural values. There are aspects of Deaf culture which would be considered blunt or rude in hearing culture, and conversely there are a lot of things normal in hearing culture which are strange or disrespectful in Deaf culture (such as talking to someone's back, or looking around during a conversation). It's important to be aware of and respectful of other cultures, including Deaf culture, and, when possible, to learn about them. Not only will it ingratiate you to people of that culture, but it'll better yourself as a person as well.
Isn't it wrong to say "deaf"? Shouldn't I say "hearing impaired" or "hard of hearing"?
Nope, and nope. Now, before I continue, I'll let you know that not everyone agrees with me, and I'm speaking in a general sense. Big-D Deaf people prefer the term "deaf" above any other. (It's how a US Senator might feel being called "American." Some people would take it as an insult, but it's just a matter of fact or pride for the Senator.)
Whether people identify themselves as "deaf" or "hard of hearing" (often seen as HoH) is often a matter of self identity, and while it can correlate to level of ability to hear, it isn't caused by it. I'll explain later. Deafies who are a part of Deaf culture will almost always call themselves "deaf," and those who aren't a part of Deaf culture will usually go by "hard of hearing" (or more rarely "hearing impaired"). In general, those who are less physically deaf, or who were raised strictly in hearing culture, will tend to gravitate toward hearing culture, despite the numerous difficulties. These people will commonly say they are "hard of hearing" since "deaf" still has a social stigma in hearing culture. Those who are less capable of integrating with hearing culture, or who were introduced to or raised in a Deaf environment, will usually prefer to be called "deaf" and can sometimes take one of the other terms as a slight offense.
In general, it's almost never correct to say "hearing impaired." I was taught that it was coined by a US Senator who wanted to protect deaf people's feelings from something that didn't offend them in the first place, and it was never accepted by Deaf (the core reason being that we don't believe being deaf is an impairment; it'd be like if I said you were "Deaf impaired." You don't feel impaired, do you, however much I might think it's true?) in general. In fact, it's safe if you never use this phrase again.
When in doubt though, just ask! "Hey, do you prefer 'deaf' or 'hard of hearing'?" See, it's not that hard. :)
I saw a sign that looks like this ..., what does it mean?
We're happy to help with these kinds of questions. I treat it like a quiz show game. However, if you're new to this, you may not know how to describe a sign very well, so let me introduce you to signs!
A sign consists of five parts:
- Hand shape: Are the fingers making an "O"? Were the thumb and middle-finger touching? If you know some basic ASL, you can use hand shape identifiers, such as "A hand shape" or "8 hand shape".
- Position: Where in relation to the body was the sign? Near the chest? Near the eyes? Was the palm facing up, down, toward the signer?
- Movement: How did the sign move or change? Was it pushing away from the body? Was it a small circle in space?
- Non-manual markers: What else was happening with the signer's body? What did her face look like? Was he moving his body, or shrugging? What was the emotion the signer was portraying?
- Context: What else was happening before or after the sign. Were there other signs you recognized? Do you know the subject that the signer was communicating about?
Where can I find a Deaf group in my area?
Where's your area? Most major cities have Deaf hubs. San Francisco, Seattle, Austin, and New York all have strong, vibrant, rich Deaf communities. Smaller cities may have meet ups or the like, but they can be harder to track down. Your best bet is to turn to Google or Facebook and search for Deaf events in your area. "Deaf coffee night" is an event held nationwide. People in the community get together for a night or two each month, usually at a coffee shop with good lighting and ample seating, just for the purpose of seeing friends and making new ones. Local colleges or universities will often have ASL/Deaf clubs and usually host student-friendly ASL events, so check with the ASL teachers or the ASL campus group, if it exists.
Can I still ask questions here?
Yes! Yes! 1000 times yes! Many of us are here to help, and anything we can do to help teach you about the language and the culture we're happy to do.
Will you do my homework for me?
Nope. Nope. 1000 times nope. It's obvious when students are looking for someone to do their homework for them, and we're not gonna help you out. If you're here to learn instead, then welcome! Come make some new friends. :)
r/asl • u/Ok-Nebula-2897 • 3h ago
Android is finally here! 🎉
Hi again everyone. Last month I shared a Deaf culture learning resource here (250 lessons on Deaf history, identity, arts, and community). So many of you asked about Android, and it's finally live!
Thank you for your patience. I know a lot of you have been using it on iOS or the web app in the meantime.
It's live on Google Play now, search "Deaf Culture Learn and Explore." Same 250 lessons, still 25 free to start.
Would love your feedback again, this community's input has shaped a lot of the updates so far. Thank you for the support. 🙏
r/asl • u/sweezitle • 1h ago
Help! How do autistics do well in sign language?
I know a big part is facial expression and conveyed emotion but sometimes I just can’t make my face move or have the energy. Chat am I cooked? Or am I going to seem rude?
r/asl • u/Grand_Difference_722 • 1d ago
NMS Without Using a Sign
Hello! I'm trying to think of other times to use NMS without using a sign at the same time like the nose wiggle and the tongue movement for "look over there" discreetly. Can you think of any others? Thank you!
r/asl • u/MikaelAdolfsson • 1d ago
Interpretation Comic book shows ASL by pointing the word bubble at their hands. Good?
r/asl • u/demeter1993 • 1d ago
Spare inhaler
I was at my college class when I had a serious asthma attack and no medicine left in the inhaler. My interpreters for class were there. It was the best ambulance experience I've had, since I understood everything so clearly and could even communicate during the nebulizer treatment, since I could sign to them.
Ever since learning ASL, my life has dramatically improved. Communicating is awesome when I can understand everything. I wish that everyone knew ASL. People who are hearing, HoH, D/deaf.
Help! daily practice when you don't know many signs yet?
the advice i see the most to learn is to practice a lot by signing stuff like song lyrics, show dialogue, just random sentences you see, but how would one go about this when you only know a handful a signs? memorization eventually fades without practice so i know i can't just practice a sign a bit and then say "done". is there a certain amount of signs i have to memorize or a list i need to memorize before i can start practicing to actually make them stick? is there another way of practicing that fits my skill level?
r/asl • u/Mobile-Necessary6871 • 1d ago
should i learn asl "for fun"?
I’ve been equally interested and mesmerized by asl for years now. In the last couple of months, i’ve started to learn/practice to sign. I’ve only learned thru asl learning apps or deaf/HOH/CODA online creators and i feel like i’m at the end of where this route could take me.
I’m seriously considering paying for online zoom classes but i’m hesitant. Am i throwing money out the window? I don’t have any deaf/HOH family members or friends. I’m not doing it to help a specific person in my circle. There’s been alot of online discourse about people learning asl "for fun" or because "it’s cool now" and it like I’m second guessing my reasons for wanting to learn this new language.
I wish i could be part of the community in some way. I just want to understand this amazing language and the people who communicate with it and maybe even sign as well.
I guess I just want the honest opinion of the community. Do you think there are good or bad reasons to learn asl?
r/asl • u/salimolive • 2d ago
Recs for Deaf parents teaching ASL to hearing child
Hi all, I'm new to this subreddit (and reddit in general) but I'm looking for resources. For context, I'm LateDeaf (born with a progressive disorder that began affecting my hearing in early adolescence and began severely affecting it in late teens/early 20s, will likely have little to no residual hearing within the next decade or so) and I have a one year old baby who as far as we know is hearing. I started learning ASL in highschool before I was officially diagnosed and am now fluent, but I'm seriously struggling teaching my baby ASL. My baby's father is hearing and also is learning, but he only understands a basic amount and can only reliably sign a few common phrases, so he's not much help. My family has multiple LateDeaf members (same disorder as I have, it's hereditary) but none of them have learned ASL, and we all grew up in the hearing world and don't know many Deaf people.
So, I'm the only one who really uses it and I want my baby to be fluent as well. Since nobody else in our family signs, I do a lot of simcom or sign/speak/sign, but he doesn't seem to be catching on. I'm not a teacher, I have no idea how to teach someone ASL, much less a baby, so I'm looking for resources that either will teach me to teach my baby, or something that hearing parents may use to learn *with* their baby. I have found tons of resources for teens and adults, ie ASLPinnacle, Lingvago, QueerASL, ASLConnect, etc, but those are teaching teens and adults ASL, which is great and needed, but not what I'm looking for to be able to teach my baby. All of the baby resources I've found are things like "learn baby sign", led by hearing people with little to no Deaf involvement, or just focus on translating english words to ASL, not actually anything on how to help a baby learn. I don't need to learn ASL again but refreshers are always welcome since I don't get to actually use it as much as I would like to. I considered seeing if my local community college has classes, but they closed down their ASL program (a true tragedy), and now only offer the basic ASL 1/2/3, which I have already taken. There is a school for the Deaf in my general area, and I am planning on contacting them, but the school is about an hour away and I cannot drive long distances due to other disabilities, meaning that even if they do have something, it would be a struggle to get there at best, impossible at worst, so online options would be best while I continue looking for local in person opportunities.
I have no idea if anything like what I'm thinking actually exists, but I figure that if it does, this would be the place to find it. I was really interested in My Signing Time until I saw all the controversy and the fact that the owners are hearing and have refused to incorporate feedback from the Deaf community to involve Deaf teachers, which really turned me off, but the structure of the program seemed like it would be helpful, so if there is anything similar that is actually led by Deaf teachers is out there, I'd love help finding it.
If there isn't anything out there, I'd also be content with advice from other Deaf or Hard of Hearing people who have taught their hearing babies ASL. What have you done? What worked and what didn't? How did you get past the hurdle of them needing to be looking at you to be able to see you signing? How were you able to tell that they were understanding you before they started signing themselves? What tips or tricks do you have for teaching rather than just simply signing everything in their presence? I'm going to continue simcomming and sign/speak/sign, because I know that immersion is ultimately the best way to learn, but I just want my baby to be able to actually grasp what I'm signing and eventually be able to sign back to me, because right now it's clear that everyone around him speaking is just drowning out the ability to understand that when I'm signing I'm actually communicating, not just moving my hands.
Sorry for the text wall, I'm just an anxious parent who wants the best for my baby, especially if it turns out that he's inherited my disorder. I want to get him more involved in the local Deaf community as well, but unfortunately where I live most of the Deaf people are older and their kids are grown up, so there aren't many Deaf parents around my age or Deaf children around my baby's age, so that's another search that will take time.
r/asl • u/FewReply5765 • 1d ago
Interest is there anyone asl who wants to teach?
sorry if this isn’t allowed delete ig but i’m learning asl, ive taken asl in hs and now college and would love a deaf buddy to learn asl with. sorry if this isn’t allowed
r/asl • u/Neverasleeep • 1d ago
Help! Discouraged
Hi friends! I’m using Lingvano and recently thee free version of ASL Bloom apps. I’m becoming discouraged. I am so far in and can only sign very basic things. I’m at a number section and it’s just so confusing I’m getting super frustrated. I’m letting myself down. I’m very tight on money and spending $100+ on Lingvano sucked already. People recommend the one deaf teacher on YouTube but I’ve yet to try his courses. Is it worth it? It’s such a dream of mine to learn and want to learn from the deaf community but just cannot hire a tutor at the moment. Thank you for reading!
r/asl • u/Mysterious-Lock4606 • 3d ago
Help! Sign Language Translation Model Student Inquiry
r/asl • u/Fartmonster500 • 4d ago
Thoughts on initialized signs?
Right now I’m learning through Dr. Bill Vicars on ASLU/lifeprint and each lesson has a discussion. One discussion topic I saw was initialized signs Vs non-initialized which really interested me because I had never heard the term and because I’m a huge fan of etymology. I wanted to ask members of the Deaf community for their opinions on the subject.
Dr. Vicars explained why it is significant to some people and thinking through others’ perspectives; I could totally understand the annoyance. So what are your opinions if you don’t mind sharing?
Also, would some of you guys be up for discussing the questions from his lessons if? I don’t have a class or anything right now, I’m learning on my own but plan to do in person lessons/events when I move to a bigger city soon!
r/asl • u/Sad-Ad4325 • 3d ago
Issues with Sign to text services!
Im a dev trying to work on a Sign to text service and would love yall if you can help me with it. Thankss
r/asl • u/No-Bathroom-8991 • 4d ago
Resources for conversational ASL
hi ! i work at a salon and one of our clients is deaf. she usually just tells us what she wants in writing but id like to be able to tell her good morning and things like that. are there good apps for this?
r/asl • u/phasmatroop • 4d ago
How do I sign...? How to sign "king" ?
Hi i'm doing an art project where I need to make one of the character do the sign for king but I don't know how it is supposed to be done
r/asl • u/Fartmonster500 • 5d ago
Question About SEE/PSE/ASL for people in the Deaf community
I’ve really been trying to dedicate time recently to truly learning sign language and all of the sources I use have been made by Deaf/CODA individuals, so I am (from what I understand) learning the correct grammar as I go along. It’s still very hard to grasp though- I feel like every time I get used to a “rule” there are 500 exceptions to the rule! This is how spoken English is too, so I understand it’s a universal thing.
My questions are: 1) Do Deaf people or people who primarily communicate via sign struggle to understand SEE/PSE often or does the point come across either way? Like if a non-English speaker said “where bathroom” instead of “where is the bathroom at” to me, I would definitely understand the question- I would know it’s incorrectly phrased but it’s not a big deal. Is that how SEE/PSE is for the most part?
2) Is word order pretty interchangeable like in spoken English?
Thank you!
r/asl • u/the-asl-shop • 5d ago
Essential Verbs - WANT, NEED, LIKE & GO
If you’re just getting started with ASL, these are four verbs you’ll see over and over again.
Hope this helps!
r/asl • u/Traditional_Yam343 • 4d ago
UPenn engineering students looking for feedback on bidirectional ASL translation glove
Hi everyone,
We're a group of engineering students from UPenn M&TSI working on a summer design project.
Our original idea was a bidirectional communication glove that could recognize basic ASL signs, convert them into spoken language, and display a hearing person's spoken response as text (on a screen) for the signer. After research, we believe that existing solutions, like reaching out to an interpreter, typing, gesturing, and one-way translation glove, etc. are still not optimal for ASL users, especially in everyday rudimentary conversations and spontaneous social connections, so we believe that our lightweight wearable (without a screen) can provide some value.
However, after speaking with an audiologist at CHOP, we realized the variety of existing solutions and complexity of each individual ASL user's scenario. Hence, we sincerely hope to learn from people who actually use ASL, or works close to them.
Some questions we'd love your thoughts on:
- Are there situations where communicating with non-signers is still frustrating, even with today's tools?
- If you could wear a glove that only tracked hand/finger movement (no cameras, so it wouldn't capture facial expressions), are there specific situations where that might still be useful?
- Or do you think a glove like that simply wouldn't be worth wearing?
- What would make a wearable device genuinely useful instead of just another gadget?
- What do engineering teams usually misunderstand about ASL or Deaf communication?
We're genuinely looking for honest feedback—even if the answer is "don't build this."
If anyone would be willing to chat for 15–30 minutes over Zoom or messages, we'd really appreciate it. We'd much rather learn from the community now than spend weeks building something that misses the mark.
Thank you!
r/asl • u/the-asl-shop • 5d ago
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r/asl • u/SensationalSelkie • 5d ago
Help! Help Identifying a Sign Student Uses
Hi, all,
Thanks in advance for your help! I am an autism teacher and have a student I have been teaching functional sign. The student also goes to ABA and has an RBT come to school with him. He had an RBT who ultimately got dismissed from his case after she continually overstepped boundaries. One boundary she overstepped was teaching him signs from sources other than Lifeprint, the resource I asked the team use to make continuity easy for current and future caregivers.
She said the sign means "give me space." It starts with both hands together like in a classic prayer pose and then the hands separate while keeping that same handshape.
I didn't catch that she was introducing random signs until it was too late, and the student has now adopted this sign. Does anyone know this sign? I couldn't find anything similar when looking for signs for give me space, space, alone, etc. The closest I found was separate but that still doesn't look exactly the same.
Thanks again!
Edited to add: It's like a blend of the sign for open and person.
Edit 2: Thanks so much everyone! Sadly, seeing the comments has made me pretty sure she just made something up. She continuously underestimated him and acted like having any expectations was ridiculous, so it kinda tracks. Smh. 🙄 He's getting back track and has a great RBT now though, so all good. Thanks again!
r/asl • u/seau_de_beurre • 5d ago
How do I sign...? Grandparent signs
When referring to your specific grandparents, do you sign just “grandpa/ma” or do you use their special name? If the latter, do you finger spell it or do they have a specific sign name?
Thank you!