What are some good first phrases or words to learn to communicate via ASL?

Answer 1

What phrases are appropriate to learn first for ASL depends to some extent on the purpose you have for learning ASL and how fluent you actually plan to become with ASL. As an example, if you are learning some phrases for your work setting just to be able to greet deaf customers and make them feel welcomed you will want to learn HELLO, HAPPY YOU HERE, CAN I HELP-YOU. The problem with this approach... the Deaf person may actually answer you using ASL and then you will be in real trouble. Right?

Learning ASL is much the same as learning any other language. Learning a few phrases like greetings, asking for someone's name, giving your name, requesting someone to sign or fingerspell more slowly etc. will only get you so far. Nice to know but of very limited usefulness.

If you are interested in learning ASL it is best to enter into formal instruction either through a tutor like here on Wyzant.com or via taking a formal class in your local college or adult education program. In a class you will learn much more than basic sign-words, phrases and sentences. You will also learn about appropriate communication behaviors, cultural information and you will learn the proper way to say things in a grammatically appropriate way. You should expect to take at least one full year (two semesters) to achieve a basic survival level in ASL. To become relatively conversational will take at least an additional year of study and possibly up to three years. As an example, students interested in becoming interpreters will typically take six semesters of ASL with four semesters required before they may be formally admitted to the actual interpreting program or major. Most Interpreter Education programs now are 4 year BA degree programs although you may still be able to find programs that are two or three years and result in an AA degree.

If you think about learning ASL in the same way you might think about learning Spanish, French or German you will have a fairly good idea of how much time and effort it will take. The process is very similar to learning any other language. But learning ASL has a bit of a twist. You already know how language works when it is expressed through your vocal/speech organ. You speak English or some other "mother tongue" after all. However learning ASL is quite different in that you are learning to express language through your hands, face and body and receive/understand language using your eyes (not your ears). So in addition to learning all the typical things like "vocabulary, grammar, pragmatics" etc. with ASL you are also learning to express and receive this language using a completely different set of articulators (hands, face, body). For some learners this becomes quite challenging. Because ASL is expressed in this different way it also affects the language structure quite profoundly. But that's for another day. Hope this answers your question.

Regards

Bill