Signing For Dummies

American Sign Language (ASL) is something we've all seen Deaf people use in restaurants, hospitals, airports, and throughout the marketplace. 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.piSigning For Dummies/i 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. Although certainly not the only form of Sign Language, ASL is the most popular in the Deaf community within the United States.pCategorized by subject, this illustrated guide covers grammar and sentence structure, along with the tools to get you going in basic conversation by knowing how toul type="disc"liIntroduce and greet peopleliAsk questions and make small talkliOrder food and chat with salespeopleliHandle medical emergenciesliTalk on the phoneliGet around town for fun or business/ulpAlthough "speaking" American Sign Language (ASL) is mostly a matter of using your fingers, hands, and arms, facial expression and body language are important and sometimes crucial for understanding Signs and their meaning. iSigning For Dummies/i gets the whole body into the action as the fun-to-read resource exploresul type="disc"liSigns that look like what they meanliExpression of emotions and feelingsliSigning sports and weatherliCompass points conversations: Getting or giving directionsliDescriptions of where it hurtsliDeaf community customs, norms, and culture/ulpEach chapter throughout the book invites you to practice specific Signs in a "Fun Games" section. Translation guides complement the video CD-ROM, which features demonstrations by ASL Signers and actual conversations in progress – all designed to have you moving your hands, body, and face to convey meaning that reaches way beyond linguistic barriers.