We all use signs and gestures in our daily communication, whether its nodding or shaking our head, waving to get someone’s attention, or other hand gestures and body language we employ to emphasize what we say. But for about 500,000 Americans, signs, gestures, facial expressions, and body movements are their primary form of communication. In American Sign Language for Everyone, Professor Julia Silvestri—a native user of American Sign Language (ASL) and member of the Deaf community—will show you how to use this unique language to meet people, share information about the world around you, express your opinion, and enjoy ASL literary forms. In 24 engaging lessons, Dr. Silvestri will teach you the manual alphabet—the handshapes for all 26 letters used for fingerspelling proper names or English words you cannot yet sign—and dozens of other signs to enable you to converse using ASL and expand your ability to effectively communicate with those around you. During the lessons, you’ll have many opportunities to practice signing and then self-test your vocabulary, as well as to watch your professor in conversation with another signer. You can also review the lessons as often as you like to improve your fluency in this fascinating and powerful visuospatial language.
