American Sign Language

Analytical Essay # 243

Communication > Language and Speech
Education > Special

A look at the language developed to help deaf speak to each other.

1,170 words () | 5 sources | MLA | 2000 United States

Paper Summary:

This paper argues that American Sign Language is the ultimate mode of communication for the deaf community. It explains that like any other language, ASL changes and evolves to meet the needs of those who use it. The same as no two hearing people pronounce a word exactly alike, no two deaf people sign exactly alike. It concludes that American Sign Language is a complete, natural language that is growing everyday.

From the Paper:

"American Sign Language (ASL) is a visual language used by the deaf people in America and parts of Canada. Deafness, by definition, is the inability to hear spoken language, to discriminate and reproduce speech (Neisser 8). Because they weren't able to understand sound or speech, ASL was developed by American Deaf people to communicate with each other and exists as long as there are Deaf Americans."