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The Basics of Using Sign Language

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Part of the video series: Sign Language Lessons: Common Phrases

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Summary: Learn about the basics of signing with American Sign Language (ASL) tips in this free online sign language video tutorial clip.

Views: 5,604 | Tags: language, basic, american, signlanguagephrases, sign, sign language

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by codaworld

While Melissa is well-meaning, I have to be honest and recommend that people do not depend on her to learn signs. Many signs are produced incorrectly -- and are NOT the standard signs used by sign language users. This is unfortunate, but true. Best to learn from someone DEAF, not someone who thinks she knows sign language but obviously does not use it with everyday deaf people who sign. Do NOT use most of these signs with deaf people; they will not understand you. Sorry to say...

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Video Transcript

The Basics of Using Sign Language

Hello! My name is Melissa and on behalf of Expert Village, today we're going to be learning some basic signs, words, phrases in sign language. Before we begin actually learning various signs, it's important to keep in mind some of the basics and to remember a few different things here. First of all, the sign images. You have to realize that each of the signs that we are practicing are going to be displayed from the viewers point of view, so your point of view. If you are signing to someone that's what it would look like to them, not so much to you. I will show you different signs from my angle as well, but keep that in mind. It's going to be displayed from the perspective of the viewer, all of the signs we're doing today. Also, facial expression is very important. When it comes to sign language, you're using your hands, your body language, you facial expressions. Things like raising and lowering your eyebrows. Your face is an integral part of sign language because you're not using a spoken word. When we refer to things like body language, facial expressions and body language is so important because you have to think about your voice. When you raise and lower your voice the tone, the inflection of your voice, adds meaning to the spoken word, so do things like body language and facial expressions for sign language. That adds extra inflection and tones literally to the words that you're trying to express. If you're angry or you're surprised you do that with your facial expression as well as your hands. Some important things to keep in mind as we go into our various clips on words and phrases in sign language.

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