T O W S O N U N I V E R S I T Y C H I L D C A R E C E N T E R I N T R O D U C T O R Y C L A S S R O O M A M E R I C A N S I G N L A N G U A G E

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1 T O W S O N U N I V E R S I T Y C H I L D C A R E C E N T E R I N T R O D U C T O R Y C L A S S R O O M A M E R I C A N S I G N L A N G U A G E

2 FOREWORD Research has shown the benefits of Sign Language on growing communication abilities of children, suggesting that teaching young children Sign Language along with regular speech accelerates the communication abilities of young children. The benefits of Sign Language in the development of a child s mental and physical abilities are no longer to be questioned according to researchers. It is our hope as a Center to actively participate in the development of the children in our care, in as many ways as possible. The use of Sign Language around certain phrases is how we will teach Sign here. Our children speak many languages; we speak Baltimore. Sign makes certain phrases common and thereby, easier for everyone. In line with our mission to equip our children for the future, and with our commitment to serve an evergrowing diverse community, we are happy to introduce this booklet. We believe this booklet may be helpful and enjoyable at home, as well as in our classrooms. Please keep in mind that there are different Sign Languages. This booklet has adopted signs from American Sign Language. Pictures are associated with words to ease your learning and practice of this language. American Sign Language (ASL) is the third most used language in the United States, after English and Spanish. Prior to 1817, there was no universal Sign Language. The Signs that were used here in the United States by the Deaf community were unique to each family (primarily gestures made up in each home). Sign Language, as we understand it today, was brought to America from France in 1817 by the Frenchman, Laurant Clerc, a deaf individual, and an American, Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet, who was a hearing individual. They worked together to combine French Sign and American gestures (homemade signs) to develop what we know today as American Sign Language. It is important to know that ASL is not the same as our English language. ASL has its own structure, independent from either French or English. Learning is a journey, and it is our hope that this book will help you in that journey. 2

3 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Kara Brown-Perrett, Mom of Milo in Miss Ann's Room, provided some of the material used in this booklet, and reviewed the completed work before printing. Mrs. Brown-Perrett is the Executive Director of CSSD, the Community Support Services for the Deaf Inc, which supports the Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Deaf-Blind community with Intellectual/Developmental disabilities in the Baltimore metropolitan area. CSSD is also involved in sensitizing and educating the community about the need to improve the quality of life for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing communities. We also want to thank all of those who have supported this effort from the very beginning. To all of you, a sincere Thank you! The resources used to compile this booklet include a great deal of Mrs. Brown-Perrett s time and expertise, relevant books and websites. A complete list of these resources is provided at the end of this booklet, in the hope that they can help you in your learning journey as well. These are some common and repeated words/phrases we use at our Center, and we think are a good place to start as an introduction to Sign Language for children. The words in this booklet are listed in alphabetical order. This booklet also includes sections entitled Conversational Phrases and Additional Vocabulary. We hope you enjoy this very basic beginning! 3

4 Sign Language Alphabet Learning Sign Language alphabet is a good introduction to using a visual language, not a written or spoken language. A visual language is easy to understand once your mind begins to convert to accepting drawing pictures in the air. 4

5 VOCABULARY AFTERNOON: Left arm across torso with fingers touching bottom of right elbow; right arm straight out at 45 degree angle. To add please, see (p.13), to mean: please, repeat/repeat, please. BETTER: Place right hand fingertips on chin; while pulling out /away from chin & up to the right, close hand into an A with thumb up. AGAIN/REPEAT: Left hand opened flat with palm facing up; hold right hand bent/cupped with palm facing up. Then flip right hand over & touch right fingertips into the left palm. BABY: Cradle arms together & swing (rock) gently back & forth twice. BIRTHDAY: Make sign for happy ; then flip right hand palm facing up into left open hand. BOOK: Hands/palms together, then open with small fingers touching (as in to open a book). BED/NAP: Tilt head with right palm to right cheek. To add please, see (p.13), to mean : please, I want to sleep/ go to bed. BOY: Right hand flattened O shape with palm down; pinch thumb & fingertips twice (as in touching the brim of a hat). 5

6 VOCABULARY BREAKFAST: Sign Eat (flatted O hand at lips); then sign Morning (left arm across torso with fingertips ending in bend of right arm; move right arm upward with palm facing up). CLASS: Make C hands with thumbs facing each other, then circle out & around until palms are facing you. BROTHER: Make A with right hand over center of forehead; bring down, changing to L & rest on back of left L hand. CAN: Make S hands with palms facing down; bend wrists & move hands straight down strongly. CLEAN: Left hand palm facing up; right hand palm facing down; right palm slides across left palm from heal to fingers, twice. (If sliding hand only once, the sign means Nice ). COAT/JACKET: Make A hand, but thumbs pointing up & out. Move hands down from shoulder to waist in an arc (as if to pull on a coat). CHANGE: Make X hands with palms facing each other, rotate at wrist to reverse positions in relation to body/twist X s. COMPUTER: Make C with right hand; place on top of left wrist (palm facing down) & move right in an arc right & left. Can also be used to mean: I want to use the computer. 6

7 DANCE: Make V with right hand; left hand open with palm facing up B hand; swing right hand V back & forth above palm of left hand. Can use it to mean: "It is dirty. DIRTY: Place open 5 hand with back of hand under chin, palm down, wiggle fingers. DIAPER: At hip with both hands, pinch index & middle fingers together with thumb, twice. DAY: Left arm across torso with palm facing down, touching right elbow; with right elbow resting on left fingers & B hand, bring right forearm & flat hand down to meet the left forearm. To add please, see (p.13), to mean : I want to eat, please/ can I get something to eat. Can be used to mean: Change diaper/change my diaper, please. To add please, see (p.13), to mean : I want to drink, please. DRINK: Make C with right hand; bring C hand to mouth with thumb touching just below lip (as if to raise a cup to the mouth). EAT/FOOD: Place right hand with fingers together ( O ) at mouth, then move repeatedly in short motions away/toward mouth. FAMILY: Make F hands, thumbs touching, then circle out & around until palms face up & little fingers touching. DINNER: Sign Eat with O hand at mouth, then sign Night with left arm across torso & right hand with fingers cupped, bends over left wrist. FATHER: Make 5 with right hand, tap thumb against forehead twice. 7

8 VOCABULARY FEEL/FEELING: Using middle sensing finger on right hand, touch chest & move finger up & out away from chest, twice. FINE: On right hand, make 5 hand & touch thumb to your chest; move hand out/away from chest a couple of inches. FINISH/DONE/ COMPLETE: Bring both 5 hands from in front of the chest, palms facing up, downward with a twist of the wrists, ending with palms facing down. FUN: Make U hands; right hand U to touch nose, then bring hand down to meet & rest on left hand U. FUNNY: With repeated movement, bring the right extended index & middle fingers from the nose forward, bending fingers down each time. GAME: Make A hands with thumbs up, palms facing body; tap together twice at knuckles. FIREFIGHTER: Make B right hand; tap the back of B hand on forehead (as if to symbolize the fire hat with a shield). GIRL: Make A with right hand & thumb up; slide thumb down jawline cheek to almost chin, twice. FRIEND: Make X hands, then hook right over left, then reverse. 8

9 To add please, see (p.13) to say: Give, please. GIVE: Make flattened O right hand at chest level; move it out, with palm up (as if to give someone something). GRANDMOTHER: With open hand, touch right thumb to chin; move away from face in two arcs; make same movements & handshape with left hand, but lower. GOOD: Start with open right hand; touch fingertips to chin, then move down & out, stopping with palm facing up in front of body. HAPPY/JOY: Flat open right hand, facing chest; bring hand up & out at chest. GOOD-BYE: Fingers of right hand start open, pointing up, then bend up & down repeatedly (waving). HE/SHE/HIM/HER/ IT/THEY/THEM: Point with index finger toward the referred being or thing. GRANDFATHER: With open hand, touch right thumb to forehead; move away from face in two arcs; make same movements & handshape with left hand, but lower. HELLO: Bend fingers of right hand at forehead, move out. 9

10 VOCABULARY HELP/ASSIST: Make A with right hand; left hand flat with palm facing up ( B hand); place right hand in palm of left & raise left hand up. HOME: With right fingers & thumb together, touch below lower lip, then upper cheekbone. I LOVE YOU: Point the extended right index finger to the center of chest, palm facing in; make A hand & cross both arms at the wrists & lay them on chest; then point the extended right index finger forward. HUNGRY/STARVED: Make C with right hand, bring fingertips of right hand downward on the chest. HURT/PAIN: Move the extended index fingers of both hands toward each other in front of the chest with a short repeated movement, palms facing in. I LOVE YOU: Palm, out; thumb, little & index fingers up; middle fingers bent down in palm (this handshape combines the manual letters I, L & Y). I, ME: Using right index finger, point to self at mid-chest. KITCHEN: Make right K hand; left hand palm facing up; flip right K hand in palm of left back & forth twice. 10

11 LATER: Make L hand, with thumb pointing toward you; move it away & forward as the L pivots down slightly (as if throwing the L ). MAYBE: Both hands, palms up; start with right hand low & left hand high; move right up & left down, then repeat (as if to weigh a decision). To add please, see (p.13), to say: I want/ need milk please. LIBRARY: Make right L hand; move in circles toward the right, at shoulder height. MILK: Make right C hand; squeeze open & close to S hand, twice (as if to milk a cow). LIKE: Make a 5 hand, palm facing chest; touch chest, then pull hand away from chest to make the middle finger & thumb touch. MONEY: Left hand palm open & facing up; make flattened O with right hand with palm facing up; tap back of right hand fingers in left palm, twice. To add please, see (p.13) to say: more, please. LOVE: Cross hands at wrist, left over right, at chest level. MORE: Make flattened O hands; tap fingertips together in front of chest repeatedly. LUNCH: Make L hand; tap chin with thumb, twice. MORNING: Left arm across torso with fingertips in bend of right arm; move right arm upward with palm facing up (as if the sun was rising). 11

12 VOCABULARY MOTHER: Make right 5 hand; tap thumb on chin, palm facing left. NIGHT/EVENING: Left arm across torso, but hand slightly away from body with palm facing down; right hand with fingers cupped, bends over the left wrist & taps several times. MUSIC/SING/SONG: Extend left arm out in front of the body, palm facing inward; swing open right hand, palm facing inward, back & forth along the inside of the extended left arm. NO: Extend index, middle fingers & thumb, tuck ring and little finger in palm; bring extended fingers together & tap twice. NAME: Make H hands with palms facing together; tap right H on top of left H, twice. PICTURE: Make left 5 hand with fingers together, at chest height with palm facing the right hand; Make C with right hand; bring C hand from the cheek, down against the palm of left hand. PLAY: Make Y hands; rotate wrists side to side with palms facing up then down several times. NEIGHBOR: Both hands are open & flat, palms facing chest; right hand presses to back of left hand, thumb up, then arcs slightly out; then draw hands away from each other, straighten & push straight down (as if touching the sides of a person). 12

13 PLEASE: Make right B hand, palm facing in & touching chest; make small circles at mid-chest. SEE: Make V hand at face level; middle finger touches cheek below eye & moves outward. (as if looking outward). POLICE/COP: Make right C hand; place just below left shoulder & tap, twice (as if to show where a Police badge would be). SHARE: Both 5 hands open, facing each other at angle; move right hand between index finger & thumb of left hand several times. RAIN: Make both 5 hands; at shoulder height, bend wrists of both 5 / claw hands repeatedly (as if rain was falling from sky). SHOES: Make S hands, fingers facing down; tap thumbs/inside of hands together twice. REST: Fold both arms at chest, palms inward. SICK: Use both middle fingers on hands; middle finger of right hand taps forehead, as middle finger of left hand taps stomach. SCARED/AFRAID: Make both 5 hands at chest level, palms facing inward; slightly bend all fingers & move hands toward the middle of chest,/ toward each other, back & forth repeatedly. SISTER: Make A with right hand; make left L hand; move right A down jawline, opening to L & ending on left hand. 13

14 VOCABULARY SIT: Make H hands, palms facing down; tap right fingers on top of left fingers several times. SURPRISE: Start hands closed, thumbs & index fingers pinched near eyes; flick index fingers up/open quickly. SLEEP: Start claw C hand in front of face, bring down to just below the chin, closing fingers to flattened O (can close eyes as moving hand down face). SORRY/APPOLOGIZE: Make A hand, palm in; touch mid-chest & move in circle repeatedly. TEACHER: Make O hands at temples & move out, then bring hands as 5 hands straight down next to body. STOP: Both 5 hands, left hand palm facing up; right facing inward; move right hand down firmly into palm-up of left hand. THANK YOU: Make right B hand; touch chin, then move downward & out, turning palm up. 14

15 This sign can also be used to say: what time is it?/what time do you have? TIME: With right index finger, double-tap back of left wrist (as if to point to the time on a watch). TOILET/BATHROOM//POTTY: Make T with right hand, palm facing forward; shake it several times with short quick motions in front of chest. TIRED: Both 5 hands bent & cupped; place fingers touching chest, then pivot out at wrists until back of hands face each other and fingers point up & thumbs out. TOGETHER: Make A hands; touch knuckles together, thumbs up; move together in a circle in front of body. Tired: Start with fingers touching your chest, with your elbow up. Drop your elbows down. (as if you are so tired and you cannot keep holding your arms up. TOMORROW: Make A with right hand; touch thumb at upper jaw with thumb pointing toward ear; just past the cheek & toward the mouth, arc A hand forward, ending just in front of the face with thumb up. TODAY: Both Y hands, palms facing chest, start at chest & fall forward down to torso & palms begin to face upward (the sign for Now); then left arm across torso with palm facing down, touching right elbow; with right elbow resting on left fingers & B hand, bring right forearm & flat hand down to meet the left forearm (the sign for Day ). TRY: Make T hands in front of chest, palms facing chest; twist wrists forward while turning palms out toward the front of you. 15

16 VOCABULARY UNDERSTAND: Make right S hand near temple; flick finger up quickly & repeatedly. WHERE: Make 1 hand with index finger, hold it chest level & rock it back & forth from left to right, repeatedly. To add please, see (p.13). WAIT: Make both 5 hands, palms facing up; one hand closer to body, other hand further from body; wiggle fingers while moving hands in small circles. WANT: Make claw hands with palms facing up in front of chest; move hands straight in toward chest/body further. YES: Make S right hand & nod it forwards at wrist several times. YESTERDAY: Make A right hand; with thumb, touch bottom right corner of mouth, & move back to top of jaw. WATER: Make right W hand & tap chin twice. To add please, see (p.13), to say: Water, please/i need water, please. 16

17 ADDITIONAL VOCABULARY NUMBERS: All numbers are made with palms facing out DAYS OF THE WEEK: TEN: Make A hand with thumb out. Shake A several times. MONDAY: Make M hand & circle, once. TUESDAY: Make T hand & circle, once. WEDNESDAY: Make W hand & circle, once. THURSDAY: Make H hand & circle, once. FRIDAY: Make F hand & circle, once. SUNDAY: Make 5 hands with palms facing out; circle both hand out then toward each other, twice. SATURDAY: Make S hand & circle, once. 17

18 ADDITIONAL VOCABULARY SEASONS: WINTER: Make S hands & shiver them at chest level several times. SPRING/GROW: Make C with left hand tilted down, make O with right hand; Bring right O up & through left C hand & right opens to a 5 hand once through. SUMMER: Drag right index finger 1 from left to right across forehead, closing to an X as it goes. FALL: Make B right hand; brush B down back of left forearm, near elbow. COLORS: Make 5 right hand; place in front of chin & wiggle fingers. BLACK: Slide left index finger right to left across left eyebrow. WHITE: Make 5 hand & place fingers on chest; pull fingers out & closed into a flattened O hand. RED: Drag right index finger down lips & end in an X. BLUE: Make B hand & wave right & left, pivoting at wrist. GREEN: Make G with fingers pointing out; gently shake right to left, pivoting at wrist. YELLOW: Make Y hand & wave right to left, pivoting at wrist. PINK: Make P right hand; brush middle finger of P down lips & chin, twice. PURPLE: Make P hand & gently shake right to left, pivoting at wrist. 18

19 CONVERSATIONAL PHRASES I am scared. I am sick. How do you feel? potty please I want to go to the potty/bathroom/toilet please. Tell me. Are you hungry? 19

20 CONVERSATIONAL PHRASES Give me the book. Have a sit, please. Tell him/her. To add the sign please see (p.13) to mean: Tell me, please/let me know. Merry Christmas Happy birthday I feel better. 20

21 It is raining. Good morning. Good afternoon. Good night. The flower is growing 21 No, thank you

22 CONVERSATIONAL PHRASES Stop Rest Now Please Let s stop and rest now, please. I know you. I don t like it. I am tired. I am glad to see you. 22

23 Resources Butterworth, R.R. & Flodin, M. (1992). The Pocket Dictionary of Signing. New York: The Penguin Group. Costello, E. (1995). Signing, How to Speak with Your Hands. United States: Bantam Books. Fant, L. & Fant, B.B. (2008). The American sign language phrase book. (3rd ed.), United States of America: McGrawHill Flodin, M. (2004). Signing Illustrated. New York: The Penguin Group. Lewis, K. & Henderson, R. (2001). Sign Language Made Simple. New York: Three Rivers Press. Penilla II, A.R. (2001). American Sign Language. Boca Raton, Fl: BarCharts, Inc. Websites

24 M S I G N L A N G U A G E F O R C L A S S R O O M D A I L Y U S E Towson University Child Care Auburn Drive Phone: Fax: Web address: Towson University 8000 York Road Towson, MD S i g n L A N G U A G E F O R C L A S S R O O M D A I LY U S E